The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1909-12-23
or function Of the engineer to attempt
to set these future payments.

or function of the engineer to attempt
to set these future payments.
As to the statement In afidavtts OF
persons who say that they were prom
ised or told certain things. II will he
possible on cross-examining these
persons to develop the fact that each
and every man was given the same
statement. namely. that the engineers
could give them no definite assurance
Of future cost. as this lay wholly out
side their duties.
This condition was fully known nj
the time. The pamphlet issued by
the Water Users association stated
very clearly that the irrlgators would
be charged the actual cost OF the
works, and though II stated that
these were expected tn cost about $40
per acre. no assurance was given that
this would not be exceeded. As
matter OF fact. the price OF labor and
materials all over the Northwest has
advanced from so per cent to 60 per
cent since this pamphlet was issued. n
fact well known TO all persons.
| The engineers OF the Northern Pa
cific railroad system state that works
executed since 1905 have on the av-
erage cost 60 per cent more than the
same class OF works built previous 20
that date. The large canals recently
completed In Canada cost over twice
the amount estimated. as did almost
innumerable private enterprises en-.
tered into In i9oi-5 In the United
States. The cost OF the Panama canal
was estimated In 1906 by some Of the
ablest engineers living after exhaust
i've Investigations and studies. The
. actual construction has more than
doubled these estimates. and though
part OF this Is due to enlargement not
, then contemplated. II Is found that
the unit prices OF given work are AZ
proximately 60 per cent greater thar
, was estimated on experience preyiou;
, to 1905. The experience OF engineer
r and contractors Is In line with th,
: testimony OF all persons engaged ir
construction work.
, The fact that the works on the
! Klamath project have not cost sc
, per cent more than the engineers
, Originally estimated proves that thu
: estimate made at that time was un'
, usually accurate In the light OF previ'
, Gus experience. because II there had
, been no change In economic condi'
tions this estimate would have COW
cred the actual cost.
The people of the Klamath country
. went into this matter after full dis
cussion, exactly as every other com
munity did. and as other communities
are now trying to do. There are
many localities petitioning and urging
that the reclamation fund be expend'
ed In the construction OF works In
their vicinity. They now care little
what the ultimate cost will be. bu,
every energy Is concentrated on get
ting the Reclamation Service In. be-
cause It means to them. as II did ia
the Klamath country, not merely ths
building Of q permanent irrigation
works, and assurance OF a water sup
ply, but rapid increase In land val
ues, and the construction Of one oI
more railroads. They would be glad
to pay $40 per acre. or even more
They have little sympathy with q
community which Is now complain
ling because they are getting water Al
rate so much less than the average
"kicking" NJ the Cost Of Water.
You ask me the question. whether
think that after the work has been
done and the final estimate for GER
tain areas has been announced,
would consider this as satisfactory
or fair treatment. and would you not
kick like a steer?"
In reply, and In perfect accord
with the spirit Of your question,
state most emphatically tnat ! would
not kick; In fact. II ! were consider
Ing my own best interests and those
OF my neighbors, ] would do all In my
power to stop such kicking" u
will do no goods a waste OF ener-
gy-and can only result In delay In
accomplishing the best good to the
community.
The world In general has no SYM
pathy for the man who kicks like n
steer" and irrigatOrs throughout the
country who care to look into the
matter find that you are getting a
good water supply ut very moderate
cost and at atcual cost. The people
In the vicinity of klamath Falls have
derived great advantages from the
Investment OF the funds OF the gov
ernment, and will derive larger ad-
vantages when they appreciate their
advantages and pull together TO make
full use of them.
What Can You Accomplish by
"Kicking"?
The question you might to advant-
lage ask yourself and your neighbOrs
Is what can we accomplish by this
kicking? Can you do more than
destroy your own and other persons
lprOperty? Every one admits that
kicking merely drives away those who
would be friendly. The public knows
that you are better of than most peo-
lple, and that you are getting Q nrst-
class system at far less cost than 9th
lors are paying. Even assuming that
In shOuld be pOssibIO TO shOW that