Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-06-22
raE lsnIaArlon qUEsrron.

TEE IsRIGArloH QUESTION.
Delegate Dubois appeared recently |
before the Agricultural Committee Of |
the House, and presented al sides Of |
the irrigation question, and the need
OF government aid in reclaiming, by
irrigation, what - known - sdesert
land" He handled the subject in al
mastsrly manner. HIS address would
fill over two columns Of the WOMB,
20 We cannot give it in full, but will
simply give an outline. The bills
under consideration were House bill
No. 5058 by Delegate Joseph Of New
Mexicos and House bill No. 1854 by
Hon. Mr.. Symes, Of Colorado, on the
subject Of irrigation. After closing
his address the committee asked him
several questions for further enlight-
ment, and the questions were an
swered in . clear, concise manner.
The Chairman of the committee
thanked Mr.. Dubois cordially for the
information he had given them. He
stated that in the Territory Of Idaho
there are 5000, 900 acres, 10000
GOO acres of which can be utilized by
. system of irrigation on = large
scale and at great expense. He told
OF the wonderful transformation of
the sagebrush plain Surrounding
Boise City, from barren waste into
"the most beautiful and charming
spot the eye Of man ever rested upon,
flowers in profusion, and fruit Of all
kinds, etc., raised in abundance. The
valley below the town for fifty miles
is one field Of waving grain and YER
dure. The same condition exists in
many other portions of the Territory.
This was brought about by irrigation.
This land was irrigated at but little
expense. The question now is as to
what method Of irrigation shall be
pursued to reclaim the immense arid
wastes which remain, capable of maxi
ing happy homes for countless thou
sands. A description Of Snake river
and other streams of Idaho were Civ
en- by Mr.. Dubois, and he correctly
stated that s'when the great accumu-
lation Of snow melts in the late spring,
there is superabundance of water
which could irrigate almost every
acre in Idaho" The expense Of
building canals is so great that indi-
viduals cannot undertake it, and Of
late companies have formed and are
expending large sums in several
parts of the Territory for this pur-
pose. The rancher who takes up a
homestead or pre-emption adjacent
to their canal, and is dependent on
the company for water, is complete.
ly At their mercy. Mr.. Dubois said
that he had sometimes thought il
might be . good plan for the Gov
ernment to give these lands tc
the Territory and allow it to re.
clam them, which it would dc
cheerfully, and make money BY
the operation. If the Government
should do this work, no matter what
the outlay would be, it would soor
get its money back through the sale
Of lands. 1t seemed to Mr.. Dubois
that, taking all things into consldera'
ton, that the bill introduced by Mr.
Symes, to provide for making hydro
graphic surveys in the arid regions
is the most practicable method sug
gested. After these surveys arr
made, and the places most suitable
for reservoirs for the storage of waite
and the running of canals selected
and the estimates made as to hov
much land will be reclaimed, aud th'
lprobable cost, Congress could ap
propriate the money in the Rive
and Harbor bill. There is no inter
nal improvement that could be com
pared to this for the general good
and besides the Government vii
quickly get its money returned Ii
the sale of lands now valueless. Th
price of the land should not be raised
and no subsidies of land should b
granted private companies or col
porations. Irrigation was extensivel
practiced in Egypt two thousan
years before Christ, and great poi
ton of the rice of Asia to-day
raised by irrigation. There is moth
ing new, novel, or uncertain abor
the system, and Mr.. Dubois doubts
more inviting field was ever offere
than is afforded by the far wester
States and Territories. He woul
prefer that the Government retail
control of the water, and next TO
that the Territory should.
, TIE new Idaho code is miserabl
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