The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-05-20
MAJOR REED
TALKS IRRIGATION
Address Delivered by Him to the
Press Club After Wis
iting This Sec
ton.
Mr.. President, and Members of the
Eastern Idaho Press Club:

Mr. President, and Members of the
Eastern Idaho Press Club:
Recognizing the fact to marked
degree that you men engaged in
newspaper work and in the publica-
ton of newspapers in Idaho are do
ing great and wonderful work in
aiding the development and upbuild-
ing of the state we all love, l am go
ing to be very plain and in my re-
marks to you there will be no color
ings of any sort used.
Taking for my subject the won
derful development of the Twin Falls
North Side Tract, explaining to you
in detail how step by step the mighty
retaining of 100000 acres of sage
brush land has been accomplished,
claim that no such development in
the irrigation world has ever taken
place in so short a period of time.
In eighteen months a great irriga-
tion system has been constructed,
which with its main canals, big and
small laterals, will represent $50
miles of canal work. AS it were, in
day the magic wand of irrigation
has been waved over a desert, and
behold the transformation. Few peo-
pie really understand the obstacles
to be overcome in this mighty under
taking.
There was nothing to commence
with except money, brains, muscle
and human ingenuity. In the first
place, in order to place a working
force on the desert for construction
purposes the water used by man and
beast had to be hauled many miles
on wagon. Great tanks, drawn by
four six and eight horses, were used
for that purpose. AS soon as possible
wells were driven, five or six miles
apart; the distance from the surface
to the water level being from $50 to
zoo feet. AS soon as the water was
struck pumps were installed and gas
oline engines pumped the water into
tanks; by this we established our
first system of water stations.
In the neighborhood of 1900 to
1000 men were engaged in this con-
struction work. In the great rock
cuts electric power was used when
possible, to operate drills and in ele-
waiting rock from the cuts, the work
being prosecuted day and night, the
power being used to light up the
work at night. Every contrivance
and piece of machinery that would
facilitate the work and that was
labor saving was used All of this
great work savored of mighty army.
across the desert. All the
supplies had to be hauled many
miles from the nearest railroad points
This army of men had to be depart
mentized and an organization per-
Eected. am frank to say to you that
have been in the employ of big
companies for many years, and I have
never known of a working organiza-
ion on so perfect a basis.
D. C. MacWatters, as General ST.
'erintendent and Vice President OF
most of the subsidiary companies.
las had general supervision over
I'll of the departments. To Mr.. Mac
Walters is due the credit of perfect
ng this great organization, of dis
'ursing millions Of dollars, and to
lin is due Unreasonable credit for
he position he has so ably and con-
filled. The Land DEPART
nent embraces the advertising de-
artment, and no corporation in the
irrigation world has ever given the
ublic more light and more truth
Hl work than has the Twin Falls
lorth Side Land & Water Company.
III of these officers heretofore des-
ribed, and their various commands.
ave attacked this work from every
de, and the result is what you GEN
emen are seeing today in your trim
cross the tract
A more loyal, splendid set of men
ave never been linked together in
ny great piece of work, and to every
ian connected with the work, from
lie man in the most lowly position
the commander-in-chief, is due
reat credit for his work. Back of
i this stand as sponsors for the
lithful performance of this work.
40 as guarantors of the success of
us great enterprise, j. S. Kuhn and
:. s. Kuhn, of Pittsburgh. These
en- carried this great enterprise
rough the last panic without ire
or, every just bill and debt has
zen paid, and every employee treat
humanely and fairly. On such