The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-11-07
TWO MEN: LANE AND NEWELL


lamation service, is making a tour O
investigation of the government rec
lamation projects. He visited Cald
well and oher towns on the Bots,
project. We often wonder what pur.
pose these government officials think
they are serving in making these in.
vestigations. About one in ten oil
them really see something. Abou,
the same proportion of them have
something to say after seeing the
projects that could not have been just
as well said in Washington. Direc-
tor Newell. on his visit to Idaho took
occasion to lay before the people a
plan of cooperation between the state
and the government. incidentally he
knocked the Cary Act projects as
though government projects were
models. With all their faults the Cary
Act projects in Idaho are in better
condition than are the government
projects. Handicapped as they were
Cary Act companies have more to
their credit than has the Reclamation
Service. The Payette-B Boise project
originally included both the north
and south sides. The estimated cost
OF retaining the entire tract was not
to exceed 5000 an acre. After dill
ly-dallying for a few years the Rec
lamation Service entirely abandoned
the north side which relieved it of
the most expensive part of the project.
Today the cost of irrigating the south
side has already reached $500 or
5000 per acre and the end is not yet.
Extravaganza and incompetency from
Director Newell down are the chief
characteristics of the Reclamation
Service and incidentally fraud and
graft are brilliant ornaments. This
Service would be a valuable acquisi-
ton to the State Cary Act projects.
Director Newell has a plan, the de-
tails of which have not been worked
out, or at any rate he did not make
public the details. Ever since the
Reclamation Service has been in Ida
10, it has attempted to hinder and
liscredit all reclamation enterprises
lot undertaken by the government.
t is still knocking. Director Newell
las no practical plan of cooperation. |
n fact we believe that he has little
dea OF the real operation of the Rec
amation Service itself. He does not
eem able to grasp the situation; UNI
erstand the condition; nor sympa-
hise with the homesteaders. When
lr. Griffiths called his attention to
ne fact that the present farm unit sys-
I'M was retarding the development of
re country Mr.. Newell had nothing to
" except that if the farmer was able
buy more land he should first pay
le government for the water. That .
about the width, length and depth ,
F. H. Newell. He does not under 2
and and is too old to learn. He 8
mot sympathize with real home {
eaders. He is not the man for the /
'sition he occupies.
Secretary Lane is a man of an en- o
ely different cast. When he was in
aho he at once sympathized with @
homesteaders and showed an un- 4
rstanding of their problems. He !,
pressed willingness to assist in r
y manner that he could. He lis !,
ned to the people. offering sugges- c
ms where he could. He wanted to h
ow exactly what the homesteader q
'nted and after ascertaining that u
$ willing to proceed as far as he a
uld. His visit to the project re- h
ted in some good both to the set I,
rs and to himself. If he only d.
rned that Director Newell should ;,