Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-10-21

jnQer the law great many pro-
jects were begun. perhaps more than
should have been begun But you
will understand that the people were
very urgent to have them commenced
in the different parts Of the arid
west and the department yielded to
the peoples demand for land The
settlers upon this land in Idaho then
established homes and are now wait
ing for the water Ohio has more set
tiers upon this land in Idaho than
any state / know of. except Iowa. Tn
der the homestead law the settler
must remain upon the lands for the
period of five years. He cannot raise
crops until the water reaches him.
The result is he has suffered many
privations and has been compelled to
endure great hardships. waiting for
the completion of these works and
water
The income from the public land
fund is now under 100000 per an
num-not enough to complete these
works within any reasonable time. If
they are not speedily completed
many homesteaders must lose their
homes and those most in need of a
home. the poorest, must suffer first
and most am sure that you and
all good citizens will agree that the
projects should be completed if there
is a way to do so without extra ex-
pense to the government
A plan has been devised which viii
enable the service to complete these
projects without cost to the govern
ment or unnecessary delay. 1t has
been proposed to issue bonds sufici-
ent to complete the projects now b..
gun, it being the policy now establish
ed to commence no more projects un-
til sufficient funds are on hand to
complete them The bonds will be
paid out of this fund. every dollar of
which fund must be accounted for
out of the payment assessed against
the land and paid by the settlers so
there can be no expense to the gov
eminent.
When the president visited the
west, saw these vast areas of the
most fertile soil in the world when
the water is applied. saw the set
tiers waiting there under the most
trying circumstances for the water,
learned that the settlers were under
law, bound to make good all ex-
penditures, and not only bound to
do so, but willing and anxious to do
so. he declared that bonds should be
issued and the works completed.
There can be no less to the govern
ment but on the other hand most sub
stantial gain The settlers viii be
able to repay the governmet when
they get the water and not before.
The government will. therefore, get
its money back more rapidly and it
will have all these vast areas Of now
useless and untaxable land under Gull
tivation. paying taxes and sustaining
a prosperous community.
You say "the extravaganza and
corruption that would go with it is
a powerful argument against the pol
icy" / do not see how there can be
any corruption or that there is much
chance for extravaganza. Certainly
if there is either. the weight must
fall upon the settlers and not upon
the. government The settler must
pay all the expenses and whether
that expenditure arises out CT extrav-
agance or corruption it is charged to
the land The fund must be kept in
tact. The records with reference to
these expenditures and the carrying
on of the work are public records
and the charges and expenses will be
very closely watched by the settler
or his representative. The senate ir-
rigation committee has spent some
time now going over the works
taking the evidence cs tho settlers,
examining the evidence and so far
the committee has been unable to
find dollar misapplied or the slight
est evidence of speculation. In fact we
have found what is most extraordin-