THE -IRRIGATION AGE. 



121 



improvements or drainage or power systems. The neces- 

 sities of each project should be thoroughly entered into 

 with a view to the final determination of a "completed 

 cost" for each project the completion contemplated to in- 

 clude all necessary enlargements of the project works, par- 

 ticularly of drainage works. 



Residence and Cultivation Requirements. There is 

 another important matter in which 1 think you will agree 

 with me, namely that any reduction of existing terms of 

 payment should be extended, if at all, with caution, to 

 those land owners who are neither residing upon their 

 lands nor cultivating them. There is, unfortunately, a class 

 of investors, a few in number it is true, who are holding 

 areas of considerable size including lands for which water 

 has been provided at the cost of the project and who are 

 living in cities or remote localities. Many of these are not 

 cultivating the ground, or, if using it at all. only in the 

 most perfunctory manner. With these are to be classed 

 certain speculators or dealers in real estate who have 

 purchased lands at low prices or have obtained relinquish- 

 ments, due to the inability of the former owners to retain 

 the land, and who are holding these lands out of use in the 

 hope of obtaining a profit by raising 'the prices rather 

 than by raising crops. The result is that in the midst of 

 a tract of highly cultivated small farms, there is occasion- 

 ally a section or quarter section of land which has been 

 left untouched, or perhaps merely ploughed up at some 

 time and which has now grown up to weeds and serves 

 as a refuge for jack rabbits and various kinds of vermin; 

 weed seeds are blown from these fields and infest the 

 neighboring cultivated land; the presence of these de- 

 serted areas is not only an eye sore but a direct financial 

 injury to all of the neighbors. 



The owners of these lands are endeavoring to make a 

 profit largely out of the labors of the owners of the 

 surrounding lands who, through their toil in the field, are 

 gradually increasing land values in the vicinity. In other 

 words, they are not only freely enjoying the bounty of the 

 government in providing water for the land, but in like 

 way are indirectly levying a toll upon the labor and self- 

 denial of their neighbors. 



No one can argue that these men should have the 



benefit of extension of time in making payment, as 

 through such benefits it will enable them to hold these 

 lands still longer out of cultivation, advance the prices, 

 increase the load on the newcomer, and further delay the 

 ultimate development of the community and its successful 

 growth. 



The injury to the community and to the state lies 

 not wholly in keeping these lands out of profitable use,. 

 but also by not permitting the rapid growth of resident 

 population. By keeping away many desirable citizens, 

 the burden of pioneering laid upon the remainder is in- 

 creased notably in the maintenance of roads and of schools, 

 and of all the local institutions so necessary to a growing 

 community. 



Employment of Settlers in the Service. I am con- 

 vinced of the justice of the very general demand that 

 preference shall be given in the employment of assistants 

 on various projects to the settlers upon the lands watered. 

 In all capacities for which a water user is capable of 

 qualifying under the Civil Service rules and regulations, he 

 should be given the preference, but his application for em- 

 ployment should have the endorsement of the Water 

 Users Association, or of its Board of Directors. 



I trust that we may have the hearty co-operation of all 

 in bringing to a success these enterprises, and that this 

 review of present problems may enable you to see more 

 clearly the purpose of the Reclamation Act and the policy 

 with which it is being administered. Cordially yours, 



FRANKLIN K. LANE. 



MARTINEZ IS BACK 



Felix Martinez, one of the most prominent men 

 among the Water Users on the Rio Grande project, 

 has just returned from a tour of South America, 

 as one of the United States commissioners in behalf 

 of the San Francisco-Panama Exposition. Mr. Mar- 

 tinez reports that all South America is greatly in- 

 terested in the coast fair, and nearly all the nations 

 south of the equator will have buildings and big 

 exhibits. 



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