The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-06-23
AT COMING IRRIGATION CONGRESS-
Big Conservation Movement to BE
Launched i'm Spokane i'm
August.

SPOKANE, Wash, June al
Arthur Hooker, secretary of the
board of control of the National If.
rigation Congress, will present a reso
luton for approval by that organiza.
ton at it's seventeenth session il
Spokane, August to IA memorable.
ing congress to issue 8 per cent golC
bonds, running 100 years, to the
amount of $1,000, 000,O 900, or as much
thereof as may be necessary, for the
following specific purposes:
One billion dollars for drain
age of overlooked and swamp
lands, thus retaining an area
equal to 100000 square miles.
One billion dollars for the
reclamation by irrigation of 49,
100000 acres of arid and semi
arid lands, now party or wholly
waste.
One billion dollars to construct
and improve deep waterways, to
develop thousands of miles of
territory now without adequate
transportation facilities.
One billion dollars for good
roads and national highways, for
the lack of which the loss to the
farm area of the United States is
approximately 100000. 900 an
nually
One billion dollars for forest
protection, reforestation and con-
servation of the forest resources,
thus assuring timber. and lumber
supplies for centuries to come.
Big Amount Needed.
rive billions of dollars is an enor-
nous sum, but it is no more than is
actually required to carry out the gil
gantic scheme in developing millions
of acres of lands in various parts of
the United States now absolutely
worthless" said Mr.. Hooker in ey-
planning the plan. Congress will not
be asked to appropriate a penny. The
returns from the improvements would
pay off the bonds. The government
would simply act as a banker. as IL
does now for the various irrigation
projects. The bond issue would pro-
vide ample funds as required to carry
out the work in the several divisions,
at the same time giving the |, est pos
sible collateral to those investing in
these securities
Much Land Available.
Government figures bear out the
statement that there is enough good
land overlooked in Minnesota, Wis
conSln, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana.
kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi
to make an area as large as the state
or Missouri. or more than $4,000, 900
acres, while in the eastern. central
and western St1fpS no c,,
as much more, or about 100 OOO. 900
acres IN all. AT conservative esti-
mate of $25 an acre, the sale of this
reclaimed land would justify the ex-
penditure of $4,000, 700, or $50 Der
cent more than is required to drain 1t.
This land would support from 2,OOO,-
900 to 100000 population.
Promote Irrigation.
Approximately 4O,000,OOO acres of
lands in western and southwestern
states are adapted to irrigation
which, if reclaimed at an average cost
of $25 an acre, would be worth not
less than 5000 an acre or a total of
$4,000, 100000, and provide homes for
more than 100000 persons. The
economic value of irrigation cannot be
measured in dollars and cents, but
crops of from $500 to $1,000 an acre
are not rare in the irrigated districts
There are already 100000 acres
under irrigation and the reclamation
service estimates it will have re-
claimed 100000 acres, at cost not
exceeding s7O,OO0,OOO, before the
close of 1911.
Waterways Necessary.
THE construction and improve
ment of the deep waterways required
to provide better and cheaper trans
portation facilities is, l believe, a 100
per cent investment, from the fact
that two-thirds of the bulky freight
could be shipped by water routes, al
cost to the shipper of not more thar
One-siXth of the present rail rates
The Importance of this becomes ap.
parent when it is remembered thai
the food question is becoming g
world problem.
THE state of New York is expend-
ing $101. 100000 to enlarge the Erie
canal, and 500, 100000 is the amoun
required 20 improve the Missouri river
from a point about 40 miles west OF
Yellowstone park to where it meets
the Mississippi river 2547 miles
Then there is the projected waterway
from Lake Michigan to the Gulf OF
Mexico and scores of others neces
sary to cheap and better transporta
ton facilities. Millions OF dollars wi
be saved annually to the people o.
the United States by the completion OF
these works.
Logical Step Forward.
1.-THE maintenance of the create
waterway in the world, composed O.
the Great Lakes. on which the govern
ment of the United States has expend
ed more than $90,00O.00O for harbor
and connecting channels, presents al
argument in favor of the scheme t.
develop thousands of miles of terri.
tory in the Missouri and other val
leys. The other projects outlined il
the foregoing are of equal if no
greater Importance, and with proper
backing they can be carried out sue