Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-04-12
ALLIANCE PETITIONS.

Ihe Farmers Alliance OF this State
IS circulating petitions which will be
forwarded to ldaho's representatives
IN Congress protesting against the
ced'ng OF the arid lands of the West
to the States for reclamation: The
only ground Of objection given is
that such lands would drift into the
hands OF capitalists, but the reason.
for such statement are not given.
it being simply an assertion based on
nothing visible nor explained. The
Alliance " desires to protect the actu-
81 settlers against the capitalists. .
That sentiment is all right, but its
application seems to he all wrong.
II the Alliance had enlightened us on
the proper method of disposlng of
and reclaiming the arid lands and
shown why and how, il such lands are
ceded to the several States, they
would De monopolized by capitalists
it'would not be placing itself in such
a ridiculous light. That organization
does not even state whether or not il
approves of the resent monopolistic
tendencies in connection with the
reclamation and settlement Of the
arid lands--the capitalists furnishing
the water and placing the settlers at
their mercy, putting the price of wa
ter just as high as the settler can
stand and live, and with no guaran-
tee that prices will not be raised
higher and the settlers be forced to
sell to these water companies for Just
what the water companies may see fit
to offer. The ditch companies have
power to freeze out SETTLERS whenev-
er the time comes that they can do
this with greatest profit to themselves
and no one doubts for a minute that
they will do it. Western Senators
and Representatives have given up all
hopes of inducing the general gov
ernment to make appropriations for
the construction of canals and storage
reservoirs, and even if there were
grounds for the hope that this would
be done ultimately, it must be borne
in mind that the government moves
slowly in such matters, and before
such a thing could possibly be
accomplished, corporations would
have control OF the water rights and
virtually of the land, and then such
an appropriation would be of no avail
The only thing then to be done, that
has been ad, anced thus far, for the
protection of the settler, and to pre-
vent corporation control of water
rights, and indirectly of the land it
self, is for the government to give
the lands to the States. The States
could then construct the canals and
reservoirs, sell the land to pay fol-
them, and charge only enough for the
water to pay the very small cost ol
its distribution and for repairs Of the
canals and reservoirs. IT the Ali
ance has any better plan it ought t.
make it known, or il it can show how
under the plan proposed, actual set
tiers would be shut out by capitalists
It should show it Immediately. This
with possibly the exception of th'
silver question, is the one of creates
interest TO the West, and much de
pends on its proper settlement. l
is the aim of all but the ditch men t.
keep the water and lands out of tn
control of corporations. Corporation
are already getting hold, and vii
I continue to reach out for more unit
the State gets control of the arr
, lands. All agree that land and wa
ter corporations will ultimately prov
a curse to the State, but the plan t
,,ravent such a state of affairs is wha
! is agitating the people. The ALI
$ ance opposes State ownership of tn
water rights, and sale of lands,
;. ceded by the general government
nav for construction of canals an
reservoirs, but what that organlzatio
favors is shrouded in mystery.
t Moses J. BIpDy, who died in Cal
! fornia last month, arrived in Bols
| f.. l.,