The Echo register. (Echo, Umatilla County, Or.) 190?-1909, 1909-07-02
GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING.
irrigation Congress viii Ask for Inn
provement of National Resources.

Arthur Hooker. secretary Of the
board of control of the National Irriga-
tion congress. will present resolution
for approval by that organization at its
seventeenth session in Spokane August
8 to IL, memorializing congress to
issue 8 per cent gold bonds, running
100 years, TO the amount Of SIS, O00,- :
900, 900, or as much thereof as may be
necessary for the following specific
purposes:
One billion dollars for drainage of
overfowed and swamp lands, thus re-
claiming an area equal to 100, 900
square miles.
One billion dollars for the reclama-
tion by irrigation of 40, 100000 acres
of arid and semi-arid lands now partly
or wholly waste.
One billion dollars to construct and
improve deep waterways, to develop
thousands of miles of territory now
without adequate transportation facili-
ties.
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 $780,
900, 900 annually.
One billion dollars for forest protec-
tion, reforestation and conservation of
the forest resources. thus assuring tim
ber and lumber supplies for centuries
to come.
"Five billions of dollars is an enor-
nous sum, but it is no more than is
actually required to carry out the gi-
gentle scheme in developing millions
of acres of lands in various parts of the
United States now absolutely worth
less" said Mr.. Hooker in explaining
the plan. Congress will not be asked
to appropriate penny. The returns
from the improvements would pay off
the bonds. The government would
simply act as banker. as it does now
for the various irrigation projects.
The bond issue would provide ample
funds as required to carry out the work
in the several divisions, at the same
time giving the best possible collateral
to those investing in these securities.
Government figures bear out the
statement that there is enough good
land overfowed in Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin, Kansas. Nebraska. Louisiana,
Kentucky. Tennessee and Mississippi
to make an area as large as the state
of Missouri, or more than 1000, 900
acres, while in the Eastern, Central
and Western states there is more than
as much more, or about 100, 900, 600
acres in all. At a conservative esti-
mate of $25 an acre, the sale of this
reclaimed land would justify the ex
penditure of So. 500, 900, 900, or about
$50 per cent more than is required to
drain it. This land would support
from 1000, 900 to 5000, 900 popula-
tion.
approximately 40. 900, 900 acres of
lads 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 total of SS, 900, 000,- =
900, and provide homes for more than
5000, 900 persons. The economic value
Of irrigation carnot be measured in
dollars and cents, but crops of from
$500 to 81. 900 an acre are not rare in
the irrigated districts. There are al
ready $4,000, 900 acres under irriga-
tion and the Reclamation service esti-
mates 1t will have reclaimed 1000, 900
acres, at cost not exceeding $40, 000,-
900. before the close Of 1911.
"The construction and improvement
of the deep waterways required to pro-
vide better and cheaper transportation
facilities is, believe, a 100 per cent
investment. from the fact that two
thirds of the bulky freight could be
shipped by water routes, at q cost to
the shipper of not more than one-sixth
of the present rail rates. The import
snce of this becomes apparent when i.
is remembered that the food question
is becoming a world problem.
"The state of New York Is expend-
ing sl0l, 900. 900 to enlarge the Erie
canal, and 500. 600, 900 is the amount
required to improve the Missouri river
from point about 40 miles west of
Yellowstone park to where it meets the
Mississippi river, 2.547 miles. Then
there is the projected waterway from
Lake Michigan TO the Gulf Of Mexico
and scores Of others necessary to cheap
and better transportation facilities.
Millions Of dollars will be saved annu-
ally to the people Of the United States
by the completion Of these works.
"The maintenance of the greatest
water way in the world, composed of
the Great Lakes, on which the govern
ment of the United States has expend-
ed more than $50, 900. 900 for harbors
and connecting channels. presents an
argument in favor of the scheme to de-
velop thousands of miles of territory in
the Missouri and other valleys. Tn.
other projects outlined in the foregoing
are of equal il not greater Importance,
and with proper backing they can be
carried out successfully.
"No one questions the statement
that good roads have a high money
value TO the farmers of the nation, and
it may be said that this alone is suffi-
cient TO justify the cost Of their con-
struction as rapidly as practicable un-
der an efficient, economical and equit-
able system Of highway improvement.
The big points in favor Of this expend-
iture is the economy of time and force