The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-10-17
lane Will URGE AN
IMMENSE ISSUE OF
BONDS
Government Must Extend time
Of Payment For Water on
Reclamation H0mesteads,
LANE SUGGESTS 20 YEARS
Free Period Of Four or Five Years to
Enable Settlers to Get Start-Bo-
rah Bill Unqualifiedly Endorsed
Splendid Projects Awaiting Atten-
ton of the Government.

Secretary Lane of the Interior De-
partment has issued statement Civ
ing his observations and conclusions
after his tour of inspection of the gov
eminent reclamation projects. Last
summer Secretary Lane made trip
throughout the country. In speaking
OF the Reclamation Service, its needs
and the different projects, Mr. Lane
said:
The government could expend pro-
reclamation of arid, semi-arid and
swamp lands located in that part O.
the country west of the Missouri riv-
err" said Secretary Lane of the inter
ior department, Friday on returning
from his extended trip through the
west
"The lands, once reclaimed, could
be divided into farms of from 80 to &c
acres, every one of which would be
taken up promptly" Mr.. Lane added
This land necessarily must be re-
claimed by the government, because
private reclamation projects generally
have proven failures, except on small
tracts. 1t is my purpose to recon-
mend to congress extensive irrigation
and drainage projects, if it be possible
to devise practicable Way of raising
the money to carry them forward. 1t
should be our endeavor to turn the
eye of the nation upon this arid land
Irrigated, it would be as fertile as any
land that lies outdoors, and on it
enough meat and crops could be raised
to supply the entire country"
The secretary issued a statement
late in the day, discussing his visits to
all of the great reclamation projects
10 obtain hrst-hand information about
conditions and needs.
81 am convinced" he said, chat it
will be necessary to extend the time in
which the settlers on the projects now
have to pay for their lands Ten
years-the time fixed by existing law
is too short period for the average
farmer to get fairly on his feet. AS a
business proposition their request for
additional time ought to be granted,
for. after getting their sustenance and
paying annually the amounts required
by the government, they have not
enough surplus property to develop
and improve their farms.
PERSONALLY, l am in favor of ex-
tending the paying period to about 20
years, with free period of four or
FIVE years in which it would be neces-
sary for the settlers to make no pay
ments. In existing circumstances,
many of these men have to borrow
money and the banks in that section
exact an interest charge of 10 and II
per cent Of course that makes the
situation of many of them almost i'm
possible.
"In order to obtain cheaper money
rates, water users associations and
similar organizations have been form
ed so that the common credit of the
communities can be pledged for loans
at lower interest. In this connection
the people of the west are expecting
great results to accrue from the enact
ment of currency legislation. find
the entire west elated over the action
Of congress with respect to the tariff
and eager in the hope that the new
currency bill will be promptly made
into law. The farmers and business
men regard the currency bill as of far
more vital importance than any other
proposed legislation. The people are
filled with admiration for the eff
cheney which congress has shown.
There is no spirit of criticism as to
congress such as there has bee" in
the past"