LAND RECLAMATION POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES 3 
present state probably less than the unirrigated arid lands. So far 
as these two types of land are concerned, their reclamation and culti- 
vation represent an increase in production almost to the full extent 
of the products grown on the reclaimed land. 
The timbered and cut-over wet lands are producing a crop of 
timber, as well as providing a home for wild life of various kinds. 
Their reclamation will represent an increase in cropped land at the 
expense of the timber and game supply. Before such lands are 
reclaimed very careful consideration should be given to the question 
whether, considering the cost of reclamation, they are not better 
employed in growing timber and game. Certainly, giving due con- 
sideration to nearness to markets, transportation, etc., in choosing 
the areas that shall be reclaimed, preference should be given to those 
areas that are now producing little of value. 
This bulletin comprises a discussion of the reclamation policies 
of the United States, both National and State. Our past and pres- 
ent land reclamation policies are presented as a basis for the discus- 
sion of future policies. 
PAST LAND RECLAMATION POLICIES. 
The past policies with reference to land reclamation are disclosed 
by the legislation for putting them into force. In the pages that 
follow Federal policies are discussed first and State policies later. 
FEDERAL POLICIES. 
Swamp land acts. — Until about the middle of the last centuiy 
there was such a large supply of unused fertile land in this country 
that the question of reclaiming wet and arid lands received little 
attention from either the Federal or State Governments. About 
1850 some of the States found it necessary or desirable to pass laws 
providing for flood protection and reclamation work. (See p. 25.) 
They found that in reclaiming State or private land they inciden- 
tally reclaimed public lands, but had no means of reimbursing them- 
selves. They bore the expense and the Federal Government sold the 
lands reclaimed and kept the money. This situation was made the 
basis for legislation granting the public swamp lands to the States 
within which they were situated. 
Such acts were passed in 1849, 1850, and 1860. Under them the 
public swamp lands within their borders were granted to the fol- 
lowing States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, 
Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mis- 
souri, Ohio, Oregon, and Wisconsin. The total area conveyed to the 
States up to June 30, 1922, was about 64,000,000 acres. A few claims 
to additional areas are still pending. This granting of the swamp 
lands to the States explains the absence of any other Federal legisla- 
tion relating to the reclamation of swamp land. As will be shown 
later, the policy represented by this act — the removal of obstacles to 
reclamation by local agencies — has run through all Federal legisla- 
tion relating to reclamation by irrigation, except the United States 
reclamation act. 
Relation of the homestead act to reclamation policies.— The home- 
stead act (act of 1862) represented a change of policy with reference 
to the public lands in that it provided that the vacant and unre- 
served public lands could be obtained by residence thereon rather 
