The capitalist must be interested in the work in some manner. either as owner of the land to be irrigated. or owner of the securities to be issued by State or municipal or private authority. to provide the money for the work. Even when all the available water supply has been utilized and all the lands which can be irrigated are reclaimed. but 10 per cent of the vast regions will be productive and fit for human habitation. while 90 per cent will be either wholly worthless or valuable only for pasturage. many acres being required to produce the amount of pasturage that one acre will produce in more favored regions. The agricultural lands upon the public domain susceptibleof cultivation without irrigation are practically exhausted. and for the future the immigration to the great West to settle npon the public domain and make homes must look mainly to the less desirable Government lands. known as the arid lands. The Government holds the title to these lands. and has heretofore required. and under present law requires. the settler upon them to not only pay for them but to reclaim them before he can procure title. The bust agricultural lands are given to the homestead settler. but the man who undertakes to redeem an unproductive sand waste of no value and make it productive and valuable is required to pay the Government for it as well.
Keywords matched
immigration