Show f 4 4 4 f 4 f 4 ROOSEVELT AND XV THE rilE NATIONAL IJ RECLAMATION I LAW V. f Congress enacted the national reclamation law June Julie 17 I. 17 I 1902 1912 and beneficent land law passed since Ince 4 4 It il Is time Iho roost most public Ia f the tIme of the Iho homestead law rho Tho passage Jo of or this law mw was recommendation of the time President after 44 44 4 f duo due largely Jug lo tu time the previous of or his Influence to lo time the perfecting of ur its 4 4 4 he lie had hall lent time the weight f pi ions In ill the Interest of the time actual settlor settler and amid to lo the time exclusion 44 4 4 o of the time speculator T Tf f 4 Realizing that thai the pa passage n e of the time reclamation act acl emphasized time the thet t- t 4 t importance of saving time the public lands land for the tIme home et the time In his second mes- mes t 4 Pre President devoted de particular attention thereto 4 sage age declaring that II so so far ar as thc they aie ah are available for agriculture 4 4 and to whatever cl the they ma may bo ho reclaimed under the national t lands should be bo held rl rigidly for fort ot t 4 Irrl irrigation atlon law la lathe time the remaining public 4 the home builder tIme the settler who lives on hi his land and for fot no one une 4 else this also directed as to the lie f The Time President In message 4 best manner of using public lands In the time Vest West which are ate suitable 4 chiefly or Ot only for grazing arid and he commended this mutter matter to the the lie thet 44 4 4 t earnest consideration of congress s recommending If the time latter ex- ex 44 4 time the subject from lack of 44 4 4 any difficulty In healing dealing with 4 knowledge that pro be lie made for a a. commission o of experts t 4 daily to In and amid report upon the lie same same- Subsequently a 44 4 4 commission was appointed by the President which has already sub- sub 4 milled a partial m-ej m report t oi-t making sundry recommendations for or the he 44 4 land laws In the time of actual settlers 44 4 4 modification of ur existing 4 4 This report the time President submitted to tile the favorable consideration 4 of congress f Under the HIP provisions of time the reclamation act acl over have ha 4 I already been covered ered limb Into Inlo the treasury of the United States Stales to lo the 4 4 credit of the reclamation i fund derived from rom thin tho sales of or public r 4 lands and find fees ees and amid commissions In Iho tho several so states and amid territories 4 4 affected h by that act and more mure than hail acres of public land 4 with view to lo determining deter deter- 44 4 have been for reclamation purposes u n 4 mining time the feasibility of uC contemplated projects Sixty seven pro- pro 44 4 4 in Ill fourteen different states am and territories have been under 4 consideration and examination and the time work worl of actual construe construe- 4 lion lou has lias been commenced on eight o of thes these 44 4 4 President Roosevelt noose by reason of or his ills Intimate association with 44 4 4 Western Vestern people his actual experience In iii that section of ur the time country 44 4 4 amid accurate knowledge of or the prevailing conditions in iii the public 44 4 4 land lanaI states Is exceptionally well qualified to properly Judge c of or the time thet 4 t k 4 requisite itc needs of or that part of the time country and amid has exercised a at 44 4 4 t forceful Influence toward the tIme perfecting of a wise discriminating 4 4 to date public land policy and when so perfected will see sec ce to It 4 4 that tho tile same ame Is hs carefully and antl properly administered Such a policy 4 4 perhaps more than any ammy other le consideration Is essential to the time 4 4 prosperity of tile the West anti and the happiness of Its Us people will add to lo 4 4 tIme the material wealth and amid development do of or the tile whole country countr and 44 4 4 should hould commend itself to er c every thoughtful citizen 44 4 44 4 Irrigation lITigation for fot time the arid and semi arid lands of or time the States Slates 4 44 4 has never neer had a firmer and amid more I vigorous orous supporter In public life 44 4 44 4 than titan President Pre Roosevelt During th the decade before he became 4 4 Pre President the subject of or Irrigation m had been under us- us 44 4 4 cu ion and there was growing time the country countr a sentiment 4 4 In Iii favor a 01 of national action of or sonic some character upon this subject 4 4 There was wide diversity dl of opinion as to lo time the method to lo be employed em- em 4 4 and this very condition o of diverse dl opinions reduced the tho 44 4 44 4 probability of or national action When Mr r. nOOSe Roosevelt elt became 44 4 4 dent however ver knowing conditions in fn the great reat West cst as he lie did and 44 4 44 4 knowing the time benefits which would accrue to lo It from from systematic 44 4 4 work In behalf of or Irrigation It ho consulted with the time men mn who had 44 4 44 4 been working for national Irrigation discussed conditions with whim them 44 4 4 5 and told them of or his imis belief beller In action b by time the national government 44 4 4 find and his intention to make maleo Irrigation one of or the topics of his first 44 4 44 4 mc message sa e to congress 44 4 44 4 No President of the tile United States Stales had hall ever before mentioned 44 4 4 irrigation in a mC message 4 t t 4 |