Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-04-02
WHY NOT ONE MORE sTEPY
Would not the North Side Be Better
AS u Government Reclamation
Project?

Project?
Although all past differences that
have existed on this tract are now In
line for settlement under very favor
able conditions. the fact yet remains
that our settlers could get still fur
ther benefits could the tract be taken
over by the government and operated
In connection with their Minidoka
project
While this may seem quite a step.
we believe II can be brought about
by the concentrated efforts on the
part OF the settlers on the tract. and |
now that the tract is to be turned |
over to new management, 1t is the |
time to agitate this.
In many ways our interests and |
those of the government are mutual. |
as our supply of water is obtained
from the same source. and in fact
heretofore we have had to depend
upon the government for our supply
OF storage water which has been ne
cessary for the proper irrigation OF
the tract. Under the contract as
ratified by the government. the state
and the settlers. our future supply
must depend upon the reservoir to
be built at Jackson Lake. In conjunc-
tion with the government. SO IL will
be seen that our interests must still
become more of a mutual nature.
AS will be seen from the text OF
a bill published elsewhere in this is
sue. the government is disposed to
hold all parties to stricter observ-
ance OF the provisions of the Carey
act. and under the supervision OF
Secretary Lane the Interior depart
ment has shown It's desire to further
encourage development on these
Carey act projects.
To this end the President and the
Secretary of the Interior have ap-
proved of a bill granting TO entrymen
on government reclamation projects
an extension OF 20 years IN which to
make payments on their lands. and
this without interest. This bill pro-
vides that no payments shall be made
for five years after which the pay
ments shall be divided into Is an
nual installments. s per cent for the
first five years and seven per cent
for the remaining ten years.
II will at once be seen that this
arrangement VIII put the settlers OF
this project at disadvantage az
compared with their neighbors or
the Minidoka project. as the best We
can expect from the new manage
ment is 8 year extension with in
terest payable annually on deferre,
payments at six per cent.
This matter OF government contro
OF this tract has been in our mind
for some time and we have frequently
discussed II with other settlers OF
the tract who seem to agree with u
that 1t would be the most satisfac
tory plan to be adopted.
At the time OF his recent visit her
we called the attention OF Mr.. II. L
Shepherd. the representative of tn
bondholders. to this proposition wit
the request that he express himse
upon the feasibility of the plan an
the chances for bringing about sue
an arrangement. He assured us tn;
the bondholders would undoubtedl
welcome such an arrangement and &
far as he was personally concerne'
he would gladly cooperate with II
settlers in bringing the matter b.
fore the interior department and b
lieved that with the proper shown
the same could be consumated.
Matters OF this nature will u
doubtedly come before the confe
ence to be held at Denver next we,
and as Mr.. Shepherd expects to be
that conference in the interest of Il
North Side tract, he may possibly o
tain some expression from the repr
sentative of the Interior departme
upon such a proposition.
In the meantime we would like
have expression from the settlers
the tract on this matter. as we fe
1t is one of great importance to the
and will take pleasure in giving pu
licity to any arguments that m
be presented pro or con.
1t Is not our intention at this til
to interfere in any manner with
contemplated new arrangement. a
would not have presented 1t at
had 1t not met with the approval
the representative of the bondho
ers. While the settlement as agrt
upon between the bondholders a
the settlers will be carried out
speedily as possible, there is no r
son why the above proposition C
not be discussed and II found sa
factory to the settlers let there b
united effort to bring II about.
Presfdent VUfIaon last week