72 



THE IRKIGATION AGE. 



just what the state pays out in bringing it to the 

 condition described. 



It is believed that an appropriation of $400,000 

 by the present legislature will be sufficient to try 

 out the plan on ten thousand acres. If the reclama- 

 tion and equipment of the land should cost the full 

 appropriation, or $40.00 per acre, then the land, 

 plowed and ready to work, including a perpetual 

 water right, would cost the settler $50.00 per acre, 

 of which $5.00 per acre would be payable at once, 

 and the remaining $45.00 per acre in annual install- 

 ments, covering a period of ten years. 



It is not the intention of the promoters of this 

 plan that the state of Wyoming should profit from 

 its investment, except in the advertising which 

 naturally would accrue to the state as the result of 

 its unique method of attracting settlers. 



It is the opinion of the IRRIGATION AGE that this 

 plan, if carried out properly, would be the best pos- 

 sible means of attracting a high grade of settlers 

 who would be able to take over the property under 

 conditions described, and "make good" from the 

 first year. 



Wyoming could go farther still by following the 

 plan adopted by some of the states of Australia, 

 whereby the crops are put in so that all the settler 

 has to do is take care of and harvest them when 

 ready, thereby giving him a good income from his 

 first year's work with which to lay a better founda- 

 tion for the future. This plan would be going Aus- 

 tralia one better, as it would fully equip the settler 

 with the exception of what would be necessary for 

 farm machinery, household equipment, livestock, 

 etc. 



There are very few who are desirous of making 

 a home in the west who have not saved sufficient 

 money to stock a forty or eighty-acre ranch suffi- 

 ciently well to succeed in building it up in the future 

 years. 



As our readers are no doubt aware, the Austra- 

 lian government sells land to settlers at three per 

 cent down and the balance payable in annual in- 

 stallments covering a period of thirty-two years, 

 with interest at six per cent. 



The Australian government also stands ready 

 to advance sixty per cent of the cost of buildings 

 and permanent improvements on the farm. 



As we understand the suggestion from Wyom- 

 ing, there would be no immediate expense to the 

 settler for fencing or building ditches. That would 

 come out of the full amount payable at the rate of 

 $5.00 per acre cash, and balance in installments, as 

 outlined. Australia, on the other hand, offers set- 

 tlers the land in crop, and this would be a good plan 

 for the Wyoming officials to follow, as the addi- 



tional expense would be moderate, and it would 

 prove much less burdensome for the settler. 



We hope to see the lawmakers of "Wyoming 

 pass this bill so that it may be tried out. Some ef- 

 forts of this character must be made by the indi- 

 vidual western states in order to keep colonists from 

 the "Canadian route," which many are at present 

 traveling. 



In view of the suggestion by Senator 

 Investigation Borah of Idaho, of the appointment 

 Committee of a committee to investigate the 

 Good work of the Reclamation Service, 



Move we are reminded of a statement of 



an eastern contemporary and claims 

 made in its columns that there has been enormous 

 waste in the federal government's great irrigation 

 enterprises, and assertion is made that these charges 

 can well be relieved because "it is the normal thing 

 for such vast governmental undertakings, and the 

 reason why they are regarded dubiously by many 

 who fully recognize the value of the end sought." 



It is furthermore urged that there is "an insidi- 

 ous corruption in the opportunity to spend great 

 appropriations, which only constant vigilance and 

 strenuous efforts can counteract." This position is 

 illustrated in the political pull exerted from so many 

 directions to have great appropriations for harbors 

 and deep waterways and flood prevention, and in 

 the resisting influence to the effort to eliminate un- 

 necessary work of this character. 



A Mr. Hensley, of Missouri, chairman of the 

 sub-committee which has been investigating recla- 

 mation work in Arizona, thinks that of an appropria- 

 tion of $10,000,000 about $7,000,000 were wasted, 

 and he even ventures to suggest scandals and other 

 unpleasant subjects, and his conclusion is "of course 

 the whole affair will have to be thoroughly investi- 

 gated, and in the meantime judgment may be sus- 

 pended, but it may be remarked that a little of the 

 fierce white light of publicity which beats upon 

 Panama, will be an excellent thing for other great 

 government undertakings." 



To one who is familiar with conditions existing 

 under various laws; and the bureaus supposedly 

 controlled by these laws, this seems like a timely 

 suggestion, and there should be no opposition to 

 Senator Borah's effort to appoint a committee and 

 secure appropriations to carry on the work of going 

 over this matter carefully. 



If the work has been properly performed, the 

 reclamation officials need not fear a rigid investiga- 

 tion. If mistakes have been made by reclamation 

 officials the facts should be given to the public 

 from whom the money for carrying on this work 

 comes, indirectly through the sale of public lands. 



