The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-18
C.. EUGENE BORTLE TELLS OF
AIM OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION.
Northwest Section Was Organized at
Spokane Last oetober-Headqar-
tiers Established Here.

assistants have arrived from Spokane
and an active campaign to arouse in
terest in northwest irrigation projects,
more particularly the Palouse project,
has commenced. In reviewing the mis-
tory of the National Irrigation asso-
citation Mr.. Bortle this afternoon said:
THE northwest section of the Ma
tional Irrigation association was or
ganized at Spokane, the 5th of last
October.
THE principal objects of the asso-
citation are to collect data regarding
the value of water on the lands, the
profitably grown, their adaptation for
homemaking; providing profitable en-
ployment for labor on a small area of
land, the advantages of more closely
populated districts both socially and
materially and bringing to the atten-
ton of the commercial bodies ana the
public generally Of the advantages to
the state and community by the in
crease of population, the diversity of
products the enlargement of markets,
the more profitable employment of la
Dor thus increasing the business and
the land, but of those engaged in trade
and manufacture as we'll.
The paramount issue of the policy
of the National Irrigation association,
is for the government to build such
reservoirs and canals as are too diff
cult for private capital and enterprise
to handle to advantage, thus retaining
lands that would otherwise lie waste;
such lands to be used only by actual
homeseekers who build homes and find
employment in the cultivation of the
soil
The total amount appropriated for
the various. irrigation projects in the
Is states and territories is far in
excess of the money now available in
the reclamation fund, which approx
mately amounts to $27,000,000. This
is a mere pittance compared to what
would necessarily be required to carry
out the immense projects which the
reclamation service has investigated.
Since the reclamation law went into
effect three years ago over so different
irrigation projects have been investi-
gated by the engineers of the reclama-
ton service. From these facts we can
readily see that there is a great lack
of available funds. At the National
Irrigation congress held at Ogden two
years ago, resolutions were adopted
favoring loans from the national treas
ury to the reclamation fund. The ma
tional Irrigation association is carry
ing on an educational campaign
throughout the eastern states along the
lines of this resolution. To accom-
plish this task requires constant agi-
tation of the subject. Nine-tenths of
the voting strength of congress lies in
the east. To secure the support of the
eastern senators and congressman,
htey must be reached through their
humid regions of the east, must be
brought to realize that in irrigating
the vast arid domain of the western
states we are creating a great trade
field for the commercial interests of
the whole country. These same inter-
ests are seeking the world over mar
kets for their manufactured products;
they should be brought to understand
that here within the borders of our
own country can be developed new and
profitable markets, by making avail
able and productive the arid and semi
arid portions of the west through irri-
cation.
When President Roosevelt included
in his message to congress his desire
to see the reclamation act made a law,
he made a departure from the history
of all past executives in giving this act
his hearty endorsement and approval.
In giving this act his hearty ap-
prevail and endorsement the uppermost
thought in mind was, it would offer
opportunities for homemaking on the
land.
1T signifies homes for the masses
and relief for the congested districts of
the large eastern cities.
las we approach the eve of the third
anniversary of the enactment of this
great and humane law, We look back
over this comparatively snort period
ana marvel at what has been accom-
plished by the men who have the work
in hand.
Fifty irrigation projects have been
Investigated, one-fourth of this num-
Der have received favorable recogni-
ton and the work of construction on
seven of these is in progress at the