Congress passed “a desert land law,” by which homesteads were granted in the arid lands on condition that the settlers should irrigate the land.  In 1894 the Carey Act was passed by Congress under which the national government may give to a state as much as a million acres of arid public land within its borders, on condition that the state provides for its irrigation.  The work is done by private stock companies, with whom the state makes a contract for the purpose.  The most extensive irrigation project undertaken by private enterprise is that of the Imperial Valley in California, which derives its water from the Colorado River.  Under the laws of California the Imperial Valley region has been organized as an “irrigation district,” with power to levy taxes for the development and support of the irrigation work.  Each state in which irrigation is practiced has its own laws regulating the use of water by farmers and other consumers.

The theory is that the state regulates the appropriation of the water, exercising this power and holding the land in trust for the public ...  It is the duty of every state to which the Reclamation Act is applicable to assist with every resource under its control.[Footnote:  Water Supply Paper, 234, U.S.  Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, p. 66.]

Reference has been made in Chapter xiv to the proposed plan for the reclamation and settlement of new areas of arid land by returning soldiers.

SWAMP LANDS

There are probably 80,000,000 acres of swamp lands in the United States which could be made productive by drainage.  Farmers themselves could reclaim much of this land at comparatively small cost, greatly increasing their own profit and the wealth of the country.

One farm in Wisconsin has 40 acres of poorly drained land that in its present condition is practically worthless. $25.00 per acre spent in drainage will make this 40-acre tract the equal of any in the district, and good land is selling there at $150.00 per acre. [Footnote 2:  “Unprofitable Acres,” in year book, Department of Agriculture, 1915, P. 147.]

The national government has at various times granted to the states swamp lands aggregating 60,000,000 acres, with the expectation that the states would reclaim them.  The states have, however, done very little to fulfill the expectation.  These swamp lands are among those whose reclamation by returning soldiers is proposed by the government.

Investigate and report on the following topics: 

The work of the Reclamation Service of the national government.

If you live in one of the states to which the Reclamation Act applies, report on what has been accomplished by it in your state.

The development of one of the irrigation projects shown on the map.

Irrigation by private or state enterprise in your state (if any), and what it has accomplished.