XC REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



of limited means could be enabled to establish themselves thereon. If 

 this policy is to be continued, more favorable conditions for the recla- 

 mation of the remaining irrigable public land must be provided. The 

 largest volumes of unappropriated water now existing are to be found 

 in the great rivers of the West, of which the Missouri, the Colorado, 

 and their more important tributaries are the notable examples. To 

 make these streams available, costly and enduring dams and long and 

 expensive main canals must be provided. If the outlay for these is to 

 be added to the expenditure which each settler must make in building 

 his lateral ditches, putting his land in condition for cultivation, and 

 supporting himself and family during the period of this preparatory 

 labor, the expenditure will be prohibitive for all except men of con- 

 siderable means. Because of this, agricultural development in the 

 West has for several y ears been slow, and the period of rapid progress 

 has probably passed, even under the most favorable conditions which 

 can be provided. 



The desire of the West is not solely, however, for a more rapid agri- 

 cultural growth, but a more satisfactory one. The uncertain character 

 of water rights has already been referred to. It is the belief of those 

 best informed that this can be remedied only by a larger measure of 

 public control and the making of certain classes of irrigation structures 

 permanently public works. Among the irrigation works which belong 

 to this class are diverting dams of such size and importance as to influ- 

 ence the safety of all who live below them, the main trunk canals of 

 too great magnitude and cost for private enterprise, and reservoirs 

 built in the channels of streams used for irrigation. The argument in 

 favor of making such reservoirs public works is that they should not 

 be owned by private parties ^because the distribution of water from 

 them, in connection with the ordinary flow of streams, creates com- 

 plications which should be averted. As their chief utility is to make 

 possible a larger and better use of the water supply by storing the 

 floods and supplementing the streams during the periods of drought, 

 the same argument which justifies the setting aside of forest reserves 

 and the payment of salaries of men to patrol them applies to the con- 

 struction of reservoirs by Congress. The purpose in each case is to 

 conserve and render available the water resources of the West. 



The appropriation of money by Congress to construct any of these 

 classes of irrigation works will bring this country face to face with a 

 new governmental policy. Thus far we have left the diversion of 

 streams to private ownership. The construction of public works 

 with either State or national funds means practically a reversal of 

 this policy and carries with it a larger measure of public control over 

 the water resources of the West than has hitherto been practiced or 

 sanctioned by public sentiment. 



Congress, in dealing with this matter, will have to consider the man- 



