Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-06-24
BILLIONS WELL SPENT.

The publicity department of the
National Irrigation Congress has
issued an outline OF one of the
main projects to be presented before
that assembly when It meets ut
Spokane tie carly part of August
proposing to spend billions for ma
tr-nul improvement.
The scheme is one Of bonding for
reclamation and improvement, and
is Of particularly local value be-
cause It may point q way for this
Territory 20 carry forward some very
much needed work in this line, or
possibly, by aiding In the acceptance
."f this plan, come in for a share of
The National fund it is hoped to
create.
Special attention of Bulletin
readers is called TO what the writer
for the Irrigation Congress says Of
the value of good roads. II the citl-
gems of this Territory sometimes feel
they are spending too much on
cir roads they have only TO take
rotiCe OF the losses involved in a
lex Of good roads.
The general improvement scheme
OF the Irrigation Congress officers is
set forth in resolution that will be
introduced by Secretary Arthur
Hooker memornlizing Congress to
issue 3 per cent gold bonds running
100 years to the amohnt OF $1,000
100000, or as much thereof as may
be necessary for the following spe-
ciac purposes:
One billion dollars for drain
age Of Oyerluwod and swamp
lands, thus retaining an area
equal to 100000 square miles.
One billion dollars for the
reclamation by irrigation of
4O,O90,000 acres OF arid aud
semI-arid lands, now partly or
wholly waste.
Ono billion dollars 10 con-
struct and improve deep Water
ways, to develop thousands Of
miles Of territory now without
adequate transportation faclll-
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 for
est protection reforestation
and conservation OF the forest
resources, thus assuring timber
and lumber supplies for CEN
turtles TO come,
Five billions of dollars is an
enormous sum, but It is no more
than is actually required to carry out
the gigantic scheme in developing
millions of acres of lands In various
PARTS of the United States now abso-
lutely worthless" says Mr.. Hooker
in explaining the plan. Congress
Will not be asked to appropriate a
penny. The returns from the inn
proyements 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 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 near out the
statement that there is enough good
land oyerfowed in Minnesota, Wis
consin, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi
to make an area as large as the
state of Missouri, or more than A.
100000 acres, while in the eastern,
central and western STATES there Is
more than as much more, or about
lOD,OOO,0O0 acres I'm All. At con-
seryatiye estimate Of $25 an acre,
the sale Of this reclaimed land would
Justify the expenditure Of $4,000
100000, or $50 per cent more than
Is required to drain II. This land
would support from 100000 to g.
600, goo population.
Approximately 4O,0OO,OOO acres