The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-26
CLARENCE J, BLANCHARD TELLS
IRRIGATION TALES TO
fasteners.
Great Benefits 10 Accrue BY Reason Of
Reclamation Work Ia the
Aerth~est.

Clarence J. Blanchard Of the United
States reclamation service has re-
turned eact after a summer spent in
the west looking after federal irri-
cation interests.
"A remarkable Transformation, is
taking place in many of the most for
bidding sections of our inland desert
empire" said Mr.. Blanchard. "Oases
are springing up like magic in many
places which for ages have been the
abode of the coyote and the jack
| rabbit. A year ago last spring slept
out under the sagebrush On the Mini
doka lands in the Snake river valley,
Idaho, and the nearest dwelling was
thirty miles away
Last week I visited the same spot,
travelling across that thirty miles in a
irst-class passenger train, passing
| through three new towns. On every
eighty acres Of the 100000 acres in that
tract Of government land there is a
new farm house, a farmer and his fam
lily. Uncle Sam is preparing to bring
to him, through many miles of canals
and bitches the precious water which
rose. A mammoth rock-f1ll dam across
the Snake river is almost finished and
by early spring the sagebrusn will
have vanished from this spot forever
Uncle Sam as Auctioneer.
Early next April Uncle Sam will try
his hand at auctioneering and to the
highest bidder will dispose of some
very choice lots, business and resi-
dence, on three new townsites under
this project. In anticipation Of this
sale more than eighty business firme
have put up temporary structures and
are doing business there. The indica-
lions are that there will be a city of
not less than 5000 inhabitants under
this project. BY the time the watef
is ready for the land, there will be
farm population of nearly ten thou
sand located on these lands.
can effort will be made this winter
to secure the necessary congressional
action to permit the government to
use the proceeds of these sales for the
construction of sewer and waterworks
systems, and other municipal improve
ments for the new towns, the money
to be repaid in the same manner that
the settler repays the cost of the irri-
cation works This is not a new de-
parture for the government, as the
reclamation service engineers under
the direction of the secretary of the
interior for some time have been ex-
pending several hundred thousand dol
lars in building bridges, waterworks,
sewerage systems, schoolhouses, ETC.,
in Oklahoma, the money having been
obtained from the sale of town lots.
Twin City Men Get Contracts.
81 note with some satisfaction that
twin city contractors are bidding on
some of our big contracts and are get
ting a piece of the work here an"
there Bids are being received from
all over the United States. One of the
recent successful bidders On a con-
tract in Arizona was from New York.
my summer in the west has afford
ed me most convincing evidence that
an era of wonderful progress, greater
than even known before is soon to
dawn on the northwest country. There
seems to be little doubt that the twin
cities are to have another transconti-
mental route. They are soon to be
connected with the rich mineral zone
of the Black Hills and the new irriga-
ton district in the valley of the Belle
Fourche in South Dakota. The COM
ing year is going to be banner one
building of new railroads and the ex-
tension Of old, the construction OF
great irrigation works by the govern
ment and by private capital and the
Establishment of many new towns will
surely create a heavy demand for Ia
Dor of all kinds. Many of the laborers
from the crowded centers of the east,
who come out to meet the call from
the west will never return. 1t has been
the history of many of the government
projects that the laborers in large
numbers settle on the lands and re-
Irving's Buchu Waters.
cure Scalding Urine, Backache, Rheu- |