Reclamation

RECLAMATION* By Dr. Richard R. Lyman Civil and Consulting Engineer, and First Assistant Supt. Y. M. M. I. A., Salt Lake City I It was in July, 1847, that the "Mormon" Pioneers in the Great Salt Lake Valley, with plow and spade, turned the mountain streams from their natural channels upon the desert lands of the West with results almost as striking as the smiting of the rock by Moses and the springing forth of water. This was the beginning of Irrigation by the Anglo-Saxon race. From these dry, parched deserts, there sprang forth, as if by magic, wheat and corn, fruit and vegetables, and every other agricul- tural product necessary for the proper nourishment of those Pioneers, and the resulting development of the great Western empire. But grain and hay and corn and vegetables are not the most valuable and important products here produced. The richest crop is the crop of young Americans. The purity of the gold found in their make-up was determined during the recent great world conflict, when they vol- unteered in such great numbers, and in defense of our country, promptly placed upon the altar every ounce of physical, mental, and financial power which they possessed. Following the small beginning of irrigation in Salt Lake Valley in 1847, was the concerted movement of a large group of Western statesmen with unusual vision, which resulted in the organization of the International Irrigation Congress, and finally the creation of the United States Reclamation Service. All praise to these sturdy far-see- ing, inspired American patriots! Go to the great Roosevelt Dam in Arizona. It is but one of the many great United States Reclamation projects. In its presence I am sure you will stand with uncovered head out of respect for that American of Americans, Theodore Roosevelt, who knew the West, who loved the West, and who lent a listening ear to the message from the International Irrigation Congress. The result was that this great President, who struggled, every hour of his life, for the advancement and good of every portion of his country, turned the great engines of his enthusiasm upon the subject of reclama- tion, and there came forth, as if by divine power or magic, a great number of modern cities in the West, each surrounded with a large irrigated area which supports a happy and prosperous rural population. The rock had been struck, and the modern civilization of the West at once sprang forth. *An address before the Seventeenth Annual Session of the International Farm Congress at Kansas City, Friday, October 12, 1923.

RECLAMATION 505 These new and prosperous Western empires thus created do not stand alone. Their development has created an almost boundless de- mand for the manufactured products of the East. Into practically every Eastern enterprise the reclamation of the West has pumped great quantities of life-blood in the form of new business. Can you imag- ine, for example, how important an element this vast reclaimed area has been in the development of the automobile industry? Had the demand for cheap transportation in this Western land of great dis- tances been less, Henry Ford today would probably not be the richest man in the world- But we are not, at this moment, so much concerned with the Reclamation accomplishments of the past as we are with what is to be done along the lines of Reclamation in the immediate future. The most highly cherished aim of every country ought to be to produce for itself the strongest and best possible citizens — best and strongest physically, morally and intellectually. Citizens of the high- est quality physically must necessarily be brought up on the best food. Until every child in our country who desires it can have a grape fruit for breakfast, for example, agriculture has not been sufficiently de- veloped. While there is anywhere in our land one child, who can- not have for his own use one quart of splendid, rich milk daily, our farming operations ought to be extended. If our greatest men and our best citizens as a rule grow up on the farm, is this not reason enough for making our farming operations sufficiently extensive that we shall, at the very least, be exporters in- stead of importers of farm products? It is certainly a wise economic policy for a country, as far as possible, to endeavor to bring up its citizens in those lines of endeavor which produce the strongest and best citizens. A few years ago Roger W. Babson made an exhaustive study of "America's Captains of Industry." He tabulated their an- cestry and found that only five per cent of these captains of industry are the sons of bankers; only ten per cent the sons of manufacturers; fifteen per cent the sons of merchants; while nearly one-third or over thirty per cent are the sons of poor preachers and farmers. Since agri- culture is the best foundation upon which any great empire can be built, our statesmen and other leading citizens ought to unite in giving to agriculture and reclamation every reasonable support. The argument is made by some that additional reclamation at this time will be disastrous for it will still further depress the prices of farm products, and that since additional irrigation must increase the agricultural output, the result will be to reduce the value of crops raised in the East. In localities where irrigation is practiced, highly specialized crops are grown. Many of these are not produced in other sections of the country, and others do not come in competition with the agricultural products of the East and South, since most of them are being, and will continue to be, consumed by the rapidly increasing population of the West itself.

506 IMPROVEMENT ERA The matter of encouraging further agricultural development is of such national economic importance that our statesmen, our captains of industry, can afford to take whatever time is necessary to make a care- ful survey of the whole situation with the purpose in view of devising some sort of government control, co-operation, or help for farmers in managing the business of their farms, that will increase the price of farm products to the consumer and reduce the profits of the middle man to such a point that the revenue to the man who toils will make it possible for him to pay a reasonable price for the land he cultivates, and at the same time, in addition, provide for himself and for his family the modern conveniences which civilization demands, and in addition, some of life's real luxuries. It is further argued that projects already begun should be com- pleted, in fact that they must be settled up in the most efficient man- ner if the products of the soil are to pay the interest on the bonded indebtedness and provide in addition a living for the people who are laboring on the land, that while such service is needed, there is a seri- ous question whether it is wise to start with too many new reclama- tion projects. The old argument with respect to potatoes applies here. When prices are low and crops abundant is the time to plant potatoes; for under such conditions most people will not plant, and therefore such a period is usually followed by one of low production and high prices. So in general, a period of over-production in agricultural products is followed by a period of under-production because it is then that the agriculturalists go into other industries and leave the farm. For this reason wise men at this very time ought to begin to think seriously about reclamation- II While many farmers are leaving their farms, and the prices of agricultural products are low, this is not the primary reason why farms are being deserted. It is his unwise speculation that is the undoing of the farmer. It is asserted by some that to start new projects before the old ones have their serious problems properly solved, would certainly be a mistake. One leading authority on reclamation says: "We have enough problems to solve that are involved in reclamation districts already started to keep us busy for a long time without opening up great areas of new land that are more costly to reclaim." Aside from the question of national economic independence, many patriots deplore the migration from agricultural to industrial life on the theory that the nation's back-bone is composed of the agricultural home-owning population. Nevertheless the migration continues, and no reclama- tion program yet proposed is sufficient to increase our cultivated area and our farm population as rapidly, from year to year, as these are relatively decreased. Look at the census figures. In 1880 the per

RECLAMATION 507 cent of our population in agricultural occupations was 43.8; in 1890, 38.5; in 1900, 34.9; in 1910, 33.2; and in 1920, 26.3 per cent. Thus in forty years the per cent of our population living on farms de- creased from approximately 43 to approximately 26, or a decrease roughly of 40 per cent. While there is over-production in some crops, is it not purely temporary and local? The present over-production is certainly not a sufficient reason for ceasing to extend our agricultural activities. The unfavorable rate of exchange has made it difficult, if not impos- sible, for us to export our agricultural products. While Germany has to pay ten million marks for one United States dollar, the people of that country cannot afford to come to the United States to buy wheat. In some degree this same condition prevails in other countries, which previously have consumed our agricultural products and as a result we have a surplus of some products. When once there is an adjust- ment in exchange, and the industries of the world have been put on a sound working basis, conditions will naturally be improved. Another argument used is that the funds of the federal govern- ment raised by taxing and assessing the whole people ought not to be used for Reclamation in the West, thus benefiting but a few. Since the Government owns and controls fifty, sixty, seventy, and in some cases nearly ninety per cent of the total land area of the eleven public land States, it is unquestionably proper for the Governmnt to assist in the development of the States wherein these great federal-owned areas are being withheld from both State and local control and taxation- What are some of the facts with respect to the growth of agri- culture in the United States? Since 1880 the population has prac- tically doubled, while the area of improved land in farms in the same length of time has not nearly doubled. On the other hand, in all these years the cultivated area per capita has steadily decreased. The census gives the following results. In 1880 the improved land in farms per capita was 5.7 acres; in '90, 5.7; in '00, 5.5; in '10, 5.2; and in 1920, 4.8 acres. Further, as to the matter of over-production: While in local areas there may be instances of over-production, if all of the people throughout the country are well supplied with these agricultural pro- ducts this cannot be the case, for the census figures of our country show that we are substantial importers of food products. These fig- ures show clearly the local nature of our over-production, or else our inability to produce all the kinds of food stuffs which we consume. For recent years the figures show that the value of our imported food stuffs per capita is as follows: 1916, $2.50; 1917, $3.30; 1918, $3.60; 1919, $5.20; 1920, $5.43; and 1921, $2.82. In some of these years our imports have exceeded more than half a billion dollars in value.

508 IMPROVEMENT ERA Again we have vast stores of mineral wealth and other valuable resources in the arid portions of our country- Since agricultural products generally cannot be shipped great distances, it will be neces- sary to reclaim portions of this arid West in order to produce the agricultural necessities for the population needed to develop these mining, manufacturing and other resources. If, as results seem to show, the great and wise and good and able leaders of our country in the professions, in the business world, in education, and in statesmanship, come somewhat largely from the farm, certainly the wise men, the best brains of our nation can hardly devote themselves to a more important work than that of assisting in directing the business operations of our farmers so as to keep a com- paratively large percentage of the people with their feet securely planted on the soil. Let the community-builders of the country follow the example set by the Land Settlement Board of the State of California, where experts in architecture, engineering, agriculture and business are in close association with the farmers on the very successful settlement projects of that State. As already explained, many farmers are struggling under loads they cannot bear because they have been unwise speculators. If in the future the prices on farm products can be properly regulated, and if bankers and other leading business men of the country can co-operate with the farmer of the future in his business, soon normal conditions will return and the farmer will be successful and contented. The greater the population we have living on our agricultural areas the more certain is it that the life and prosperity of our country will con- tinue indefinitely. Provision should be made for financing settlers with long-time money at low rates of interest. The work and busi- ness methods of farmers should be supervised by experts among them who are well trained for such supervision. Such methods will nat- urally increase the population, of the country districts and the cul- tivated farm areas, thus adding materially to assessed valuations. Cer- tainly public money used for assisting in financing these settlers will be properly expended. Nor is it sufficient simply to make it possible for a farmer to meet his reasonable obligations and to provide himself with a reason- able living. The life on the farm must be made an attractive life, with a reasonable income. With an ample supply of pure culinary water, with homes supplied with modern comforts and conveniences, much less effort will be required to induce people to choose the life of a farmer. It is important also to provide good roads and convenient transportation, so as to make desirable and attractive the social life of those living in the country. In many parts life on the farm has been most unattractive. It is said that women living under these conditions have not infrequently lost their reason. The "Mormon" village sys- tem in which people live together close, where school houses are con- venient and churches can be easily reached, has provided a country

RECLAMATION 509 life in which all the comforts and luxuries of the city are provided without excessive cost. As long as it costs more to raise wheat or beets or cotton than the amount for which these products can be sold, farmers who raise such crops cannot succeed. Men with vision are needed among the farmers who can organize them — who have that leadership necessary to secure a combination that will bring positively a price for agricul- tural products greater than the actual cost of production. Since in the past farmers as a rule have had but little scholastic training, very naturally their business methods have been more or less slip-shod, and unsatisfactory. Their business has often been conducted like that of the old-fashioned country store where the proprietor never thought of taking stock. He ordered goods and sold them and continued on thus thoughtlessly until bankruptcy often came. Farmers must learn system. They must learn how to figure costs. They must know when they are making a profit and how much. Our country owes it to itself to provide for these producers, educational opportunities, proper training, and during the active years of their lives, efficient leadership. The country too should be interested in the health of the peo- ple who are tilling the soil. Means should be provided that will make it possible for the poor teeth, poor vision, diseased adenoids and tonsils of children on the farm to be properly taken care of. They should have health opportunities equal to those provided for the chil- dren of the cities. The mal-nourished should be cared for and pro- vision should be made for maternity and infant welfare. Again the farmers should be taught the importance of economy. Wasteful methods should not be tolerated. Farm implements and machinery, for example, should be properly cared for and when not in use, protected from the weather. The country should be sufficiently interested in the agricul- turalist to see to it that a survey is made of the actual situation and early each season farmers should be given reliable advice concerning what to plant, when to plant, when to harvest, also how and where to market their products. Wise crop control would thus be provided, and it would assist greatly in overcoming present difficulties. The country itself should be interested in giving the farmer every reasonable educational opportunity. He should be assisted in secur- ing a reasonable price for his products, he should have an opportu- nity to learn thoroughly the laws of thrift and industry, and the country itself should make it possible for him to surround himself with the ordinary modern conveniences, and also with some of life's luxuries. The farmer should be assisted in the building of school houses in his neighborhood, and it should be possible for him to pro- vide churches for his convenience and social centers for his entertain- ment. In these days of good roads and automobiles, the United States of America, with a comparatively large proportion of its population

510 IMPROVEMENT ERA made up of satisfied and successful farmers, will surely have peace, happiness and prosperity. Under such conditions the liberty se- cured for us by our fathers will not only be enjoyed by ourselves and our children and our children's children, but it will be con- tinued on to coming generations indefinitely. Are You God's Idea of a Man? Do you wake in the morning with your soul alert? Are you part of the day's big plan? Do you sound your heartstrings, lest a flaw subvert? Do you rub out yesterday of spite and hurt? — Are you God's idea of a man? Are you halt and lagging, on the uphill road? Are you pushing all you can? Are you always fighting at your own day's load? Are you warped and shriveled in your business code? — Are you God's idea of a man? Do you give from the depths of your heart's big store, Or grudgingly out of your hand? Do you figure, at all, what the gift is for — To bless your neighbor or to bless you more — Are you God's idea of a man? Are you sure and steady — does the best health speak In your brain and brawn and tan? Are you straight and supple, are you sick and weak? Are you fit and functioned in your whole physique? — Are you God's idea of a man? Do you find the moments of the day too few For the arc of your own heart's span? Have you stamped your journey when the day is through With your entity or your residue? — Are you God's idea of a man? Mesa, Arizona. BERTHA A. KLEINMAN.