102 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



for the reclamation of arid lands "ran high." And 

 why? The reason for it is clear. There were mil- 

 lions in the Reclamation Fund then, awaiting the 

 readiness of the Government for the construction 

 of irrigation projects. None had been built. Six- 

 teen states were clamoring for projects for which 

 the funds on hands were to be expended. Later 

 the work was begun. The sites were selected. 

 Projects were undertaken in fifteen of the sixteen 

 states. Texas was brought under the Reclamation 

 Act by special act of Congress. Construction work 

 was begun in that state also; all as a result of the 

 passage of the Reclamation Law brought about 

 through the education and enthusiasm developed 

 by the many years' work of the annual sessions of 

 the National Irrigation Congress, as well as those 

 of various western states. 



There are now about twenty-five projects under 

 way, many of them completed. Over one hundred 

 and twenty-five million dollars have been invested 

 in them. On most of them the people are con- 

 tented. They have received even more than at first 

 anticipated. Prior to all this each of these localities 

 had representatives here. Now there is less oc- 

 casion for their presence. At any rate that is the 

 way many of them view it. Those attending now 

 are largely of the number expecting and hoping 

 for new projects, while the hundreds of others of 

 former years were seeking Government aid are at 

 home looking after and enjoying the farms given 

 them as a result of the beneficent aid received 

 through the Government as a result of their united 

 efforts from year to year in the irrigation Congress. 



In view of these circumstances I think the 

 Congress is to be congratulated on its good work 

 in the past and has no cause to complain as to the 

 limited attendance. In fact, I think we have a large 

 attendance, when all the facts are considered. All 

 doubtless realize that the Reclamation Fund is be- 

 coming more limited from year to year, that prac- 

 tically all the fund is required to complete the proj- 

 ects now under way. I take it, therefore, one of 

 the questions of vital interest to the representatives 

 here from the unreclaimed sections of the arid 

 states is, how shall this fund be replenished, what 

 means can be devised by which the many untouched 

 meritorious projects, now unproductive and lying 

 in waste, may be undertaken? I have been asked 

 to take a few minutes of your time in which to 

 present my views upon how this may be done. 



I believe this to be a question of utmost im- 

 portance not only to the west, but to the entire 

 nation as well, and that now is the time to begin 

 to solve it. This point was well and very appro- 

 priately made and stated by Hon. A. A. Jones, rep- 

 resenting the President in the opening of this Con- 

 gress, when he, in substance, said that one of the big 

 national problems with which we are now con- 

 fronted is the question of financing the building of 

 new reclamation projects and that we are reaching 

 a critical period in the history of the Reclamation 

 Service, and that the time is at hand when questions 

 as to how more projects may be constructed must 

 arise. 



As I have stated, there has been invested, thus 

 faY, in national irrigation projects, something over 

 one hundred and twenty-five million dollars, and 



we probably have enough money coming in from 

 time to time to complete the projects now in process 

 of construction. But thus far no steps have defi- 

 nitely been taken towards providing a further fund 

 for the reclamation of other lands, of which there 

 are many. I doubt if there is anyone within the 

 hearing of my voice who cannot point to some area 

 in his vicinity or within his knowledge that might 

 be successfully reclaimed if there were a fund with 

 which to reclaim it. 



And so the question arises: How shall that 

 be done? 



I remember in 1906 I was on the Resolutions 

 Committee of the Irrigation Congress held at Boise, 

 Idaho, and that I filed a minority report, favoring 

 the recommendation to Congress of a method by 

 which moneys could be raised, or by which a special 

 fund of one hundred million dollars could be pro- 

 vided or made available in addition to the Reclama- 

 tion Fund, for the purpose of building irrigation 

 projects when the Reclamation Fund should be- 

 come exhausted. But the report failed of adoption. 

 The Reclamation Fund, however, has lasted much 

 longer than we expected at that time. 



There are several ways by which this most 

 desirable additional fund might be brought into 

 existence. In the first place, the Government might 

 deem it of sufficient importance to aid, as it did in 

 the building of the Panama Canal, by issuing bonds 

 at a low rate of interest, and then loaning this 

 money to the people at a low rate of interest. Pro- 

 vision should be made for the return of the principal 

 within the time in which the bonds would become 

 due. The Government would thus, without deple- 

 tion of its treasury, receive the benefit of the public 

 improvement, the development of waste country, 

 the increased taxation on property, and many other 

 values that would accrue, some of which were men- 

 tioned last evening. 



I am not saying that that is the most practic- 

 able plan under present conditions, but that it is a 

 feasible plan, and that if the Government should 

 issue bonds at a low rate of interest for this purpose, 

 as it did for building the Panama Canal and other 

 improvements in the past, and at the same time 

 feel assured that the money would be returned to 

 the treasury, there ought to be no objection to it. 



But what should be and what can be are two 

 different questions. The time, however, will come, 

 I think, when this can be done if found necessary, 

 but we do not want to wait for that time, we want 

 some of the benefits while we live ; we want to see 

 the remaining extensive areas of arid lands, as well 

 as the swamp lands, reclaimed and converted into 

 productive farms during our time, while we our- 

 selves may view and receive the benefits of the 

 improved conditions as they come along. 



If it were left to us, this would perhaps be the 

 first method we would think of adopting, but we 

 are not the Congress of the United States. Our 

 Congress here is more limited in its powers, hence 

 we can only suggest and recommend. 



I concur in what was said in the opening of 

 this Congress by ex-Secretary Jones to the effect, 

 that when we become acquainted with the members 

 of our Congress at Washington we will have more 

 confidence in our Congressmen than perhaps we 



