The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-06-25
Will ASK BONDS
FOR LAND USES
REVOLUTIONS TO De SUBMITTED
TO NATIONAL IRRIGATION CON-
oREss At SPOKANE.
s5,ooo,ooo,ooo PLAN
FOR DRAINAGE, IRRIGATION. WA
TERWAvs, GOOD ROADS AND
FOREST PROTECTION.

Spokane, Wash.-Arthur Hooker,
secretary Of the board OF control OF
the National Irrigation Congress. will
present q resolution for approval ~
that organization at its seventeenth
session in Spokane. August 9Th to
18th. memorializng Congress to issue
, per cent. gold bonds. running 100
years. to the amount of $5.OO0.OO0. 600.
or as much thereof as may be neces-
sary. for the following specific pur-
poses:
One billion dollars for drainage Of
overflowed and swamp lands. thus re-
claiming an area equal to 100000,
square miles.
One billion dollars for the reclana-
ton by irrigation Of 10000. 900 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 territory nov
without adequate transportation facili-
ties.
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 approximately $780,
600. 900 annually.
One billion dollars for forest pro-
lection, reforestation and conserva-
ton Of the forest resources. thus a.
suring timber and lumber supplies for
centuries to come.
Five billions of dollars Is An enor-
nous sum. but 1t is no more than il
actually required to carry out the 81
gantic scheme In developing 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 appropriate . penny.
The returns from the improvements
would pay off the bonds. The gov
ernment would simply act as bank
or. as 1t does now for the various ir-
rigation projects. The bond issue
would provide ample funds as required
to carry out the work In the several
divisions. at the same time giving the
best possible collateral to those in
vesting in these securities.
Government figures bear out the
statement that there is enough good
land overflowed in Minnesota. Wiscon-
sin, Kansas, Nebraska, Louisiana,
Kentucky. Tennessee and Mississippi
to make an area as large as the state
Of Missouri. or more than 44.00O.O00
acres. while In the eastern. central.
and western states there is more than
as much more. or about 100.000.0OO
acres in all. At a conservative es,i-
mate Of $25 an acre. the sale Of this
reclaimed land would Justify the ex-
penditure of $2.5OO. .O00. 900. or $50 per
cent more than is required to drain it.
This land would support from 2,0eor
900 to 100000 population.
approximately 100000 acres OF
land in western and southwestern
states are adapted to irrigation. which.
| II reclaimed at an average cost Of S25
an acre, would be worth not less than
5000 an acre or total of SS.0OO,GS0.-
900, and provide homes for more than
100000 persons. The economic value
of irrigation cannot be measured in
dollars and cents. but crops OF from
| $500 to 81, 900 an acre are not rare in
the Irrigated districts. There are al
ready 1900. 900 acres under irrigation
and the Reclamation Service esti-
mates 1t will have reclaimed 100000
acres at a cost not exceeding $70.000.-
900, before the close of 1911.
THE construction and improvement
Of the deep waterways required to pro
vide better and cheaper transportation
facilities is, believe, 100 per cent.
investment. from the fact that two
thirds OF the bulky freight could be
shipped by water routes. at a cost to
the shipper Of not more than one
sixth of the present rail rates. The
Importance of this becomes apparent
when 1t is remembered that the food
question il becoming a world prob
lem."
Mr.. Hoover said 1t is likely that his
resolution will be presented to the va
rious interests Of the Irrigation con-
gres for discussion and will afterward
be Incorporated in memorial to the
United States Congress. 1t Is also
proposed to have a large delegation.
composed of representatives Of every
state and territory in the Union, push
the measure for adoption. The work
Of enlisting the support Of the people
Interested in the various projects will
be taken up Immediately after the
close of the Irrigation congress with
the view to concerted action.
Experiments by several investiga-
tors have proven that electricity does
not have any effect on Fastening tho
souring of milk. The reason why milk
sours quicker when an electrical storm
is approaching is that the air tempera-
ture Is usually higher then than at any
other time.
In one year the bees sent to mar
ket a crop Of honey worth nearly ~
| vnurh as tho hariov cr0n three timN9