For many years the Federal Government has been committed to the wise policy
of reclamation and irrigation. While it has met with some failures due to
unwise selection of projects and lack of thorough soil surveys, so that
they could not be placed on a sound business basis, on the whole the
service has been of such incalculable benefit in so many States that no one
would advocate its abandonment. The program to which we are already
committed, providing for the construction of new projects authorized by
Congress and the completion of old projects, will tax the resources of the
reclamation fund over a period of years. The high cost of improving and
equipping farms adds to the difficulty of securing settlers for vacant
farms on federal projects.
Readjustments authorized by the reclamation relief act of May 25, 1926,
have given more favorable terms of repayment to settlers. These new
financial arrangements and the general prosperity on irrigation projects
have resulted in increased collections by the Department of the Interior of
charges due the reclamation fund. Nevertheless, the demand for still
smaller yearly payments on some projects continues. These conditions should
have consideration in connection with any proposed new projects.