The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-03-30

to be imperiled in a storm at sea. Con
gress approved this act of humanity"
said he. But here are men, women and
children on the desert, not for pleas
means. pioneers who have gone there
! to subdue the adverse conditions of ma
/, ture, to establish homes, till the SOIL
and add to the National wealth, and /
am not going to believe that this gov
eminent will be inhuman enough to
turn deaf ear to them, even if it con-
ceded that they did not act with pru-
dence in going there
1.-The hearings show that the APP
proved projects can be completed
within two or three years If sufficient
funds are provided, and when COM
This would insure return to the fund
from the water users Of something like
sS,OOO.000 or $1O,00O,000 year. which,
added to the 100000 which arises
from the sale of lands. would make a
total return of $15,O00,0O0 to ST., 900, 900
annually to the fund.
But let US see what the result will
be if congress should refuse to extend
this aid to the reclamation service
Money Good as Wasted.
THE greater part of the $50,000,000
already invested in these projects will
remain dormant and unproductive for
period as long. and perhaps longer,
than the interest would have to be paid
on the certificates issued
'More than 100000 acres of the
lands under these projects will remain
dry and unproductve for number of
years. when the expenditure of a COM
parat:vely small amount of money
would extend the water to them.
THE settlers and their families will
sit there idly waiting-Willing and
anxious to work but nothing to do.
Some of them may hold out, but many
no doubt will have to abandon their
little homesteads and the improvements
they have put their last dollar INTO
and lose their ALL
THE return of money already eX
pended on these projects will be great
~ delayed.
I'VE would largely lose the benefit of
the splendid engineering force and
equipment which has been built up.
I'VE would run the risk of losing
water rights.
Such are the advantages to be de-
rived from the passage of this meas
ure, and such are the evil consequences
that will follow if 1t fails to pass.
Treated either as a question of human
as a business proposition 1 cannot see
how there can be any diversity OF opin-
ion as to what ought to be done.
The issuance of these certificates
would not impair the credit of the gov
eminent. nor affect the value of any
other outstanding obligation. The in
debtedness created by these certif-
Gates would not become a charge upon
the taxpayers of this country. Those
certificates will be amply secured, hav-
ing behind them 5000, 900 acres of irri-
gated land worth not less than $780,
100000, and also 375,OO0,000 acres of
unsold land, which is worth not less
than $1,0O0,00,O 900.
Certainly there is no gentleman
here who will shut his eyes to the r,,c,s
and conditions and say he is opposed
to this bill just because he is, on gen
eral principles. opposed to issuing
bonds, or because If was stated BY
some when the reclamation policy was
entered upon by congress that congress
would never be called upon for further
aid. Better reasons than these must be
given to meet the argument of those
who advocate this BILL