THE IRKIGATION AGE. 



207 



The Basin (Wyo.) Republican in a 

 Good recent issue contains an article and 



Booster half-tone portrait of the Honorable 



For C. F. Robertson, of Worland, Wyo., 



Wyoming an old-time subscriber of THE IRRI- 

 GATION AGE, and a very active figure 

 in the development of the Big Horn Basin. 



As an illustration of what may be accom- 

 plished through a clear description of the western 

 country, it may not be out of place to state here 

 that some years ago Mr. Robertson, with whom the 

 Editor of THE IRRIGATION AGE made a long over- 

 land trip through the Big Horn Basin, informed him 

 that he had gotten his inspiration and developed a 

 desire to move from Omaha farther west, from a 

 perusal of the columns of THE IRRIGATION AGE, and 

 that he had always felt grateful to the Editor for 

 the suggestions this journal had given him, and for 

 the resultant inspiration. 



This is a higher compliment than would appear 

 on its surface, in view of the fact that C. F. Rob- 

 ertson is a factor in the Big Horn Basin today, and 

 was instrumental in securing capital for the build- 

 ing of the famous Hanover canal, which was con- 

 ceived and financed by him, and which in itself is 

 an accomplishment sufficiently worthy to enroll his 

 name in the Wyoming hall of fame. 



This canal is one of the best in the country, 

 and during its early history obstacles were encoun- 

 tered that took no end of patience, perseverance and 

 good judgment to overcome. 



Mr. Robertson as manager of. the concern saw 

 that all of the difficulties were removed, and that 

 company has today one of the very best projects 

 in the west. 



During his residence in Wyoming he has taken 

 a great interest in the development of the city of 

 Worland, and the Big Horn Basin at large, and this 

 has not been a passive interest in any sense of the 

 word. His efforts have accomplished results that 

 would perhaps have appeared impossible to others 

 less resolute and forceful. 



Mr. Robertson is now president of the Worland 

 Townsite Company, secretary of the leading com- 

 mercial club of that city, and it was largely through 

 his efforts that the Wyoming Plant and Seed Breed- 

 ing Company, of which Prof. Buffum is the active 

 and strongest spirit, was organized, and the loca- 

 tion of the State Industrial Institute in the city of 

 Worland is also due to Mr. Robertson's work. 



We, therefore, feel somewhat proud of the fact 

 that Mr. Robertson absorbed his inspiration from 

 a perusal of the columns of THE IRRIGATION AGE, 

 which resulted in his moving to that delightful 

 country, where he has made good. 



Mr. Robertson is an attorney at law and is 



practicing in the city of Worland, and we hope some 

 day that the citizens of Wyoming may so fully 

 appreciate his efforts that they may elect him to 

 their highest office, that of Governor of the state, 

 an office he is eminently capable of filling. He is a 

 strong Republican, but has held no public office 

 other than that of Mayor of Worland. 



Secretary Lane has under consider- 

 Lane ation a proposal that the reclaimed 



Misunderstands lands of the West be turned over 

 Present to the Department of Agriculture 



Laws for settlement and development, as 



soon as the engineering works are 

 finished by the Reclamation Service. 



At a conference held recently with Reclamation 

 Service engineers and a Mr. Bailey of Oregon, who 

 visited Washington to present the proposal, the 

 Secretary was told that settlement on the reclaimed 

 lands could be largely increased and their useful- 

 ness extended by a plan of supervision which would 

 compel their proper cultivation in the spirit of 

 the law. 



The Secretary no doubt understands that the 

 plan of aiding in the reclamation of lands and the 

 matter of advising and instructing settlers under 

 the branch of the Department of Agriculture known 

 as the Division of Irrigation Investigation has been 

 carried on for years. This department, it will be 

 remembered, was in charge of Elwood Mead before 

 his departure for Victoria, Australia, where he is 

 now doing such excellent work for that common- 

 wealth. 



It is difficult to understand how the Secretary 

 proposes to better conditions by turning over re- 

 claimed lands to the department of agriculture as 

 the disposal of these lands must lie, if we clearly 

 comprehend the law, wholly with the Department 

 of the Interior. . , 



This was one of the contentions made at the 

 time of the passage of the Reclamation Law, when 

 it was proposed that the government turn over the 

 work of reclaiming these laqds to the Department 

 of Agriculture. 



Those opposed to that move claimed that the 

 Department of Agriculture had no right to act in 

 any way in the disposal of these lands and that the 

 work should logically come under the supervision 

 of the Department of the Interior. 



After Secretary Lane has studied the situation 

 more fully he will realize that there can be no 

 effort made for the disposal of lands under the 

 Reclamation Act by either his department or by 

 the Department of Agriculture until some law is 

 passed whereby a fund is created to advertise these 

 lands. 



