The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1905-02-11
MUST HAVE MORE
Not Enough Lands Signed Up
Yet to Make Payette-BoIse
Project Feasible

The following communication has
been received from headquarters OF the
Payette- Boise Water Users association
at Caldwell:
''The business of signing up contracts
under the government project has been
progressing rapidly OF late and reports
from the Office in this city are 70 the ef-
I feet that more contracts have come in
during the past week than during any
previous week. While there seems to be
a pretty general disposition TO take ad-
vantage Of this opportunity there is
still a large amount Of land IN private
ownership which has not been signed up
and there is not enough yet signed To
make the project feasible The board OF
consulting engineers, who will be joined
by the governor and state engineer. will
convene in Boise on Monday, the 18th,
and among other things will consider
the standing Of the Payette Boise pro
iect The officers OF the association are
making every effort to make as favor
able showing as possible and a meeting
Of the directors has been called 10y Pres
ident Lowell to meet in Boise Tuesday
evening, the l4th, for the purpose of
consulting with the government engi-
neers.
'The reports in the office of the ascot
alton show that nearly 1900 land owners
have already signed contracts aggregat-
ing about l12 900 acres OF land. This is
=, exclusive of the state land, and for the
length OF time for which the work has
! been carried on seems to be remark
ably good showing. The officers. how
ever, were in hopes Of reporting not less
!, than $50 ,OC0 acres at this time and it
seems as if that amount should be
signed mp. 1t will not do for any land
owner simply to think that this govern
, ment project is good thing and believe
that it is going to be carried through
anyway without his help. The govern
e lnent has indicated clearly what is nee
- essarv in order to have this project con-
sidered and it is only by the signing of
contracts that the landowner can make
. his influence felt With the magnificent
showing already made it would be a
calamity il the project should now fall
through from the Indifference OF any OF
our people, and the stake is GER
tainly big enough to warrant everyone
getting ont and doing his best to carry 1t
through. rhe people under the Middle
ton canals have so far been slow, in
= signing up and it looks now as il there
would not be sufficient signers there TO
warrant the government in considering
these canals in connection with the pro-
ect. although there seems many ways
in which these lands would be greatly
benefited by being included. In mos'
localities, however, the persons not sign
ing seem to have not done so from
certain Indifference and failure to re
:, alize the necessity for prompt action"
As stated in the foregoing communica
tion, it would be nothing short OF pub
lie calamity, if the proposed prolec
should fall through at this stage iron
lack of interest on the part Of the land
owners. The directors of the project
IT every business man, and every newspa
ner in the territory have worked faith
fully and necessarily for the project
The benefits to be derived are so plainl
W indicated that they should be aPparen
to even the most obtuse, yet some Of on
most intelligent landowners are sti
holding out. How they can justify the
position to their own conscience
their own interests, we are at loss
ciai understand. but the fact still remain
ned Landowners are usually the most pr
DIS gressive of our citizens, yet we are he
ing confronted with proposition that "
Oh add millions to the wealth Of this sc
the ton, and benefit thousands of deservil
ting citizens, and still the whole project
mt liable to fall through because OF Ia
lnei- of interest by the landowners-the p'
ttor- ties who will be most benefited by t
j. successful completion of the prole
otess Every person in the proposed distr
'ver. should at once get into the harness a
will push, and put an end to this opposite
that DoN'r BE A "KNocEER"
man.
st in
come s-..,o Nar.r STATES