East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-08-16

after a little thought, yet 1t Is worth
while to mention them.
Idaho enjoys central location In
the arid region, and this factor always
counts heavily in favor ot large at
tendance. The meetings at Salt Lake
in 1871, and at Ogden in 1903, drew
large and more representative crowds
sons In the history of the irrigation
movement. This influence will pro-
duce similar result this year.
None of the irrigation states piques
the popular interest more Than Idaho.
The public is dimly conscious of won
derful attractions in that part of the
west, but the locality Is not so we'll
known by contact as most other states.
especially Colorado, Utah and Califor-
mia, three states in which the convan-
ticn has assembled five times. People
want to see Idaho; they will avail
themselves of a most unusual oppor-
tunity to see it to the best advantage
in September when its hospitality will
be as deep as its canyons, as lofty as
its mountains, and as wide as its
plains.
All things considered. Idaho mas
more to show the visitors in the way
Uc irrigation achievement than any
ether state. 1t is a fine example OF
what can be done by average men.
With average capital, under average
conditions of soil and climate. Thos!
who think little irrigated farms cam
not be made to pay away out in the
sagebrush wilderness will change thciI
minds after they have inspected tbs
valleys of the Boise. the, Payette lnt
the Weiser.
Those who imagine that the city
bred man cannot score a success as hr
irrigator and farmer will he enlight
ened by studying the story of Idaho:
New Plymouth OH the ground. AnC
sion that profitable fruit-growing il
limited to the semi-tropical climate o
California will be amazed when the,
go among the orchards and study th'
balance-sheets in many localities.
Apart from these local attractions
this years irrigation congress will b.
a magnet for all who are interested
in the land and water problems of tn
west because of certain big question
whic hare sure to come up for discus
sion. The foremost of these is tn
manner In which the reclamation ser
vice is administering the Newland
law.
The officials of the reclamation ser
vice-"Newell and his men," as thei
critics arc calling them-werc CON
PEELED to walk in an untrodden patti
The greatest piece Of social legislatio
ever enacted in this country was com
mitted to their hands, with no precs
dents to guide them. ExtIaordinar
, power was vested in the secretary {
the interior, not only in the matte
, of making appropriations for varior
, projects, but in purchasing propert
needed for government purposes, an
. in adjusting n multitude Of details
r regard to land and water problem
While power rests with the secretar
the young men of the reClama:ion sci
vice ''o his "eyes at the front" {
I.nloh. sid of some of mis- assistant
These young men come i'm conta,
, with the western people, and are gel
. orally held responsible when there
., occasion for criticism.
q In carrying out the law, it has fr,
uucntly been necessary to have dea
ings With private irrigation interest
A Sometimes the government has fe
n disposed to enter upon projects whic
: private enterprises wanted to hand
q itself; in such cases opposition HI
g arisen. Sometimes the government n;
O refused to BUY property when priva
n parties wanted to sell and frequent
private parties who We're quite willir
r to sell demanded n price which II
IS government was not willing to pay.
c During the four years that the la
Il has been on the statute book a GOO
n sized grist of private grievances HI
e accumulated. not all of which are
= the class just mentioned. There ha'
d been number of instances whe
II owners of private lands under govern
" mcnt projects have strenuously o.
d jected to the subdivision of the
IS property into quarter sections, as Il
y law requires. Criticisms and grieval
II ces have been heard in the distance
It the last two sessions of the Irrigatit
IS congress, Apparently all the chioke
l. will come home to roost at Bois
IF Thus, IL the friends of the reclamatic
\, service shall be as numerously re
Ie resented as its critics, there will be !
n doubt OF a large attendance.
Prof. Tyler, of Amherst colleg
L 4