The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-01
Mr.. XRULISH TAKES
BROAD VIEW OF
SITUATION
Albert Lee, MINI, Feb. "a, 1912.
litor Caldwell Tribune;

Albert Lee, Mimi, Feb. "a, 1912
Editor Caldwell Tribune:
have read with interest your paner
wherein you advocated a fight for
better homestead laws. While | am
with you in that respect will say that
you westerners, and all farmers in
general, should see to it that those
you send to Congress do something
tor your benefit, your welfare and ad-
vancement.
One point especially, you should
combine on and work to achieve, is
that the government should put in
irrigation works, not at cost, but free
Or at least at reduced cost. Without
water this land is desert, with wa
ter it produces crops, affords homes,
etc. Does this not help the u So
1t there are more crops produced,
does it not lower the cost of living?
II there are more homes opened does
it not relieve the congested cities?
Does it not afford more employment
not only directly but indirectly to the
railroad, the manufacturer, to every
body interested in trade, commerce,
travel and every occupation. The
more you produce, the cheaper will
be the cost of living. The railroads
will be kept buster, the manufacturers
will offer more employment not only
in using up the raw material produced
on these lands, but also in manufactur-
ing articles to be returned to the
western farmers. again bene6tting the
railroad.
This being true that the irrigation
of these otherwise useless lands is
such a benefit to the country in gen.
eral, l ask why should the farmers
that produce these benefits be made to
shoulder alone the burden of paying
for these systems? 1t is hard enough
to go out there and tame this sage
brush desert without mortgaging him
self for the next decade to refund the
money expended on this system. 1t
only seems right that the U. S. should
assist financially and tighten his la
for. Didn't the government give away
free lands to promote railroads? Don't
we expend millions for building har-
bors, light houses, navigation of riv-
ers, and lakes SO that ships could
safely ply thereon? Isn't it advocated
that the Panama canal should be OPP
ened free to American vessels-or at
least cheaper rates for them than to
foreign ships, and this canal will cost
more than all the government irriga-
ton systems combined.
If all these and more favors are
given to benefit companies and cor
porations, enriching them greatly, Of
ten causing hardship to the general
public, although certain localities do
derive benefit, should not some con-
sideration be given to the humble til
Ter of the soil-the man that produces
the actual necessities of life, and
without whose labor no one could ex-
list? If the farmer was as powerful
financially or through organization
as these corporations they too would
occasionally get one of these rich
plums that are being handed out by
our government.
Although irrigation is only in its
infancy it has greatly benefited the
public. Just imagine if the water was
shut off from all the irrigation sys-
TENS, what would be the result? 1t
would force all the people, from the
farms as we'll as cities, in the irrigat-
ed into the humid districts back east
where their eastern brothers would
have to divide their employment with
them, and many are now without
work; not only that but the east would
have to house and feed these. people,
and do so with less provisions as they
would be cut off with the supply now
raised by irrigation. Think what that
would mean and you will realize that
irrigation affects and benefits more
citizens than any harbor, river, canal
or railroad project given to the public
at the nations expense and I see no
reason why the farmers should pay for
the irrigation projects alone, The gov
ernment has given other farmers land
ready to produce crops, all that was
necessary was to plow and seed; why
not do the same for you? This would
induce more people to settle these
projects and give all an equal chance.
At presnt this is no poor mans prop
osition. So while you are working
for a better homestead law why not
work also for this, for you are entitled
to it. Show the east, also the extreme
west, that this would affect the living
of every class. of people, every occu-
nation and that it is to their interest