The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-04-08

sewer and water systems, and making
other municipal Improvements in
towns established on government ir-
rigation projects. This bill proposes
to donate to such towns all the mon
eys derived from the sale of town
lots. fund which, in most instances.
will be ample for the purpose. Ex-
perience has shown that towns on
government projects have been slow
err of development than towns on
Carey act projects. The latter have
grown rapidly. Large schools have
been erected, adequate water and
sewer systems have been installed,
streets have been improved, etc i,
whereas in towns on government pro-
! jects the citizens have been obliged
to go down into their own pockets
| to provide and maintain schools, and
property holders have been compell-
ed to bear the entire expense of Ill
civic improvements.
! Naturally the comparison has been
detrimental to government projects,
and prospective homeseekers, visit
/ ing first the government and then the
Carey act town. have displayed n
preference for the latter.
The Borah bill will correct this,
and enable the towns on government
projects to prosper ard grow as ra-
pidly as the neighboring towns on
| private projects. This bill, however.
has been delayed through failure 10
get consideration in the senate COM
mittee on irrigation. while tho
French bill. which is identical. is de-
layed for the same reason in the
house.
Drainage Bill.
The national drainage bill. which
contemplates the reclamation Of
swamp and overfowed lands in all
parts Of the United States, stands lit
tie chance of passing this session.
There does not seem to be that inter-
est that is essential to force through
bill of such magnitude and import
ance. 1t Is difficult to explain this
| lack of interest, for there Is scarcely
state but what has some lands that
would be benefited by national
drainage law. Yet the fact remains
that few men have taken hold of the
bill, and until there is more gener-
al interest nothing can be accom-
plished.
The drainage subject seems to have
been shelved, without protest from
any quarter. The south would he
the greatest beneficiary from such a
law, for the bulk Of swamp lands are
located in the southern states. yet
the north, the middle west and the
Pacific coast would all profit in time,
for all have swamp or overlooked
lands; indeed, all but a very few OF
the Rocky mountain states would
| ultimately benefit from the enact
iment of the drainage law.
In all probability the drainage bill
will go over. and sentiment will have
to be worked up gradually. just as
sentiment has been worked up in be-
half of the national irrigation law.
1t took years to get congress to pass
that law, but now that it is passed it
is acknowledged. even by those who
opposed it. to be one of the most
beneficial acts ever passed by con-
gress. Drainage legislation Is bound
to come in time, but it must be pre-
ceded by a general campaign of ed
ucation At the present moment
there are few men in congress who
have any intelligent idea of what tho
drainage bill proposes to accomplish.
These men have got to be instructed
and interested before they will act
No New Timber Act.
There is one bill that congress
will certainly not pass this session,
yet one that should have been enact
ed long ago-a bill repeating the tim
Der and stone act and substituting
some more practicable statute pro-
viding for the disposal OF government
timber. 1t has been amply demon
strated that the timber and stone
act Is vicious and unjust. 1t induces
men to commit perjury. otherwise 1t
is not a practicable measure; it dis
poses Of government timber, in manv
instances, for a small fraction of its
value. thereby robbing the federal
treasury of moneys which 1t should
receive. Yet in spite of these recog-
nized objections to the law 1t still
stands. and is likely to stand for at
least another year.
| The senate committee on public
lands has not given any consideration
to this law this session. Last session
1t reported repeal bill. coupled with
a plan of selling the timber at stump
age value. The house committee has
never gone as far as the senate COM
mittee, and unless that committee
overrides its chairman 1t never will
vote to repeal the timber and stone
act. Some time ago Senator Borah
introduced a bill repeating the tim
her and stone law and providing nc