Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-15


lost, in Oregon lands.
Must Restore Confidence.
"If Oregon makes good on a prop
osition as widely and unfavorably,
not to say disgracefully, known as
the Columbia Southern project and
turns disasterous failure into shin
ing success, it will restore confidence
in our irrigation enterprises and at
tract more favorable attention to Ore
gon than any other act passed at this
session. Shall we, after inducing set
tiers to come to this state, show them
the whitening ruins of an irrigation
project backed by the state, or shall
be show them alfalfa fields under an
irrigation project in successful oper-
alton, the construction of which had
cleared Oregon Of the charge of wild
eating" at the expense of settlers.
The construction of this project is
not local matter, but one which will
benefit the entire state. Next to the
particular locality in which it is To-
Gated, Portland will be most bene-
fitted The cry of back to the farm"
is heard on every hand, and Portland's
voice mingles loudly with the rest,
and rightly too, for something must
be done to support her future growth.
THAT the state will receive back ev-
cry dollar it puts into this project is
assured. The security is ample, the
title TO most of the land is now in the
federal government, which is under
contract to deed it to the state as soon
as 1t is reclaimed. The purpose of
this bill is to provide for its reclama-
tion and upon completion of the pro-
ject the state will own the land in fee.
No better security could be asked.
THE states guarantee was allur-
ing especially to the unsophisticated
who were unable to investigate for
themselves. Many moved onto their
land, built homesteaders' cabins, and
cleared their land and waited for the
water, without which their land was
worthless, They waited several years.
then with simple and implicit con-
fidence in the state to make good its
supposed guarantee, they called the
attention of the Land board to the
intolerable conditions. This brought
no relief and it then became known
that there was not enough water to
reclaim the land. The Land board
had no funds with which to construct
reservoirs, and upon advice Of the
state officers the settlers refused to
pay the company more money.
Moral Responsibility.
Heretofore we have described this
matter strictly from a business stand
point but there is another side to the
question, the states moral RESPONSE
bility. The state may have no legal
responsibility, 1t seldom has, however
1t cannot as easily avoid its moral
responsibility. Before any lands were
sold under this project, the state re-
quired that a report be made by an
engineer designated by it and paid by
the company. The report was favor
able and contract was entered into
for the construction of the works. The
land was Immediately offered for sale
and readily sold under the alluring
and misleading statements made with
the full knowledge of the states ad-
ministration officers that the state
guaranteed the construction of the
project. This prevented the company
from doing anything further for the
betterment Of the project. Some of
the settlers left, believing that it was
useless to remain, and desiring to
shake the dust of Oregon from their
feet while they had the means to do
So Many remained, some because
having spent all their hard savings.
they had no means with which to
leave and were compelled to eke out
an existence as best they could some
believing that the state would ultim-
ately make good its promises and re-
claim the land, chose to remain. It
Is to these people the state owes
moral obligation which cannot be
lightly regarded.
I'VE can with one act discharge
this obligation, create new wealth
and increase the taxable property, at
tract much favorable attention to our
state, and all without the ultimate
cost of a dollar The question is
shall we have an irrigation project in
successful operation to which we can
point with pride, or shall we permit
the crumbling homesteader's cabin
and the remains Of partially COM
pleted irrigation system to be mon
ument to Oregon's failure and dis
grace"