The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1909-07-01
GIGANTIC UNDERTAKING.
irrigation Congress Will Ask for Inn
proyement Of National Resources.

x
issue per cent gold bonds, running
100 years, to the amount of IS, OOO.-
900, 900, or as much thereof as may be
necessary for the following specific
purposes;
One billion dollars for drainage of
overhowed and swamp lands, thus re-
claiming an area equal TO 100, 900
square miles.
One billion dollars for the reclama-
tion by irrigation Of 10000, 900 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, reforeststion and conservation Of
the forest resources, thus assuring tim
Der 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-
gsntic 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 of
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 ovsrhowed 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 a, 900, 900
acres, while in the Eastern, Central
and Western states there is more than
as much more, or about 100, 900, 0O0
acres in all. At conservative esti-
mate of s25 an acre, the sale of this
reclaimed land would justify the ex
penditure of 81, 500, 600, 900, or abou,
$50 per cent more than is required &c
drain it This land would supper,
from 2, 900, 900 to 5000, 900 popula
tion.
Approximately 40. 600, 600 acres Of
lads in Western and Southwestern
states are adapted to irrigation, which
if reclaimed at an average cost of 81;
an acre, would be worth not less thar
$500 an acre. or a total Of IS, 900, 600,
600, and provide homes for more thar
6. 900, 900 persons. The economic valu.
of irrigation car not be measured il
dollars and cents, but crops of from
$500 to 81. 600 an acre are not rare il
the irrigated districts. There are al
ready $4,000, 900 acres under irriga
tion and the Reclamation service esti
mates it will have reclaimed 1000, OOl
acres, at cost not exceeding $40, 900,
900. before the close of 1911.
'sThe construction and improvement
of the deep waterways required to pro
vide better and cheaper transportation
facilities is, l believe, 100 per cen
investment, from the fact that two
thirds of the bulky freight could b
shipped by water routes. at cost t.
the shipper Of not more than one-sixti
of the present rail rates. The import
snce of this becomes apparent when il
is remembered that the food question
is becoming world problem
1.-THE state of New York is expend
ing s1O1, 900, 900 to enlarge the Erie
canal, and 500, 600, 600 is the amount
required to improve the Missouri rivel
from a point about 40 miles west o.
Yellowstone park to where it meets tn,
Mississippi river, 2.547 miles. Their
there is the projected waterway frou
Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexic,
and scores of others necessary TO chesI
Nrd better transportation facilities
Millions of dollars will be saved anu
ally to the people Of the United State.
by the completion of these works
1.-The maintenance of the creates
water way in the world, composed o
the Great Lakes, on which the govern
ment of the United States has expend
ed more than $50, 900, 900 for harbor
and connecting channels, presents al
argument in favor of the scheme TO de
velop thousands of miles of territory il
the Missouri and other valleys. Tn
other projects outlined in the foregoing
are of equal if not greater importance
and with proper backing they can b
carried out successfully.
''No one questions the statemen
that good roads have q high none,
value to the farmers of the nation, an,
it may be said that this alone is sufh
cient to justify the cost of their con
struetion as rapidly as practicable IN
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 fore
in transportation between farm anG
market, enabling the growers to tax
advantage of fluctuations in buying an
selling, as well as enhancing the vslu
Of real estate.
at is estimated that the sverzg
annual loss from poor road is rs cent
an acre. while the estimated sversg
increase resulting from improving al
the public roads is SO. The losses Il
five years would aggregate 81, 4S2 70
every section Of land, or more thai
enough TO improve two miles Of publ
highway. The necessity of good road
is obvious, as il would enhance tn.
value Of each section Of land sbou
SIS, 700, or more than double the est
mated cost Of two miles of improve,