Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-21
GREAT SCHEME TO BE UNDER
TAKEN TO MAKE ARID ACRES
BLOSSOM.
GOVERNMENT AID ASKED
BY $1,000 100000 LOAN
National Irrigation Congress Proposes
to Have Federal Authorities Issue 8
Per Cent Bonds for, Irrigation,
Drainage and Protection of Forests
Other Projected Work.

Sk'OtNeeAAS, w oSii'S OdilS
Hooker, secretary of the board of con-
troll of the National Irrigation Con-
gress, will present resolution for an
prevail by that organization at its sew
enteenth session in Spokane, Aug. 9
to IA, memorializing congress to issue
3 per cent gold bonds, running 100
years, to the amount of $4,000, 900 900,
or as much thereof as may be neces-
sary. for the following specific pur-
poses:
One billion dollars for drainage of
overlooked and swamp lands, thus re-
claiming an area equal to 100000
square miles,
One billion dollars for the reclama-
ton by irrigation of 40,000O00 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,
100000 annually
One billion dollars for forest pro-
lection, reforestation and conserva-
ton of the forest resources, thus as
surfing timber 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 gil
gantic scheme in developing millions
of acres of lands in various parts of
the United States now absolutely
worthless" said Mr.. Hooker in ex-
planning the plan. Congress will not
be asked to appropriate a penny. The
returns from the improvements would
would simply act as a 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 overlooked in Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi
to make an area as large as the state of
or more than 100000 acres.
while in the eastern, central. and west
ern states there is more than as much
more, or about 100,000000 acres in all.
AT a conservative estimate of $25 an
acre, the sale of this reclaimed land
would Justify the expenditure of ST.
500, 100000, or $50 per cent more than
is required to drain it. This land would
support from 100000 to 100000 pop
ulation.
Approximately 40,000,o00 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 $8,000,000,-
900, and provide homes for more than
s 200, 900 persons. The economic value
of irrigation can not 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 all
ready 100000 acres under Irrigation
and the reclamation service estimates
it will have reclaimed 100000 acres,
at a cost of not exceeding $70,000,000,
before the close of 1911.
THE construction and improvement
of the deep waterways required to
provide better and cheaper Transport
taton 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 a cost
to the shipper of no more than one
sixth of the present rail rates. The i'm
portance of this becomes apparent
when it is remembered that the food
question is becoming a world prob
lem"
Mr.. Hooker said it is likely that his
resolution will be presented to the var
ious interests of the Irrigation con-
gress for discussion and will afterward
be incorporated in memorial to the
United States congress. 1t is also pur-
posed to have large delegation, COM
posed of representatives of every state
and territory in the union, push the
measure for adoption. The work OF
enlisting the support Of the people in
terested in the various projects will be
taken up Immediately after the close OF
the irrigation congress with the view