The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-02-09

be submitted to the people today.
Their vote will decide not only
whether or not the marsh lands Will
be drained but also whether or not
the district shall remain part OF the
Payette- Boise government reclama-
ton project.
In the judgment of The Tribune Ell
ther the construction OF the drainage
system or the release from the gov
eminent project would amply justify
the people in authorizing the bond is
sue. Drainage is necessary in every
irrigated country under the SUM-
Sooner or later it becomes absolutely
necessary. In this immediate neigh
borhood the question of drainage be-
comes more serious year by year. Al
ready hundreds of acres of land are
practically submerged. The land ruin
ed by waste and seepage water
will amount to thousands OF acres IN
a very few years unless drainage is
provided. 1t will be better for the
land and less costly to prevent the
ruin of that land than to later reclaim
it. There is no escape from the pro-
blem of drainage. Even if the gov
eminent project embraces the dis
trict drainage will have to be provld-
ed. We believe that the people re-
alize that construction work by the
government is not less costly than
construction work by the district. The
reclamation service moves slowly but
not economically. This being the
case and the people having to pay the
cost no matter who constructs the
works; and drainage rapidly becoming
a necessity; it looks to us as though
the people would do we'll to authorize
the proposed bond issue.
The government is engaged in an
immense undertaking in this section
The Payette- Boise project will be
great success and reclaim a large
body of very fertile land. The cost
however will be from $4,000 to $500
per acre. If the Pioneer Irrigation
district remains in the project, its
lands will have to stand of that cost
the difference between the amount
for which it has received credit for
its present irrigation system per acre
and the ultimate cost per acre of the
government project, amounting to
from $500 to $4,000 per acre. The
people owning land in the district are
we'll aware of this fact and for that
very reason were insistent upon get
ting out of the project The simple
question now confronting the land
owners is: Shall we drain our land
ourselves at a cost of $1,000 per acre?
or shall we remain with the govern
ment project and pay from $4,000 to
$500 per acre for our water. The
cost per acre for reclamation of the
land under the district system, with
adequate drainage, will be less than
$500 per acre and under the
government it will be at least
$4,000 and may be considerably more.
And there is no escape. Secretary
Fisher put it up to the people them
selves.
Some considerable benefit will &C
crue to the people through the drain
age system by reason of the fact that
the water supply of the district will be
greatly increased. The additional wa
ter is needed and it should not be al
lowed to go to waste.
In view of all the conditions The
Tribune feels that it should advise
the people to authorize this bond is
sue. 1t means a great deal to all the
people and particularly to the far
mers. They should not be forced to
remain under the reclamation project
when it means a cost to them of at
least million dollars. The cost of
the drainage system will be less than
a third of that amount.