The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-02-27
SETTLERS STATE
THEIR views

we respectfully petition that the
proposed bill be modified in accord
ance with the suggestions given be-
low, the reasons therefore being stat
ed under each recommendation.
That the cost of each reclamation
project be payable as follows:
where the cost of the project does
not exceed $1,000 per acre, the
amount to b payable in not less than
ten annual instalments, with one ad-
ditional instalment for each additional
$500 per acre, but no instalment to
exceed that in the original estimate.
Where humus or plant ingredients
must be supplid by cultivation, OF
where the project is so isolated from
the markets that diversified farming
cannot be depended upon, payment
of instalments to begin. FIVE years af-
tetr the completion of the project"
Statement of facts.-The straight
ened condition of the homesteader is
due to (a) Disappointment in crop
yield, on account of the necessity for
supplying humus and nitrogen by cul,
tivation, and (b) Isolation from mar.
ket on account of prohibitory railroad
rates. (c) The work of the first few
years was largely experimental, bring.
ing out, frequently at heavy loss, the
possibilities of this new country
conditions to plant certain crops
learning the best time under existing
how to treat them, and endeavorine
to find paing crop,
Experience proved small grains tc
be generally unremunerative. The
seasons were to be learned Some
crops were failures, and practically
all successful crops glutted the loca
markets.
AS the alfalfa fields developed, the
price dropped to $500 per ton, abou
the cost of producing it, and this yeal
it increased to $500, because an i'm
mense amount of the first cutting wa.
damaged or destroyed by summer
rains.
THE financing of the homestead
was largely done with money earned
away from the ranch, and by a lavish
use of credit, and creditors pressing
to the point of levying on the lane
will be a serious obstacle to thu
prompt payment of water rights.
This is natural fruit and stool
country, but the fruit output will b.
small for the next six or eight years
and the farmers cannot, under presen
conditions, largely for lack of a ia
vorable patent law, obtain the fund.-
necessary for the purchase of tn,
strains of stock open to the averag,
dairyman.
"2. Each homesteader on irrigation
projects is doing his part to develop,
the arid west. His remuneration is hi
veloping the land. Where there i
abundance of humus, accessible mar
kets, and low water COST, the remu
neration is considerable. Where tn
humus or plant ingredients must b,
supplied by cultivation, where tn
markets are inaccessible, and the wa
ter cost high, the remuneration is lit
tie or nothing.
If the government can do nothing
to equalize the remuneration, it cal
at least equalize the instalment, and
when the homesteader is placed un
der the difficult and unremunerativ
conditions stated above, can ALLOW
him sufficient time to get on his fee
before payments begin.
Forfeiture-Suggested Changes in lay
When the water user becomes de
Hnquent, it is petitioned that 10 to 2
acres of his land be sold, according
to the amount of his land, at the en-
of the second year of delinquency a
public sale, unless delinquent can ne
gotiate a private sale within the tim
limit, delinquent choosing, where pos
ell he cnnftnt, of lad - l. al
and in cases where it would impai
the value of the land to be divided
the entire tract to be sold at his op
ton, larger acreage to be sold wher
necessary to cover the cost an
amount due, residue to accrue to de
linquent."
After citing II possible causes G
delinquency, due to no fault or defec
of the homesteader, the petition cor
tinues:
I'm these and other cases for tn
homesteader, after loading himse
with debt, devoting his life's saving
and his best remaining years to tn
development of his homestead, t
have his entry cancelled, and togethe
with all his Improvements to pass int
the hands of another, who has not e,
pended a dollar nor an hours labc
upon it, would be relic of the dar
ages.
The tendency of the law propose
above would be to cut down the acr,
age to an amount more within the RI
sources of the settler.
Cultivation.
This paragraph should be droppe
for the following reasons:
1.-THE words planted, irrigated an
cultivated will bear the same col
struction as the same words in ii
Reclamation Act, fixing the amour
of land to be cultivated, etc, in ordC
to secure patent, so that the depar
ment could lay down the law as