,,the ,,mentor #aiah4aj4ae1 ,no4 #afe1 ,reclaiming the ,desert ,,learn ,,one ,,thing ,,every ,,day ,,october #ae #aiah ,,serial ,,no4 #afe ,,the ,,mentor ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard of the ,united ,states ,reclamation ,service ,,department ,,of ,,volume #f ,,science ,,number #ag ,,twenty ,,cents ,a ,,copy ,land and the ,home-,coming ,soldier ,to the great number of returning soldiers1 land will offer the great and fundamental opportunity4 ,the experience of wars points out the lesson that our service men1 because of army life1 with its openness and activity1 will largely seek out-of-door vocations and occupations4 ,this fact is accepted by the allied ,european nations4 ,that is why their programs and policies of re-locating and readjustment emphasize the opportunities on the land for the returning soldier4 ,the question then is1 8,what land can be made available for farm homes for our soldiers80 99 99 99 99 99 ,we have millions of acres of undeveloped lands that can be made available for our home-coming soldiers4 ,we have arid lands in the ,west2 cut-over lands in the ,northwest1 the ,lake ,states and the ,south2 and also swamp lands in the ,middle ,west and ,south1 which can be made available through proper development4 ,much of this land can be made suitable for farm homes if properly handled4 ,but it will require that each type of land be dealt with in its own particular fashion4 ,the arid land will require water2 the cut-over land will require clearing1 and the swamp land must be drained4 ,without any of these aids1 they remain largely 8,no ,man's ,land40 ,the solution of these problems is no new thing4 ,in the admirable achievement of the ,reclamation ,service in reclamation and drainage1 we have abundant proof of what can be done4 99 99 99 99 99 ,our thought should now be given to the problem4 ,we should know by the time the war ends1 not merely how much arid land can be irrigated1 nor how much swamp land reclaimed1 nor where the grazing land is and how many cattle it will support1 nor how much cut-over land can be cleared1 but we should know with definiteness where it is practicable to begin new irrigation projects1 what the character of the land is1 what the nature of the improvements needed will be1 and what the cost will be4 ,we should know also1 not in a general way1 but with particularity1 what definite areas of swamp land can be reclaimed1 how they can be drained1 what the cost of drainage will be1 what crops they will raise4 ,we should have in mind specific areas of grazing lands1 with a knowledge of the cattle that are best adapted to them1 and the practicability of supporting a family upon them4 ,so1 too1 with our cut-over lands4 ,we should know what it would cost to pull or 8blow-out0 stumps and to put the lands into condition for farm homes4 ,we should know what it will cost to buy these lands ,if they are in private hands4 ,in short1 at the conclusion of the war1 the ,united ,states should be able to say to its returned soldiers3 8,if you wish to go upon a farm1 here are a variety of farms of which you may take your pick1 which the ,government has prepared against the time of your returning40 ,from a letter to ,president ,wilson from ,secretary ,lane of the ,department of the ,interior4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,mentor ,,association ,established for the ,development of ,popular ,interest in ,art1 ,literature1 ,science1 ,history1 ,nature and ,travel ,,the ,,mentor ,,is ,,published ,,twice ,a ,,month ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc41 ,,at #aad ,,east #ah,,th ,,street1 ,,new ,,york1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,subscription1 ,,four ,,dollars ,a ,,year4 ,,foreign ,,postage #ge ,,cents ,,extra4 ,,canadian ,,postage #ej ,,cents ,,extra4 ,,single ,,copies ,,twenty ,,cents4 ,,president1 ,,thomas ,h4 ,,beck2 ,,vice-,,president1 ,,walter ,p4 ,,ten ,,eyck2 ,,secretary1 ,w4 ,d4 ,,moffat2 ,,treasurer1 ,j4 ,s4 ,,campbell2 ,,assistant ,,treasurer ,,and ,,assistant ,,secretary1 ,h4 ,a4 ,,crowe4 ,,october #aeth1 #aiah ,,volume #f ,,number #ag ,entered as second-class matter1 ,march #aj1 #aiah1 at the postoffice at ,new ,york1 ,n4 ,y41 under the act of ,march #c1 #ahgi4 ,copyright1 #aiah1 by ,the ,mentor ,association1 ,inc4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,miracle ,,of ,,irrigation--,,uncompahgre ,,valley1 ,,colorado ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,irrigation ,,one ,irrigation1 the artificial application of water to produce crops1 is as old as agriculture4 ,genesis #a1ag3 8,a river went out of ,eden to water the garden40 ,the practice of irrigation is probably coincident with that of the earliest agriculture of record for the reason that the latter was begun in regions of deficient rainfall in the ,old ,world--,egypt1 ,assyria1 ,mesopotamia1 ,persia1 ,india1 ,ceylon and ,china4 ,evidences abound of the existence of important storage and distribution systems constructed previous to #bjjj ,b4 ,c4 ,even greater antiquity is ascribed to similar work1 the remains of which are found in the valley of the ,euphrates1 and also in ,china4 ,the ancient aqueducts and subterranean canals of ,south ,america1 extending for thousands of miles1 once supplied great cities and irrigated immense areas4 ,irrigation on the ,continent of ,north ,america was old when ,rome was in the glory of its youth4 ,centuries before the venturous ,norseman landed upon the bleak and inhospitable shores of ,new ,england a large population dwelt in the hot valleys of the ,southwest1 in ,new ,mexico and ,arizona4 ,from the solid rock1 with primitive tools of stone1 they cut ditches and hewed the blocks for many chambered palaces1 which they erected in the desert or on the limestone ledge of deep river canyons4 ,these voiceless ruins1 older than the memory of many centuries1 tell the story of a thrifty home-loving and semi-cultured people1 concerning whose fate history brings us no word4 ,the long lines of their canals1 now choked with the wind-swept drift of centuries1 give mute and pathetic evidence of the patience and engineering skill of the builders4 ,early in the sixteenth century1 when ,coronada1 the first great ,american explorer1 swept up the ,rio ,grande ,valley in ,texas and ,new ,mexico1 he found a pastoral race dwelling in pueblos and practicing irrigation as had their forefathers1 perhaps as far back as in the days of ,abraham4 ,the priests with the aid of their ,indian converts extended the practice of irrigation wherever they established the missions1 and introduced many varieties of fruits and vegetables from ,spain and ,italy4 ,irrigation by ,english-speaking people began in ,america in #agjj1 and1 for fully a century1 was confined to use in the cultivation of rice on narrow strips along the coastal rivers of the ,carolinas and ,georgia4 ,the first ,americans to reclaim extensive areas in the arid region were the ,mormons1 who1 in #ahdg1 settled on the eastern borders of the ,great ,interior ,basin1 on the site of ,salt ,lake ,city4 ,under wise leadership and through community effort1 numerous canal systems were constructed and extended to thousands of acres of desert lands4 ,between #ahfb and #ahhj many canal systems were constructed in ,colorado1 though none was important4 ,the success of the ,greeley colony1 established in #ahgj in the northern part of the ,state1 gave considerable impetus to irrigation all over the arid region4 ,in the last thirty years there has been an awakening to the opportunity that lies in the arid ,west for the homemaker1 and a remarkable transformation has taken place in many parts of this region4 ,irrigation canals long enough to girdle the globe three times now distribute the normal flow and the stored water of ,western streams to millions of acres1 which support hundreds of thousands of contented farmers4 ,cities1 populous and great1 have sprung up1 rural communities1 attractive and prosperous1 broad vistas of fertile fields and blossoming orchards have replaced the wastes of sand and sage brush4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,high ,,line ,,canal1 ,,utah ,,valley1 ,,utah ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,skyline ,canals ,,two ,locating and excavating several of the main canals proved almost as difficult and trying as the building of the big dams4 ,this was especially true in the ,yakima and ,okanogan valleys in ,washington1 the ,st4 ,mary and ,flathead in ,montana1 ,uncompahgre and ,grand ,river in ,colorado1 and the ,utah valley1 ,utah4 ,these canals cling to the edges of deep and precipitous canyons1 or hug the steep mountain slopes4 ,here and there huge aqueducts of reinforced concrete span the chasms4 ,for miles the water is siphoned across broad ravines in iron-banded stave pipe1 or flows in tunnels through the cliffs4 ,the ,tieton main canal of the ,yakima project1 ,washington1 for a distance of twelve miles is through a very rough country4 ,it is cement lined throughout1 and for two miles is in tunnels4 ,for the greater part of its length it hugs the side of the canyon1 in places #ejj feet above the river4 ,the lining for the canal was molded on the river bank1 where water1 sand1 and gravel were available for concrete making1 and the forms were carried to the top of the canyon by tram and cableways4 ,the capacity of the canal is #cjj cubic feet per second1 and it is now irrigating #dj1jjj acres4 ,the ,high line ,canal of the ,strawberry ,valley project swings around the steep slopes of the ,spanish ,peaks of the ,wasatch ,range in ,utah for several miles4 ,at one point a portion of the water is dropped in pipes to the turbines1 where power is developed and distributed to several towns in the valley4 ,at various points along its course the canal is covered with a reinforced concrete roof to prevent injury and filling up from avalanches in the spring4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,gunnison ,,tunnel4 ,,colorado ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,the ,gunnison ,tunnel ,,three ,notable among the engineering works calling for courage and daring is the ,gunnison ,tunnel4 ,this great bore1 which in a sense changes physical geography1 is excavated under the ,vernal ,mesa in western ,colorado4 ,the river portal is in the famous ,black ,canyon of the ,gunnison1 a precipitous chasm #c1jjj feet deep1 and the tunnel extends for nearly six miles1 #b1ejj feet below the surface of the ,mesa4 ,the outlet is in the valley of the ,uncompahgre4 ,by means of a low diversion dam1 the waters of the ,gunnison are turned into the tunnel and transferred to the desert valley of another stream4 ,the early reconnaissance surveys and examinations and the final work of determining the location of the tunnel were attended with unusual dangers4 ,the exploration of the canyon1 which up to that time had never been traversed by man1 and the careful and detailed preparation of a topographic map of this rugged region called for genuine heroism4 ,in the former task the surveyors risked their lives for many days in the depths of the gorge1 and1 in the latter1 the engineers performed their duties under conditions of great hazard and peril4 ,the construction forces met and overcame almost every difficulty ever encountered in tunnel excavation4 ,gas1 cave-ins and subterranean springs interposed obstacles throughout the work4 ,at one time a heavy flow of carbon dioxide1 or choke damp1 forced the workmen to flee for their lives and delayed operations until a ventilating shaft #fhj feet deep was sunk4 ,the heavy flows of hot and cold water necessitated the use of large pumps for months at a time4 ,for more than #ejj feet the tunnel was driven through a remarkable bed of fossils1 consisting of the shells of extinct sea creatures1 many of which were of great size4 ,exposed to the air1 disintegration was rapid1 and the huge masses of falling rock imperilled the lives of the workmen4 ,notwithstanding the extraordinary care of the ,government to safeguard the employees1 a heavy toll of human lives was taken4 ,the excavation work was projected from four adits1 three on the ,uncompahgre side and one in the canyon1 and crews of drill men and assistants simultaneously began boring into the mountain from both sides4 ,when the last charge of dynamite had been exploded and the tunnel was 8holed0 through1 it was found that the line was true within a fraction of an inch4 ,connecting with the outlet of the tunnel is a large cement-lined canal which conveys the water to the valley ten miles below4 ,here it mingles with the ,uncompahgre1 and by means of a complex distribution system of canals and laterals1 finally reaches the irrigable lands4 ,the ,uncompahgre ,valley is one of exceptional scenic beauty1 and is blessed with a fertile soil adapted to the growing of a wide variety of products4 ,its irrigable area is approximately #ajj1jjj acres1 more than half of which is now producing two generous harvests4 ,the discharge of the ,uncompahgre ,river was quite inadequate for the irrigable lands in the valley1 which had been brought under the ditches constructed before the passage of the reclamation act1 and failure of crops occurred frequently during the low water periods4 ,in addition there were thousands of acres of desert land in the valley doomed to aridity unless the water supply could be supplemented4 ,the ,gunnison ,river1 flowing uselessly in its profound canyon on the other side of the range1 was drawn upon by means of the tunnel1 and an abundance of water is now assured for all the lands included in this project4 ,agriculture here is exceedingly diversified1 and in many sections1 is intensive4 ,the products of the soil range include alfalfa1 cereals1 sugar beets1 potatoes1 onions1 peas1 beans1 and other vegetables1 peaches1 pears1 and apples4 ,surrounding the valley are vast areas of fine grazing lands included in national forests1 which furnish summer pastures for thousands of cattle and sheep4 ,the rapid settlement of the farm lands has been followed by a corresponding growth of the towns of ,montrose1 ,delta and ,olathe4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,roosevelt ,,dam1 ,,arizona ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,the ,roosevelt ,dam ,,four ,first among the imposing structures of the ,service in the order of beginning and completion is the ,roosevelt ,dam1 the important engineering feature of the ,salt ,river project in ,arizona4 ,brilliant and daring in its conception1 diverse and complicated in its problems1 and stupendous in its structural features1 the ,roosevelt ,dam stands today an enduring monument to the creative genius of its designer and builder4 ,the layman will not appreciate the complexity of the problems and the variety of obstacles that were encountered without an understanding of the locality in which the work was carried on4 ,the dam is located in a region which was once regarded as almost inaccessible except to the nomadic ,apache1 who found a safe refuge here for many years4 ,the nearest railway is #fb miles away4 ,twenty miles of this distance is across a waterless1 parched and forbidding desert4 ,for more than #dj miles the country1 gashed and fissured into fantastic forms1 a region of stupendous canyons1 steep sided mountains1 and turbulent streams1 presented an almost insuperable barrier to ingress4 ,it is a region of colorful and inspiring scenery1 but most unpromising as a site for a large engineering work4 ,the initial step was to build a highway to the dam-site1 a task of much difficulty on account of the rough country and the unwillingness of white laborers to do the work4 ,the road was finally completed1 largely by utilizing the ,apache ,indians1 many of whom were remnants of ,geronimo's band of marauders4 ,the influence of this experiment in employing ,indians has been of lasting benefit to the ,red ,men of the ,southwest1 many of whom have continued on similar work for railroads and other corporations4 ,the ,roosevelt ,road1 now familiarly known as the ,apache trail1 is one of the most spectacular highways in the country1 and thousands of tourists go over it each year in automobiles4 ,the site for the dam was located at the entrance of the profound canyon that ,salt ,river has cut through the mountains4 ,just above the canyon1 ,salt ,river and ,tonto ,creek converge in a broad1 level valley1 which is now submerged to a depth of nearly #bjj feet1 forming one of the largest artificial lakes in the country4 ,the ,roosevelt ,dam is of sandstone hewn from the walls of the canyon in which it is built4 ,it is of gravity section1 arched up stream1 #bhj feet high1 #afh feet thick at base1 and #a1jhj feet long on top4 ,at its base it covers an acre of ground4 ,a building #bji feet square and #bf stories high would about cover the space of the dam except that halfway up the sides there would be space for two more structures1 each #aa stories high and #hhe feet long on top4 ,owing to the long haul for the railroad the activities of the engineers were varied and numerous4 ,the ,government cement mill turned out #fjj1jjj barrels of first-class cement1 the saw-mill in the ,national ,forest manufactured all the lumber required to house #b1jjj people1 and for stores1 offices1 etc42 a hydro-electric plant furnished power to the contractor on the dam and light for the camp2 two farms were operated to supply food for the employs2 water works and sewerage systems were installed1 and law and order were preserved during four years of construction4 ,the engineer had charge also of a large commissary1 a big mess1 and superintended a brickyard and cement pipe plant4 ,during the building of the dam the valley below was the scene of unprecedented activity4 ,a million-dollar diversion dam was constructed across the ,salt ,river to divert the stored water into thousands of miles of canals2 power plants1 pumping plants1 transmission lines1 and a thousand and one engineering details were completed in advance of the great day when the turbulent floods of ,salt ,river would be conserved and led to the thirsty lands4 ,on ,march #ah1 #aiaa1 former ,president ,roosevelt1 in the presence of an assemblage of nearly #a1jjj people1 formally dedicated the structure which fittingly bears his name4 ,by the simple pressure of an electric button the enormous gates weighing #fj1jjj pounds were raised and released the pent-up floods for irrigating nearly #bjj1jjj acres of ,salt ,river ,valley4 ,the swift passing of years has been marked by marvelous progress in this desert valley4 ,in #aijb1 when the work was started1 the assessed valuation of the country1 of which the valley is the larger part1 was #e1jjj1jjj4 ,in #aiaf1 the taxable property values were #gb1jjj1jjj4 ,in #aiac1 the first crop census of the project was taken and showed an irrigated acreage of #aei1agj1 and a gross value of crops of #d1gge1jjj4 ,in #aiag1 the total acreage watered was #bja1fjj2 the gross value of crops was #ac1fib1jjj4 ,during the same period the number of farms increased from #c1fjj to #d1cbf4 ,the net cost of the entire project to ,june #cj1 #aiag1 including #c1ejj1jjj for the ,roosevelt ,dam1 was #aa1cfg1jjj4 ,the annual returns from the land irrigated by it are more than #c1jjj1jjj in excess of this amount4 ,the gross value of crops in #aiag was almost equal to that of ,new ,hampshire and ,rhode ,island in the census year of #aiji4 ,in ,october of #aiag the ,roosevelt ,dam1 canal system1 and power plants were formally transferred to the ,water ,users' ,association1 under whose management the project henceforth will be operated4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,arrowrock ,,dam1 ,,idaho--,,the ,,highest ,,dam ,,in ,,the ,,world ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,the ,highest ,dam in the ,world ,,five ,arrowrock dam1 in ,idaho1 is probably the most spectacular structure to the credit of the ,service4 ,completed on ,october #d1 #aiae1 it ranks all other dams in the world in its height1 #cej feet above bedrock4 ,it is of rubble concrete1 arch gravity type1 and contains #ehe1acj cubic yards of material4 ,it was built by ,government forces1 and not by contract1 and its completion in two years less than the estimated time and at a saving of more than two million dollars in the estimated cost1 furnishes a striking example of ,federal efficiency and economy4 ,in connection with this important work the engineers built and operated a standard gauge railway #ad miles long1 which carried more than #hj1jjj passengers1 and #ad1jjj1jjj tons of freight4 ,a unique camp1 containing #d1jjj people1 was established1 with sewerage1 water works1 and electric lights4 ,schools for the children of employees1 a hospital1 postal savings bank1 churches1 and ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a41 a large general store and commissary1 blacksmith and machine shops1 sand-grinding and cement-mixing plants1 all under the engineer's direction1 gave to the camp the aspect of an enterprising and busy community4 ,it was a camp in which1 for four years1 there was no night4 ,throughout the greater part of this period the work proceeded without interruption1 night and day1 with three eight-hour shifts4 ,profiting by the experience gained on other large works of the ,service1 and with labor-saving devices of their own invention1 the engineers on ,arrowrock worked with extraordinary swiftness and sureness1 and established a most enviable record for economy and time4 ,the total cost of the ,arrowrock is approximately #e1jjj1jjj1 and its principal purpose is to conserve the floods of ,boise ,river for the irrigation of #bdj1jjj acres of land embraced in the ,boise project4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,illustration3 ,,suburb ,,of ,,phoenix1 ,,arizona--,,reclaimed ,,from ,,desert ,,land ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,the ,romance of the ,desert ,,six ,a vein of romance runs through every form of human endeavor4 ,no life so sordid1 prosaic1 or wretched1 but has felt sometime its light and gladsome touch4 ,in the desert1 romance finds its chief essentials in adventure1 courage1 daring and self-sacrifice4 ,for more than half a century man has been writing a romance of compelling interest upon the face of the dusty earth4 ,irrigation1 with ,midas' touch1 has changed the desert's frown to smiling vistas of verdure4 ,its solemn silence has been broken by the voices of countless happy people4 ,our national strength is in its citizens1 and the place in which the best is bred is in the country4 ,the threat of urban congestion1 no longer remote1 and the pressure of population1 which even now is bearing heavily upon our resources1 are unanswerable arguments for increasing and making permanent the nation's virility1 prosperity and growth by creating more country homes4 ,it is an economic axiom that the stability of a nation is assured only when the bulk of its citizens reside in their own homes4 ,the ideals and principles for which our forefathers fought cannot be preserved and maintained by a citizenry whose interest does not extend beyond mere wage earning4 ,the ,american desert was won by war1 treaty1 discovery and purchase4 ,flying at one time the flags of four nations1 its history is rich in thrilling incident and adventure4 ,its milestones are the bones of trappers1 explorers1 and pioneers4 ,its people are strong and courageous4 ,to battle with the elemental forces of nature has become a passion4 ,while the glamor of romance in years agone is dispelled1 it is still romance-land1 but with a new background4 ,the romance of creation now pervades the once silent desert1 and the dominant thought and impulse is to establish there the well ordered life of ,new ,england with all the highly organized facilities for making existence in the country attractive4 ,american people cannot rightly claim to have measured up to their opportunity until the deserts of the ,west and the swamp lands of the ,south have been replaced by vistas of prosperous farmsteads4 ,,written ,,especially ,,for ,,the ,,mentor ,,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,,illustration ,,for ,,the ,,mentor1 ,,vol4 #f1 ,no4 #ag1 ,,serial ,no4 #afe ,,copyright1 #aiah1 ,,by ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 ,,inc4 ,,the ,,mentor ,,department ,,of ,,science ,,serial ,,number #afe ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,desert ,by ,c4 ,j4 ,,blanchard ,united ,states ,reclamation ,service ,with ,illustrations from ,photographs ,supplied by the ,united ,states ,reclamation ,service4 ,entered as second-class matter ,march #aj1 #aiac1 at the postoffice at ,new ,york1 ,n4 ,y41 under the act of ,march #c1 #ahgi4 ,copyright1 #aiah1 by ,the ,mentor ,association1 ,inc4 ,,mentor ,,gravures ,a ,,miracle ,,of ,,irrigation1 ,,uncompahgre ,,valley1 ,,colorado ,,high ,,line ,,canal1 ,,utah ,,valley1 ,,utah ,,gunnison ,,tunnel1 ,,colorado ,,mentor ,,gravures ,,roosevelt ,,dam1 ,,arizona ,,arrowrock ,,dam1 ,,idaho ,,suburb ,,of ,,phoenix1 ,,arizona ,illustration3 ,,making ,,furrows ,,for ,,irrigation 8,it is a grander achievement to expand the domain of civilization by water than by blood40 ,national reclamation was the dream of ,western statesmen and thinkers for a quarter of a century before a laggard ,congress gave it form and actuality by the law of ,june #ag1 #aijb4 ,with the passage of that law and another which initiated the construction of the ,panama ,canal1--both were signed by ,president ,roosevelt in the same month1--the engineering forces of the nation were flung into widely differing fields of activity4 ,with the ,panama ,canal engineers1 the task1 though herculean1 was confined to a restricted and perfectly well defined area4 ,on the other hand1 the ,reclamation problems were generally in regions widely separated1 remote from transportation1 and often unsurveyed and unexplored4 ,to appreciate the variety and magnitude of the tasks involved1 it is necessary briefly to describe the general character of the country in which these works were projected4 ,the ,desert ,states ,the great ,american desert may be roughly described as lying between the western boundary of the ,mississippi ,valley and the ,pacific ,ocean1 and as embracing about two-fifths of the total area of continental ,united ,states1 exclusive of ,alaska4 ,the superficial area of the several states that comprise this desert is almost equal to the combined areas of ,norway1 ,sweden1 ,denmark1 ,holland1 ,germany1 ,belgium1 ,france1 ,italy1 the ,british ,isles1 ,austro-,hungary1 ,spain1 ,portugal1 the ,balkan ,states1 ,turkey in ,europe1 and ,japan4 ,the population of the so-called desert states,a is #af1dbc1fbe1 while that of the countries above-mentioned is over twelve times as great4 ,within the confines of the desert is every gradation of climate from north temperate to semi-tropic found in these ,european countries4 ,its physical geography includes a wide variety of features from the ,great ,plains to the highest and lowest elevations in our country4 ,herein are found the most notable scenic attractions1 including the great national playgrounds of ,yellowstone1 ,glacier1 ,rocky ,mountain1 ,mount ,rainier1 ,crater ,lake and ,yosemite ,national ,parks1 the ,grand ,canyon of ,arizona1 and the principal national forests4 ,a ,arizona1 ,new ,mexico1 ,california1 ,oregon1 ,washington1 ,nevada1 ,utah1 ,idaho1 ,montana1 ,colorado1 ,kansas1 ,nebraska1 ,north and ,south ,dakota1 ,oklahoma4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,first ,,flow ,,of ,,water ,in ,grand ,valley ,project1 ,colorado ,as to water supply1 the desert belongs in two regions1 arid and semi-arid4 ,west of the ,missouri and extending to the foot of the ,rocky ,mountains1 is a vast area of foothills and gently sloping1 grassy prairies1 which constitute a large part of the semi-arid or sub-humid region of the ,united ,states4 ,this broad belt1 stretching from ,mexico northward into ,canada1 has no clear-cut boundary separating it from the humid region on the east or the arid region on the west1 owing to the variance of the mean annual precipitation in many localities4 ,a convenient and easily marked line for the eastern boundary of the arid region is one closely following the hundred and third meridian4 ,on the north it bends away from the meridian toward the west1 and on the south tends eastward north of the ,rio ,grande4 ,on the west the arid region extends to the ,pacific ,coast in extreme southern ,california1 but from ,monterey north there is a narrow belt of semi-arid and humid country bordering the ,pacific ,ocean4 ,the ,coast ,range is humid1 especially in ,oregon and ,washington1 where the rainfall is as heavy as in any other part of the ,united ,states4 ,illustration3 ,,forty ,,bushels ,,of ,,wheat ,,per ,,acre ,shoshone ,project1 ,wyoming4 ,this was desert land in #aiae ,the true desert1 wherein the production of crops is wholly dependent upon the artificial application of water1 lies for the most part west of the ,rocky ,mountains4 ,its estimated area1 #ijj1jjj square miles1 is probably slightly greater than that of the semi-arid region4 ,an accurate determination of the relative size of each1 however1 is not possible until a comprehensive hydrographic survey has been completed4 ,contrary to popular opinion1 this region is not a vast wilderness1 desolate and unpromising4 ,between the mountain ranges lie many beautiful valleys1 through which flow numerous streams fed by melting snows4 ,utah and ,nevada contain large areas of sage-brush desert1 comprising what is known as the ,great ,basin1 which has no outlet to the sea1 and is doomed to aridity by reason of the absence of living streams4 ,millions of acres of desert now inhabited by the coyote and the rattlesnake await only the coming of the engineer to wake to teeming fecundity4 ,in one important respect the arid and semi-arid regions are alike1 and that is in the character of the streams4 ,almost without exception the rivers of the ,west are erratic and 8flashy0 in flow1 are subject to long periods of drought and sudden and destructive floods4 ,the full utilization of these streams for irrigation and power necessitates storage4 ,in the control of floods1 engineers have found their greatest problem1 and one whose solution has taxed the skill1 imagination and daring of twentieth-century genius4 ,illustration3 ,,wheat ,,on ,,shoshone ,,project1 ,,wyoming ,this land was desert in #aijh ,national ,irrigation ,national irrigation became a fixed policy of the ,american ,government with the passage of the ,reclamation ,act in ,june1 #aijb4 ,the principal provisions of this act are briefly as follows3 ,first4 ,a reclamation fund in the ,treasury consisting of the proceeds from the sales of public lands in the sixteen arid and semi-arid states4,a ,a ,these include the states named in the first foot-note1 with ,texas added4 ,illustration3 ,,sage ,,brush ,,and ,,alfalfa1 ,,minidoka ,,project1 ,,idaho ,on one side of the fence is the desert sage brush1 on the other rich alfalfa ,second4 ,a ,reclamation ,service in the ,department of the ,interior to investigate and report on the irrigation projects to the ,secretary of the ,interior1 who1 with the approval of ,congress1 may authorize construction and let contracts1 providing the money is available in the fund4 ,third4 ,the return to the fund of the actual cost of each project by the sale of water rights1 payments to be made in a series of instalments running over a period of twenty years without interest4 ,the money so returned is to be used again and again on other works4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,comfortable 8,,desert0 ,,home ,having electric power for heat1 light and cooking ,fourth4 ,the holding of public lands for actual settlers under the homestead act in small farm units sufficient to support a family4 ,fifth4 ,the sale of water rights to private land owners1 but not for more than #afj acres4 ,sixth4 ,the ultimate turning over to the people of the irrigation system1 to be operated and managed by them under a system of home rule4 ,illustration3 ,,high ,,school ,,building1 ,,minidoka ,,project ,this beautiful1 fully equipped school stands where there was only desert in #aijg ,the policy of national irrigation is broadly paternal and of enormous economic importance to the whole country4 ,in the building of new commonwealths in the arid ,west the ,government is utilizing its own undeveloped resources4 ,it is creating opportunities for its citizens to establish themselves in permanent homes in which patriotism1 loyalty and civic pride are bred and fostered4 ,for a number of years the growth of population has been abnormal when compared with the development of the agricultural industries that must support the people4 ,farming as a profession has been languishing and falling behind the general development of the country4 ,the rapid increase in land values has made it correspondingly more difficult for the man of small means to acquire a foothold on the land4 ,practically every progressive nation in the world has come to recognize this fact1 and is making provisions to encourage and assist its citizens to undertake farming4 ,the primary purpose of the ,reclamation ,law1 therefore1 is to make homes on the land4 ,to the new empire in the ,west have flocked the young1 the strong1 the adventurous1 and herein we are witnessing a gradual welding of all the ,aryan races into a final race type4 ,signs are not lacking that this type in time will dominate the world1 for the desert offers to every man his true birthright--room to breathe1 sunshine1 a sure reward for intelligent labor1 the individual home1 and an opportunity to become independent4 ,desert reclamation already has gone beyond the stage of prophecy4 ,the material and substantial results that have been accomplished place the work of the ,government on a practical and solid foundation4 ,the ,romance of ,reclamation ,the history of national reclamation is as interesting and romantic as a tale from the ,arabian ,nights4 ,romance colored the vision of builders that saw in the sparkling streamlets1 the unchecked floods1 the wide1 free plains and the vacant mountain valleys a promise of independence1 happy homes and laughing children4 ,theirs was not the incentive of large emoluments1 for ,government salaries are notoriously meager4 ,their inspiration came from doing a signal work of splendid usefulness1--conquering nature in her unfriendliest mood for the permanent and lasting good of mankind4 ,as they toiled in the fastnesses of the mountains1 in abysmal canyons or far out in the voiceless desert1 through the blazing summer heat of the ,southwest or the fierce blizzards of the northern plains1 this thought was uppermost1 8,by this work we shall make the desert blossom40 ,illustration3 ,,chickens ,,thrive ,in the dry climate of the desert ,their dramatic achievements stand out boldly in this age of engineering triumphs4 ,the mighty floods of western rivers have been checked behind enormous masonry dams1 several of which are ranked among the highest in the world4 ,physical geography has been altered by transferring rivers from one drainage basin into that of another4 ,whole rivers are now flowing through tunnels that pierce lofty mountain ranges1 and the water is being distributed in thousands of miles of canals to a million acres of desert4 ,illustration3 ,,first ,,settlers ,,on ,,desert ,,lands ,settlers' houses where once was the haunt of the buffalo ,owing to limitation of space only a few of these interesting irrigation projects of the ,united ,states ,federal ,government are here mentioned1 although each is worthy of extended description4 ,the annual reports of the ,service are obtainable from the ,superintendent of ,public ,documents in ,washington1 and these contain full details4 ,in the order of their magnitude and the spectacular character of the engineering work1 the ,arrowrock dam in ,idaho1 ,elephant ,butte dam in ,new ,mexico1 ,roosevelt dam in ,arizona1 ,shoshone and ,pathfinder dams in ,wyoming1 and ,gunnison tunnel in ,colorado1 take first rank4 ,several of these are described at length elsewhere4 ,illustration3 ,,an ,,oregon ,,melon ,,patch ,the ,most ,capacious ,irrigation ,reservoir ,in a region rich in thrilling reminiscence along the pathway trod by the ,conquistadores of ,spain1 ,federal engineers recently completed a monumental structure of masonry known as the ,elephant ,butte dam in ,new ,mexico4 ,this enormous mass of rock and cement effectually and permanently blocks the canyon of the ,rio ,grande just below the isolated basaltic peak from which it derives its name4 ,it rises from the depths of the canyon #cah feet1 and its crest length is #afgd feet4 ,it owes its place among the greatest structures of the age to the enormous capacity of the reservoir created by it4 ,behind this towering monolith the greatest floods of the turbulent ,rio ,grande are held in a lake forty-five miles long and four miles wide4 ,when full it will contain enough water to cover #b1fbg1gjj acres to the depth of a foot1 or sufficient to submerge the entire ,state of ,connecticut ten inches deep4 ,this stored water1 when needed for irrigation1 is turned back into the river and taken out at several points above and below ,el ,paso1 ,texas2 #ahj1jjj acres in ,new ,mexico1 ,texas and ,old ,mexico are being brought into cultivation4 ,the charm of antiquity pervades the whole region4 ,here irrigation was practiced long before the first written word of our history4 ,centuries before the coming of the ,spanish missionaries1 a pastoral race dwelt here and cultivated this fertile valley along the stream4 ,a later civilization merely absorbed and extended the primitive canals until the era of national reclamation aroused the valley to new life and purpose4 ,while some of the primitive methods of agriculture1 differing but slightly from those of ,biblical days1 are still practiced1 modern harvesting machinery is replacing the hand sickle1 the sulky plow supplants the sharpened stick1 and the threshing of grain is now performed by modern methods1 and rarely by means of goats and ponies4 ,splendid highways of concrete and macadam connect the farming communities with numerous thriving towns1 and the quaint groups of adobe houses1 which here and there rise in the desert1 are the last remains of vanishing races that are slowly giving way to modern progress4 ,illustration3 ,,six ,,years ,,from ,,desert ,,land ,a rich and fruitful farm on land barren in #aiab ,the ,shoshone ,dam ,in northern ,wyoming1 near the eastern entrance to ,yellowstone ,national ,park1 the ,south and ,north ,forks of ,shoshone ,river plunge downward from the steep slopes of the ,rockies and unite in a broad level-floored valley which in early geological times was a beautiful mountain lake4 ,at the lower end of the valley the river rushes abruptly into a deep and narrow canyon4 ,the entrance to the canyon1 which is only sixty feet wide at the bottom1 was selected as the site for the ,shoshone dam4 ,before construction began it was necessary to blast a highway through the gorge for a distance of eight miles1 in order to connect the work with the nearest railway4 ,this highway is now a part of the road system into the ,park1 and is known as ,cody ,way4 ,illustration3 ,,drying ,,almonds ,on the ,orland ,project1 ,california ,nearly a year was spent in investigating bed rock conditions before the foundation was placed4 ,enormous boulders eighty feet in thickness were discovered in the bed of the stream2 the removal of these1 owing to the narrowness and depth of the canyon1 proved expensive and difficult4 ,before any work was undertaken in clearing the channel of obstructions1 the river was passed around the dam site by means of a tunnel4 ,during the early period of construction the laborers were taken to and from their work1 hundreds of feet below the camp1 by means of baskets1 and skips were suspended on cable ways across the gorge4 ,sudden floods1 extreme cold weather1 short seasons1 and other unfavorable conditions greatly retarded progress4 ,the dam is a wedge of concrete1 with curve up stream1 #cbh feet in height1 and #bjj feet long on top4 ,it has restored the lake of olden times1 and this beautiful body of water is now one of the attractions of the trip to the ,park4 ,the stored water will be utilized for the irrigation of #aej1jjj acres of land on the mesa 7a high1 broad1 flat table-land7 below ,cody4 ,this region until #aijg was a worthless and uninhabited desert4 ,today it is occupied by more than #gjj farm families and three growing towns4 ,conquering the ,american ,nile ,illustration3 ,,laguna ,,dam1 ,,arizona-,,california ,length1 #dgha feet2 #ai feet high4 ,division ,gates1 #agcc feet1 are the largest in the world ,the delta of the ,colorado ,river1 in ,arizona and ,california1 is often described as ,america's ,valley of the ,nile4 ,in climate1 soil and agricultural conditions it is singularly like the great valley of ,egypt4 ,the conquest of this turbulent river of the ,west was a splendid achievement4 ,the engineering features of the ,yuma project1 in ,arizona and ,california1 are in many respects original4 ,the control of the stream called for a long diversion dam and more than #ajj miles of strong levees4 ,the dam is nearly a mile long1 nineteen feet high1 and #bfg feet wide on the bottom4 ,its type is similar to that of the barrages of the ,english engineers in ,india4 ,laid on a foundation of shifting sand and silt1 it is held in place by its enormous weight1 #fjj1jjj tons4 ,owing to the quantities of silt carried by this stream1 the dam is provided with a large settling basin1 sluiceway and gates1 by which comparatively clear water is turned into the canals4 ,the main canal system extends for twelve miles on the ,california side4 ,just opposite the city of ,yuma1 ,arizona1 the entire volume1 #a1jjj cubic feet per second1 is dropped in a siphon #a1jjj feet long and carried under the river to the ,arizona side4 ,here are #ij1jjj acres of valley and mesa land1 and more than half of the area is being developed intensively4 ,the soil is of great depth and extremely fertile1 and the climate is adapted to the growing of a wide variety of crops4 ,the mesa lands which are to be opened later are described as frostless1 and especially adapted to growing citrus and other semi-tropic crops4 ,the ,pathfinder ,dam ,illustration3 ,,grand ,,river1 ,,roller-,,top ,,division ,,dam1 ,,colorado ,electrically operated rollers are lifted to pass the floods ,far from the beaten path of man1 fifty miles from the nearest railway in a deep and narrow granite canyon of the ,north ,platte ,river1 in southern ,wyoming1 engineers in #aijc located an admirable site for a high masonry dam4 ,early maps of the expedition of ,gen4 ,john ,c4 ,frmont1 the explorer1 indicated the spot as the scene of a disaster where these adventurers suffered the wreck of their boats and the loss of many belongings in the rapids of the river4 ,hence the name ,pathfinder dam4 ,this is a beautiful structure of huge granite blocks #bbe feet high and #fjj feet long on top1 and its cost was #a1jjj1jjj4 ,illustration3 ,,shoshone ,,reservoir1 ,,wyoming ,judged from the service it has rendered mankind already1 as a preventive against disastrous floods and a guarantor of generous harvests1 it deserves a high place among the storage structures of the world4 ,since its completion the ,north ,platte ,river has been completely tamed1 and angry floods that once wrought millions of dollars of destruction are now so distributed as to insure an annual harvest valued at #f1jjj1jjj in a region once occupied only by nomadic herdsmen4 ,transferring a ,river ,the waters of the ,strawberry ,river in ,utah1 which for ages flowed idly to the ,pacific ,ocean1 are today contributing to the material prosperity of a beautiful valley in the drainage of ,great ,salt ,lake4 ,the transferrence of a river from its own drainage into that of another has been performed by the ,federal engineers on several occasions1 notably in ,colorado1 where the ,gunnison ,river is augmenting the flow of the ,uncompahgre1 the ,st4 ,mary ,river in ,montana 7a former tributary of the ,arctic ,ocean1 now transferred to ,atlantic drainage7 and the ,truckee ,river in ,nevada1 now consolidated with the ,carson ,river4 ,illustration3 ,,pathfinder ,,dam1 ,,wyoming #bah feet high1 #fjj feet long at top4 ,irrigates #bbj1jjj acres2 cost1 #a1jjj1jjj ,strawberry ,valley1 ,utah1 in the heart of the lofty ,wasatch ,range1 has been converted into a large lake by means of a dam in ,strawberry ,river4 ,the stored waters are turned through a tunnel four miles long1 piercing the range1 and dropped into ,utah ,valley on the ,western slope4 ,by means of sixty miles of cement-lined canals skirting the mountains1 an area of #fj1jjj acres of excellent agricultural land has been reclaimed4 ,the downward rush of water has been harnessed1 and the surplus power developed is leased to several of the towns in the valley4 ,illustration3 ,,elephant ,,butte ,,dam1 ,,new ,,mexico ,height1 #cah feet2 length at top1 #afgd feet4 ,creates largest artificial reservoir for irrigation in the world ,reclamation ,past and ,future ,fifteen years have passed since reclamation became a ,federal policy1--a short period in a nation's life if measured only in time1 but one of historic importance when measured by achievement and progress4 ,in this brief span of years the ,service has completed sixteen notable structures of masonry and concrete1 controlling the floods of torrential streams1 has excavated more than #aj1jjj miles of canals1 many of which carry whole rivers1 and seventy miles of tunnels1 mostly in mountains4 ,it has to its credit the highest dam1 the longest tunnel and the largest storage reservoir for irrigation in the world4 ,by an investment of #abj1jjj1jjj1 which is repayable by the farmers in twenty years1 the productive territory of the nation has been expanded by more than a million acres1 and there has resulted an annual increase in its food supply valued at #ej1jjj1jjj4 ,where once the wilderness reigned1 the hearth-stones of #bjj1jjj people have been erected1 and a citizenship established which constitutes a new bulwark of ,american liberty1 and bulkhead the flood waters of anarchy4 ,thrilling1 dynamic1 and inspirational1 this work quickens patriotic impulses and stimulates love for the republic that has promoted it4 ,illustration3 ,,outlet ,,of ,,the ,,strawberry ,,valley ,,tunnel ,four miles long1 and connecting ,pacific ,ocean drainage with that of our great interior basin ,reclamation ,plans ,the plans of the ,reclamation ,service for the present and for the immediate future are centered upon the completion of twenty-six projects1 embracing a total of #c1aah1jjj acres4 ,to date1 engineering works have made available an adequate water supply for approximately #a1hjj1jjj acres4 ,in #aiag1 water was applied to about #a1bjj1jjj acres1 and the gross value of crops was nearly #fj1jjj1jjj4 ,it is conservative to state that with the irrigation of all the lands included in these projects1 #ej1jjj families will have been established on individual farms4 ,the taxable wealth will be augmented by #cjj1jjj1jjj1 and our annual returns from crops increased by #ajj1jjj1jjj4 ,the area included in these projects exceeds the total cropped acreage of ,connecticut1 ,vermont1 ,massachusetts1 ,rhode ,island and ,delaware1 and the estimated value of crops after reclamation is #bj1jjj1jjj greater than the total returns per annum of these states4 ,in these estimates no account is taken of the important increment to our national wealth in the resulting growth of cities and towns1 in the building of railroads1 and in manufacturing and commercial institutions1 which in aggregate usually equals that of land values4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,new ,,home ,,on ,,the ,,desert ,in fulfilling its manifest destiny1 the ,west has undertaken the greatest and most splendid enterprise in the world--the upbuilding of ,man4 ,it is doing for the world what the world needs most4 ,it is producing a great people4 ,the sentiment of it has been expressed in eloquent terms by the late ,henry ,grady1 8,a citizen10 he said1 8standing in the doorway of his home1 contented on his own threshold1 his family gathered about him1 while the evening of a well-spent day closes in scenes that are dearest1--he shall save the republic when the drum tap is futile and the barracks are deserted40 ,this pregnant sentence epitomizes the final chapter of our ,romance of the ,desert1 as it is now being written in the arid ,west4 ,illustration3 ,,products ,,of ,,the ,,desert 99 99 99 99 99 ,,supplementary ,,reading ,,reclaiming ,,the ,,arid ,,west ,by ,george ,wharton ,james ,,uncle ,,sam',s ,,outdoor ,,magic ,by ,p4 ,k4 ,fitzhugh ,,documents ,,issued ,,by ,,the ,u4 ,s4 ,,reclamation ,,service ,,and ,,department ,,of ,,agriculture4 ,information concerning the above books may be had on application to the ,editor of ,the ,mentor4 ,,the ,,open ,,letter ,on reading ,mr4 ,blanchard's account of the work of reclaiming the desert for the people1 the natural question that arises in the reader's mind is1 8,how does one get a government farm and what are the expenses involved80 ,anticipating this question1 ,i obtained information from ,mr4 ,blanchard in reply to it4 ,getting a farm is comparatively a simple proposition4 ,making good on it is quite another matter4 ,in the first instance1 the ,government has made the way easy and inexpensive4 ,any citizen of the ,united ,states who has not used his homestead right is qualified to make a filing on any surveyed public lands not withdrawn from entry4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the procedure is about as follows4 ,after a personal inspection of the vacant land desired for a home1 the homeseeker makes application to the proper local ,land ,office or ,land ,commissioner and deposits filing fees of #h for an #hj-;acre or #af for a #afj-;acre tract4 ,if the entry is made on an irrigation project1 usually he must pay1 in addition to the above1 five per cent of the building charge1 and1 when due1 the annual charge for operation and maintenance4 ,on the projects containing lands now open to entry1 the building charge ranges from #cj to #ge per acre1 and is payable in twenty years without interest4 ,the charge for operation and maintenance averages about #a4ej per acre1 and is payable annually4 ,this charge will vary on the different projects and according to the amount of water used4 ,summing up the initial cost of obtaining a ,government irrigated farm of #dj acres1 the settler will find it necessary to expend #f4ej for filing fees2 if the construction charge is #ej per acre1 he will pay #ajj for the first instalment and1 when due1 about #fj for the operation and maintenance assessment--a total of approximately #aff4ej4 ,in the second1 third1 fourth and fifth years following1 the only payments required are the annual charges for operation and maintenance1 about #fj4 ,thus in five years the settler is obliged to pay to the ,government approximately #djf4ej4 ,the balance of the unpaid construction charges are payable in fifteen annual instalments1 beginning on ,december #a of the fifth year1 the first five of which are each #e per cent and the remaining ten #g per cent of the construction charge1 without interest for the deferred payments4 ,the ,secretary of the ,interior is authorized to require the reclamation for agricultural purposes and the cultivation of one-fourth of the irrigable area within three full irrigation seasons1 and of one-half of the irrigable area within five full seasons4 ,actual residence1 covering a period of three years1 is obligatory4 ,on the basis of a construction charge of #ej per acre1 and an annual operation and maintenance charge of #a4ej per acre1 the entire investment of the settler at the end of the twenty years' term will be as follows3 ,filing fees #f4ej ,construction charges #b1jjj4jj ,operation assessments #a1gjj4jj -------- ,total #c1gjf4ej ,for a farm on public lands outside of an irrigation project the only payment required is the filing fee at the time of entry4 99 99 99 99 99 ,how much capital should a man have to take up an irrigated farm8 ,it is extremely difficult to answer this question4 ,experience has shown that success depends about #ge per cent on the individual4 ,the chief requisites for success may be stated as energy1 business ability1 judgment1 capital and experience4 ,experience has been placed last for the reason that it has been shown repeatedly that experience in farming in humid regions is not a particularly valuable asset in irrigated farming4 ,it may1 therefore1 be said that the average man who takes up a ,government irrigated farm of #dj acres should possess a capital of at least #b1ejj1 and not less than #d1jjj if he undertakes to subdue an #hj-;acre tract4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as we ride on the overland trains across the great desert stretches of the far ,west1 our eyes are fed full of color4 ,in the midst of the riot of rich tints1 we turn eagerly to occasional green spots that relieve the blazing beauty of the landscape1 and our glances linger there with a sense of rest4 ,these green spots are desert farms--fresh oases where1 under the spell of water1 the soil is wakening from its centuries of slumber and yielding up its stored wealth4 ,these desert farms make a strong1 human appeal to the passing traveler4 ,they tell an assuring story of man's return to the soil and of rich returns from the soil--a story of well-being and content attained1 in substantial1 comfortable homes4 ,in some such modest way as pictured on the preceding page the settler begins his conquest of the desert4 ,the measure of his success and prosperity lies in his hands4 ,the wealth is there ready to be harvested4 ,illustration3 ,w4 ,d4 ,moffat ,,editor ,uncle ,sam a ,generous ,giver ,the ,american ,government has given of its resources as no nation ever did before or ever can again4 ,to thirteen ,western ,states alone over a hundred million acres have been given4 ,the peoples of the world have been called in and tendered homes4 ,now1 out of an area within the ,united ,states of a billion and a half acres of public domain1 we have left as public lands subject to disposal as homesteads and otherwise less than #bhj1jjj1jjj acres1 not one-half of which1 it may safely be said1 will ever prove to be cultivable4 ,in one year the ,department of the ,interior issued over #fj1jjj patents to land--donations from the nation to the courageous pioneer4 ,any man who finds gold1 silver1 copper or other minerals on his grant has them for the asking--a prize for discovery4 ,all the revenue from the sale of public lands 7less five per cent1 which goes to the ,states7 goes into a fund for the building of irrigation works to reclaim the desert4 ,over a hundred million dollars have been so spent1 which is1 however1 no more than a loan to the farmers4 ,before attempting the governmental construction of such work the ,federal ,government said to the ,states1 8,if you will irrigate the lands of your ,state1 or if there are private individuals who will do this work1 we will give you whatever land you desire up to #a1jjj1jjj acres each1 and set it apart for ten years while you try the experiment40 ,was there ever a more generous method taken of populating and developing a new land8 ,those that took its lands were not asked for even so much as the cost of their administration4 ,in doing all this with so lavish a hand the ,government has been expressing the generous instinct of the people and their absorbing determination to 8go forth and find40 ,for a hundred years and more this quest has been the drama of our national life4 ,it has given color to our civilization and buoyancy to the hearts of the people4 ,it has been a century of revelation1 and as yet we have only the most superficial knowledge of what this land is1 of what it will yield to research1 and how it may be best used4 ,but in all our giving we have been guided by a purpose--the land that we gave was to be converted from wilderness into homes1 or from rock into metal4 ,we gave to the homesteader1 with a condition--the land was to be used4 ,we gave our swamp lands1 but to be reclaimed4 ,we found our coal lands going as farms and we put a price upon them4 ,we saw our forests being swept clean or monopolized and we held them out for the mass4 ,use6 ,use by as many as possible6 ,the superior use6 ,these were the things we wished and these gave form to our legislation4 ,the homesteader may have #cbj acres if it is dry farming or grazing land4 ,but he cannot have it as a speculation4 ,it must be made a home and brought into the body of the world's producing area by cultivation4 ,the ,government was generous1 but it had no intention of being a spendthrift4 ,lands and resources are at the full service of the people4 ,and yet the romantic enterprise of revealing ,america is not done4 ,to get from our resources their fullest use--this is our goal4 ,and this is nothing less than a challenge to the capacity of democracy4 ,abstract from ,report of the ,secretary of the ,interior4 ,,the ,,mentor ,a ,new ,volume in the ,mentor ,library ,it gives us great pleasure to advise our friends that the sixth volume of ,the ,mentor ,library is now ready for distribution4 ,it contains issues one hundred twenty-one to one hundred forty-four inclusive1 and is1 in every particular1 uniform with the volumes previously issued4 ,one of the great advantages of owning ,the ,mentor ,library is that it grows in value from year to year--giving an endless supply of instructive and wonderfully illustrated material that would be impossible to obtain elsewhere4 ,it constitutes one of the most valuable educational sets that you could possibly own1 and1 each year1 the set is enlarged by one volume at a very small additional cost4 ,the beautiful numbers of the unique ,mentor ,library will never be out of date1 as every issue of ,the ,mentor is devoted to an important subject of enduring interest4 ,the concise form in which scores of subjects are covered makes it of the greatest practical value to the business man1 to the active woman who appreciates the importance of being well informed1 and to children1 who will find it of great direct value in their school work4 ,you will want volume ,number ,six1 which will complete ,the ,mentor ,library to date4 ,that you may receive it you need only send the coupon or postcard without money4 ,the volume will be forwarded to you1 all charges paid4 ,you can remit #a4be upon receipt of bill1 and #a4jj a month for only six months2 or a discount of #e is allowed if payment in full is made within ten days from date of bill4 ,if you are now paying for the ,bound ,volumes we will ship this volume to you and add the amount to your account4 ,we urge you to act at once4 ,the ,mentor ,association1 #aad-aaf ,east #afth ,st41 ,new ,york4 ,gentlemen3 ,i am anxious to have the new volume of ,the ,mentor ,library4 ,please send it to me all charges paid1 and ,i will send you #a4be upon receipt of bill and #a4jj per month for six months--#g4be in all4 ,very truly yours4 ,name44444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444 ,street444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444 ,town444444444444444444444 ,state4444444444444444444 ,a discount of #e is allowed if payment in full is made within #aj days from date of bill4 ,,the ,,mentor ,,association1 #aad-aaf ,east #afth ,st41 ,new ,york ,city ,,make ,,the ,,spare ,,moment ,,count