The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-01-10

the State comes within the arid belt.
OF this vast territory, comprising
,65, 900 square smiles, approximate
ly Io,ooo,ooo acres may be made
highly productive by the application
Of water, and, excluding that ali
ready cultivated, not less than 2,-
600, 900 acres can be reclaimed at q
moderate cost per acre. If you es-
innate the products of these two
million acres at. $40 per acre per.
arnum, which is certainly low
enough, it will be seen that the
yearly output will vastly exceed in.
value the annual product of all the
mines Of Alaska. VI . ,:.s'3
AFTER years of doubt and hesi-
fancy the general government has
come to realizing sense of the
magnitude of the interests involved
and has made irrigation question
OF national concern. Your first
consideration, Their, should be to
put the State in line with the policy
OF the general government in rela-
ton to this subject.
"The fundamental r. inciple upon
which the district irrigation law of
this State is foE1ded is that the
people who till the soil should own
and operate the irrigation systems
which supply the water. This
principle, as demonstrated by long
experience, is sound, and I am
gratifed to know that the general
government has adopted it as an
essential element in shaping its
policy.
PUBLIC OFFICE A PRIVATE SNAP.
II find upon inquiry that many
of the county treasurers and invari-
ably the State treasurer, demand
from the depository banks interest
upon balances which they appro'
pirate TO their own use. Moreover
in many of the counties the deposi'
tory bank not only pays the prem
ium, but assumes the duties OF the
Office as we'll while the officer draw:
the salary. Banks which are f1nan
cially strong and naturally woulc
attract the deposit, other influence:
being equal, induce Commercial
competition in the weaker institu
tutions, they finding it necessary
and expedient to offer greater in
ducements for the deposit. It i
said by those who are in position
to know, that the State treasurer
Office is now worth for the term o
two years, $4,000 outside of tn
salary. Anyone who is familia
with the principles of banking cal
easily demonstrate how this is pos
sible under the present system Q
handling the State funds. In pro
portion to the balances carried til
same facts obtain in the variou
counties of the State. Neither tn
State nor any county receives bene
: fit from this use of it's money, 0
the contrary there are many disac
vantages and dangers pending.
TWO SERIOUS OBJECTIONS.
"Avoiding all other objection
there still remains two serious one
y to the assumption of the duties of
: county treasurer by a bank, vi;
, First-The business is conducte
f behind the counters of a privat
and peculiarly exclusive bushes
where nine tenths of the peop
hesitate to pursue their rights
; access to and investigation of publ
> records. Second-The public funt
{ are controlled by parties who ma
}" be vitality interested in delaying ar
IS marshaling calls for warrants"
. AS a remedy for this evil the go
eruor recommends law providin
- "First, that the county treasur
,a be required to conduct the affai
~ of his Office at the county coul
u house, and second, that the pub
moneys, both county and Stat
under control of the various tres
urers, be awarded for general {
IL