The daily sentinel., 1909-11-11
HIS MESSAGE
TOPEOPLEHERE
BLANCHARD'S LETTER TO THE
CONGRESS-

! thusidsm To-Day
Department of the Interior
United States Reclamation Service.
Washington, d. c.
October p. 1903.
Mr.. Thomas F. Mahony,
Secretary, Grand junction Cham
Der of Commerce, Grand June
ton, Colo.
Dear Mr.. Mahony:-
One of the most important factors
in the success of any systematic eff
fort TO exploit the western slope will
be the wide dissemination of accur-
ate and reliable information concern
ing its natural resources.
Publicity, to be effective, must con-
sist of detailed and conservative
statements of climate, soil, crop pro-
duction, water supply, opportunities
for investment in agricultural lands,
in business property, in mines, and
in all the industrial and commercial
lines
The collection and preparation of
such statistics is an ardouous task.
requiring a broad knowledge of the
natural conditions, as well as an in
telligent appreciation of the degree
of development which these condi-
tons will warrant. The success of
any campaign of publicity will de
pend upon two things; first, the abil-
ity, experience, and practical knowl-
edge of the man ortmen who are Sc
lected to secure these data and pre-
pare them for publication; Second.
the liberal and intelligent co-opera-
tion of all the people who now reside
on the western slope.
Sectional lines must be eliminated.
general spirit of boost must pre-
vail. If a homeseeker or prospective
investor is not attracted to one par
ticular section, he should be directed
to some other, an effort being made
to locate him somewhere on the west
ern slope.
1t should be recognized that by
locating a settler or investor in any
place where he is satisfied and sue
cessful, there is an assurance that
through his influence others will
come. The endless chain system is
thus involved. This system is one
of the most potent factors in the set
tlement of government lands on irri-
CATION projects. For instance, John
Smith, a prospective settler, comes
to a project. and flies. He likes the
country and the people. 1t is but
natural that he should write back to
friends in his old home. In time
others come and they too write back
to friends. Thus, a great movement
of homeseekers is started. 1t goes
on as long as opportunities exist for
newcomers.
1t is obviously the duty of all who
dwell in the new communities to vel
come the newcomer and extend to
him helping hand. His success
means not little to the section he
selects for his new home. He should
be invited and encouraged to take
part in the development of the coun-
try.
Community effort is always more
effective than that of the individual.
The rapid rise and present Importance
of many localities in the West can be
traced directly to the organization of
its citizens along the lines proposed
by the Western Slope Development
Congress. Many other localities hay-
ing equal opportunities and natural
advantages have languished and are
today comparatively unknown by rea-
son of the lack of such organization.
In many localities, the newcomer
has been permitted to become the
prey of unscrupulous real estate
sharks and promoters without pro-
test on the part of reputable business
men He has been regarded as a
pigeon to be plucked." The thought
seems never to have occurred to them
that this fled Cling, shorn OF his
feathers, would forever knock the
community in which he had received
such treatment.
The community has just as i'm
portant a duty to perform in warning
the tenderfoot against willy promotion
schemes and misrepresentation on
the part of the real estate dealers, as
It has in attracting investors and
settlers to the western slope.
| trust that the first session of the
Western Slope Development Congress
will result in bringing about an or
ganization which will unite all the
people of that wonderful region
which is lust now so much in the
public eye.
Great good must come from gen.
eral discussion of the important sub
iects which have been placed on the
program. The bringing together of
representative citizens for the pur-
pose of considering these great ques-
tions must result in general good.
While | cannot be with you in per-
son, much to my regret, | am in
hearty accord with the plans and
purposes of your organization, and
in so far as my duties will permit,
desire to extend all the assistance in
my power.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) C. J. BLANCHARD,
Statistician.