The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-06-25

trol 81 the national irFlgatlcn COS
gress. Will present z resolution for AZ
u-o9aI by that ofganizatiol ~ is aeg
ezteents seasioas 8 Spokane Angus
3 - a. mem0rf.iz.ag congress - is
s-s Yer cent gold bo1cs F.nain'
l65 Fears. ~ tie amount y $500
66606g Or ~ mueh thereof ~ maj
BE- Necessary. foe the following gpec.
ac Dagposea
One bMloa dollars for drainage q.
cveraowed and swamp iands ta1s "
claiming ~ area equal y 10000
sqsare miles
One billion dollars for ne reclaim
st.on by Irrigation y fG6656 200 seree
Or arid and semtariG laEes noW part
~ oF wholly waste
One billion dollars 10 construct and
Improve deep waterway. % develop
thousands n miies - territory now
rithouf adequate transportation faciL
ties.
one billion dollars for good roads
aad national Highways. foT the lack
of which the loss 70 the farm area of
TIE United States is approximately
s560.0G0 900 annually
One billion dollars for forest pro
lection. refOFsataflon and cOnseTva-
ton of the forest resources. thus ar
suTing timber and lumber supplies
FOR centuries 10 come
~FIye billions of dollars q an en-
oFmous Sum. but II Is no more than
r. actually required 70 carry out the
gigantic scheme in developing mil
lions Of acres of lands IN various
parts Of the United States now abso-
lufeiy worthless said Mr.. Hooker in
explaining the plan. Congress viii
not Be asked TO appropriate a penny
The returns from the improvements
would pay on the bonds The govern
nent would simply act az banker.
AZ 81 does now for the various irriga-
ton projects. The bond issue would
provide ample funds az required 10
carry out the work in the several
divisions. at the same time giving
the best possible collateral TO those
investing in these securities.
Government figures bear out the
statement that there is enough good
land overnowed IN Minnesota. Wis
consip. Kansas. Nebraska. Louisiana.
Kentucky. Tennessee and Mississippi
70 make an area AZ large az the state
of Missouri, or more than 1900 900
acres. while IN the eastern. central.
and western states there IL more than
as much more. or about 100 900 900
acres ~ an Al conservative esti.
mate Of s25 an acre. the sale Of this
reclaimed land would Justify the ex.
penditure Of $500 100000. or $50 per
cent more than is required 10 drain
IT, This land would support from 2.
100000 70 100000 population
Approximately 40,OOO,O0O acres Of
lands IN western and southwest states
are adapted to irrigation. which, II
reclaimed at an average Of s25 an
acre. would be worth not less than
5000 an acre or a total OF $4,000. .0O0..
900, and provide homes for more than
100000 persons. The economic
value Of irrigation cannot be measur-
ed in dollars and cents. but crops Of
from $500 to 81 900 an acre are not
rare IN the irrigated districts There
are already 1900 900 acres under n.
rigatlon and the reclamation service
estimates II viii have reclaimed q.
100000 acres. at a cost not exceeding
s7O,0O0,O00, before the close Of 1911.
The construction and improve
ment OF the deep waterways required
70 provide better and cheaper trans
portation facilities IS. believe. a 100
per cent Investment from the fact
that two-thirds Of the bulky freight
could be shipped by water routes. al
cost to the shipper Of not more than
one-sixth Of the present rail rates.
The Importance Of this becomes a9.
parent when it Is remembered that
the food question Is becoming
world problem
"The state Of New York Is expend /
ing si0l 100000 TO enlarge the Erie /
canal, and 100000 900 Is the amourN I
required 70 improve the Missouri /
river from a point about 40 miles
west Of Yellowstone park to where /
Il meets the Mississippi river. 2.547 /
miles. Then there is the projected +
waterways from Lake Michigan 10
the Gulf OF Mexico and scores Of
others necessary 10 cheap and better
transportation facilities Millions Of
dollars win be saved annually to the
people Of the United States by the
completion OF these works.
"The maintenance OF the greatest
water way in the world. composed Of
the Great Lakes. on which the gov.
ernment Of the United States has *.