_National Irrigation_
National irrigation became a fixed policy of the American Government
with the passage of the Reclamation Act in June, 1902. The principal
provisions of this act are briefly as follows:
First. A reclamation fund in the Treasury consisting of the proceeds
from the sales of public lands in the sixteen arid and semi-arid
states.[A]
[A] These include the states named in the first foot-note, with Texas
added.
[Illustration: SAGE BRUSH AND ALFALFA, MINIDOKA PROJECT, IDAHO
On one side of the fence is the desert sage brush, on the other rich
alfalfa]
Second. A Reclamation Service in the Department of the Interior to
investigate and report on the irrigation projects to the Secretary
of the Interior, who, with the approval of Congress, may authorize
construction and let contracts, providing the money is available in the
fund.
Third. The return to the fund of the actual cost of each project by the
sale of water rights, payments to be made in a series of instalments
running over a period of twenty years without interest. The money so
returned is to be used again and again on other works.
[Illustration: A COMFORTABLE “DESERT” HOME