The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-10-06
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON


Washington, D. c., Sept. 30.-The
census bureau has been issuing some
very interesting statistics regarding
irrigation in a number of states, and
the growth of this great industrial
movement is difficult of comprehen-
sion In portions of the county where
the word irrigation" is Ineligible
only through the medium of moving
picture shows. Unfortunately the
picture houses do not give the spec
tator any idea of the amount of land
reclaimed through the irrigation sys-
TENS. To tell resident of an. east
ern city that the census statistics
show that the total acreage which
all enterprises were capable of irri-
eating in 1900 In the state of Mont
ana amounted to 2,205,155 acres and
that there was an increase OF over
q half million acres in ten years,
would be about as comprehensive In
its naked state as would be the story
OF the alluvial deposits along the
Nile. The census statistics show that
the acreagesin Montana, included In
projects either concluded or under
construction in. 1910, was 3,515,312
acres, an excess of 1,836,518 acres
over the area irrigated in 1902 The
important feature of this showing Is
that the irrigation of land can be
more than doubled after the con-
struction of additional works. Mont
ana's progress in irrigation stands In
the first class, and Colorado, Arizona
and other western states have made
splendid showings, as demonstrated
by the figures in the census bureau.
A bulletin issued by the depart
ment of commerce and labor covers
the census of manufacturers" for
the year 1905 for the states of Ida
no, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. A
comparative statement between the
years of 1900 and 1905 is interesting
in many particulars as showing re-
markable increases. In the year
1900 the capital invested in manufac-
turing establishments in Idaho
amounted to $2,150,112, whereas in
1905 1t jumped to 1859, 445, the
per cent of increase being 354.9. The
cost of materials used manufact-
ures in 1900 was $1,138,86S while
in 1905 it ran up to $4,068,523, the
per cent of increase being 1928. The
value Of the products, including GUS
tom work in preparing, in 1900 was
$3,0O1,442,G and in 1905 the amount
was $S,768,743, an increase Of 1922
per cent. ~'7 uT
The death. of Senator Carter, of
Montana, was to Washington like the
losing of one of its own inhabitants.
Genial old Senator Carter has been
here SO many years, and has been
SO closely identified with the growth
and development of the Capital CITY
that he has built up circle oil
friends in Washington who appreciat-
ed him for all his splendid qualities
of patriotism and citizenship, and
the news of his death came as a dis
tinct shock to his old friends and as
sociates.
The annual powwow of governors
held in New Jersey has been brought
to a close, and good many of the ex-
ecutives of the different states have
passed through Washington in going
either to or from the conference. A
good many questions of moment were
taken up and discussed by the rep.
resentatives from the different states
and 1t may be considered as absolute
ly certain that any political signif.
canoe that could be gathered from
the meeting was not allowed to pass
Congressman La Toilette, of the
state of Washington, was one of the
last of the members to clean up the
accumulated demands in from his
district and pull down his roll tor
senators have been kept very busy
and many of them we're compelled to
remain here several weeks after the
adjournment of congress.
Perhaps the most thorough" con
gressional investigation in the history
of the present congress is that con.
Quoted by Chairman Stanley into the
affairs of the steel trust. Ever since
Mr.. Stanley was put in charge of this
matter in April he has devoted prac'
tically his entire time in studying the
question and has made personal in
vestigations of numerous phases Of
the steel trust operations, visiting
mills, looking over books in the prin
cipal Offices, and even visiting the ore
properties in Minnesota and else
where. Mr.. Stanley is from Ken
lucky, but his inquisition would d.
credit to the SHOW me" state O.
Missouri, and If he does not present
a startling report next December
those who have watched his opera
tions will be greatly disappointed. II
addition to the work he has been ablt
to do and to have done with thu
other members of the committee
there has been employed a STAFF O.
experts who are engaged in digging
out information for the committee
and in developing lines for furthe
inquiry. Such questions as the alb