The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-21

RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR
GIGANTIC SCHEME OF IN
TERNAL IMPROVEMENT TO
BE INTRODUCED At iRRioA-
TON MEETING,

control of the irrigation congress,
will introduce the resolution and
gives the following purposes for
which the money will be asked:
One billion dollars for drain
age of overlooked and swamp
lands, thus reclaiming an area
equal to 100000 square miles.
One billion dollars for the recla-
nation by irrigation Of 100000
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 ter
ritory now without adequate trans
portation facilities.
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 approx
mately $5O0,OOO.0o0 annually.
One billion dollars for forest pro-
lection, demonstration and conserv-
alton Of the forest resources. thus
assuring timber and lumber sup
plies for centuries to come.
Five billions of dollars Is an
enormous sum, but it Is no more
than is actually required to carry
out the gigantic scheme in devel-
oping millions of acres of lands in
various parts of the United States
now absolutely worthless" said Mr..
Hooker in explaining the plan.
congress will not be asked to ap.
propriate a penny. The returns
\ from the improvements would pay
OIL the bonds. The government
would simply act as a banker, as
| it does now for the various irriga-
! ton projects.
Government figures bear out
the statement that there is enough
1 good land overflowed in Minnesota,
i Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, Lou.
islana, Kentucky, Tennessee and
] Mississippi to make an area as
jlTge as the state of Missouri, or
more than 100000 acres, while
in the eastern, central and western
Estates there is more than as much
more, or about 100.000.000 acres In
Iall. At a conservative estimate Of
| $25 an acre, the sale of this re
4 claimed land would justify the ex
slpenditure of $2,500,OOO,0OO, or Isl
per cent more than is required tt
drain 1t.
/ Approximately 100000 acres
| of land in western and southwest
ern states are adapted to irrigation
which. If reclaimed at an average
cost of $25 an acre, would be worth
| not less than 5000 an acre, or 6
total of $4,000, 1000, 900, and provide
homes for more than 5000, 900 per
sons. There are already $4,000,
900 acres under irrigation and the
PROCLAMATION service estimates Il
Twill have reclaimed 2,00O,000 acres
at cost not exceeding $4,000, 900
before he C lose of / Oil.
"The construction and improve
ment Of the deep waterways re
quired to provide better and cheap
err transportation facilities Is, be
lieve. 100 per cent investment
from the fact that two-thirds Of the
ibulky freight could be shipped b!
water routes.
1.-THE state of New York Is ex
/ pending $1O1, 900 10 enlarge The
Erie canal. and 100000, 900 is thu
lamount required to improve thu
Missouri river from a point abou
40 miles west of Yellowstone parl
to where 1t meets the Mississippi
river. 2.547 miles. Then there II
1.-THE projected waterway from Lake
Michigan to the Gulf Of Mexico
and scores of others necessary t
lcheap and better transportation ia
cilities.
mo one questions the statement
that good roads have high money
i value to the farmers of the nation
and 1t may be said that this alone
lis, sufficient to justify the cost o.
ktheir construction as rapidly as
!. Epgacticable under an efficient
/ Economical and equitable system o.
\ highway Improvement. The bis
IRaints in favor of this expenditure
fis-the economy of time and force IN
Transportation between farm and
market"
| Mr.. Hooker said II Is likely that
This resolution will be presented tc
1.-THE various interests of the irriga
ton congress for discussion and Il
Improved will afterward be incor
Iporated I'm a memorial to the
United States congress.