The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1909-12-03
GRAFT in IRRIGATION PROJECTS


Under the suggestive title Of Graft in Reclamation Projects
the Silver City Nugget presents interesting article upon sub
ject which is of vital Importance the people of Southern
Idaho We present it herewith in full;
Ever since the irrigation projects started to reclaim the
ard lands IN the west the people have been to secure the
water necessary for their lands that they willing to enter INTO
almost any kind Of contract either with the or with p
vate corporations to attain that end without realizing what really
mortgage property themselves their posteriy
for the of exorbant price the advancement Of the
funds necessary to construct the reservoirs canals and bitches re-
CURED in this work
No who given this matter any study deny that it
requires large expenditure of money the smallest
Of the numerous projects that have been will be built but at the
same time the price that the farmer required agree either
the private corporations for putting the
the land is only exhorbant but ridiculous It graft pure
and simple But is only another example of the policy pursued
BY the Syem and in this case it apolcy that originated and has
been established by the government country reclamation
department. and for which the government entirely to blame
When the government first began this the made
for retaining the land and completing the work of project
much less per than after the under control
OF the engineers who made the estimates Take for example the
Maheur Project The first estimate made after careful surveys and
calculations the work done and expenditure necessary
complete that project by honest competent engineers less than
$50 90 per But when the engineers and reclamation officers
got together and formed their combine trust the price that they
reported government deemed charge per
an inflated balloon they realized they could put
much style live high cut such big swath charge such
and erortan salaries unless they put the price Der
acre Tor the reclamation of the lands higher figure for Gas are
informed one of the head engineers who working the Maheu
project remarked I'VE engineers here for health
but raised EN- back and this has been kept up until people
awakening to the fact that they being Systematically robbed
much little bit with added the
The government especially when the reclamation funds became
that the Secretary of the Interior refused take up such practical
projects the Mafer State land boards followed and
went the dance The settler pay the price loose his
nome and all his work on the land
The Boise Citizen making FIGHT against this Draft
Indirectly by attacking State Land Board
granting Carey Act Segregaons price per
he beet OF private capital until the Board has called halt and
IRE beginning to cut the price per down little
In the Gem Irrigation district the absry of the
as been fu demonstrated when proposed charge
ands for $50 with the system In other words the
tuggg poor farmer charged $40 per than the pec
ator in State lands.
Inc caldwell rbune has taken the subject also remarks
Nth the Boise Citizen Carey act Projects Juicy Llstions
we Go not wish to try to make political capital of this sub
ec by codnlng the land board simply they are
pDa tof we satisfied that under the system that
GARD composed OF democrats would BE the nit lust as
ad the republicans and favor corporations to the detren of
he common people :