134 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



What then should be "the proper construction 

 cost to be collected from the settlers?" The price 

 per acre fixed in the government's contract with the 

 settlers. 



Therefore it behooves the settlers on each proj- 

 ect to see to it that the contracts between their 

 Water Users' Association and the government, and 

 the contracts between the individual settlers and 

 the government are made a part of the records of 

 the boards of revaluation. The settlers should do 

 this in order to protect themselves. 



It is true, despite Secretary Lane's words to 

 the contrary, that every settler is, in a way, jeop- 

 ardizing his contract for water by participating in 

 the revaluation plan. Unless the contracts are well 

 and carefully set out in the record of the boards, the 

 settlers will not be in very good position to fight in 

 the courts, if attempt is made to assess exorbitant 

 charges in order to pay the bills of the Reclamation 

 Service. 



There may develop cases on every project 

 where the government is entitled justly to more 

 money per acre than the price fixed in the Water 

 Users' contracts. In such cases we do not believe 

 one settler will object to paying such charges and 

 none should. 



An attitude of fairness on the part of the set- 

 tler should not, however, make him the "goat" for 

 the Reclamation Service mistakes, inefficiency or 

 foolishness. 



The "proper construction cost" has been fixed 

 in a solemn contract. Such a contract should be 

 respected and observed. 



Make the farm a desirable place for the boy. 



Do not let an inch of your ground lie idle this 



year. 



The United States is expected to feed the world 

 this year. Every farmer should do his full duty. 



We have peace and we intend to remain at 

 peace with all the world, but it is well to be pre- 

 pared. 



There will be many more irrigation plants in- 

 stalled in the humid regions this year. Irrigation 

 is the best insurance against crop failure. 



Irrigation farmers should prove to the world 

 this year that the irrigated lands are not only the 

 life insurance policy of the United States, but also 

 of all humanity. 



Business mu-st be let alone and per- 

 It Is mitted to recover. The national and 



Time to state law makers already have 



Let Business harassed business too long. The 

 Alone nation is on the eve of a period of 



great prosperity, if business men 

 can have a fair opportunity to conduct their affairs 

 in workman-like manner. 



The business situation in the United States 

 today, as affected by laws and law makers, was 

 analyzed recently in a message which James J. Hill 

 of the Great Northern railway sent to the Chicago 

 Traffic Club. 



He said: "Business needs a rest a clear field, 

 no favors, and a full restoration of confidence. Di- 

 vision, hostility, and working at cross purposes 

 have gone far enough." 



His message continued, in part: 



"The main conditions favorable to a happy change 

 exist. It calls only for understanding, cooperation, 

 and harmony between all those elements that unite 

 to make us both economically and politically one. 

 To urge this hearty and lasting cooperation, in good 

 faith and good feeling, is now the first interest of 

 all our people. 



"Thus, and not otherwise, the next generation 

 may be able to look back over the period following 

 the greatest war that the world has ever seen as one 

 of the greatest prosperity that the United States 

 has ever known. 



"The tariff changes are the smallest trouble the 

 business man has to conform himself to. The fed- 

 eral banking system will have a profound effect. 

 Only experience can bring it out. Some uncer- 

 tainty remains, and uncertainty, almost as much 

 as actual disaster, slows down business operation 

 everywhere. 



"In addition, a commission of five members has 

 been named to supervise all business corporations. 

 No session of congress will pass without actual or 

 attempted legislation to extend its powers and make 

 its control more absolute and more arbitrary. 



"In the Clayton bill some of the provisions are 

 crude. The limitation on interlocking directorates 

 can produce nothing but a crop of dummy di- 

 rectors." 



Francis G. Tracy, who has talked with Secre- 

 tary Lane, says the revaluations of the Federal 

 projects will result in benefits to the settlers only if 

 they are able to present their case in a business-like 

 manner. It is up to the Water Users. 



