The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1914-01-02
government to finish this project at

cost.
If the reclamation service should re-
port that sufficient funds are not now
available, / trust that your board may
go SO far as to promise to recommend
to your next legislature the passage
of the necessary constitutional amend
ment, so that the state may cooperate
with the national government on
dollar for dollar basis, as Oregon is
now doing. Such a promise on your
part might induce the government to
put up the money now, when otherwise
they might not do so.
The plan of asking the government
to complete the project certainly APP
pears worthy of trial and involves no
cost to the state. If the company
makes an honest effort to secure the
cooperation of the United States, as
Mr.. Meredith has promised they will
do, | for one will recommend that the
company be reimbursed by the govern
ment for every dollar that they have
expended in legitimate construction
and in their efforts to finance the
work. The state of Idaho is morally
responsible for the completion of this
project, but is, unfortunately at this
time, without available funds, and if
your board fails to act on this sugges-
ton which appears to be the most
reasonable, logical and cheapest for
the settlers, who hold the equitable
title, your board will itself be respon-
sible for the failure of this plan which
is approved by the promoters and some
of the settlers. Governor, your board
holds the key to this plan, and if it is
Hafnofad oh 70 ~
| for one shall insist that the burden
of completing this project be placed
upon the Carey act board, and not up
on the company or the settlers. I'm
mediate action on your part is neces-
sary, as l do not believe the reclama-
ton service will comply with the re-
quest of the company without SIM
liar request from your board
Mr.. Dillon informed me that in
few days 1t will be necessary for him
to apply for another extension of time.
In view of the fact that the company
is appealing to the reclamation SER
vice for assistance, | should be glad
to see your board grant a reasonable
extension so that the company will not
be put to any unnecessary worry or
expense during the time that the nego-
tiations with the government are
pending. 1t is my understanding that
at the time the settlers entered into
their contracts with the company and
the state, the law and the contracts
provided that this project must be
completed within five years. but that
the law was subsequently changed SO
as to allow eight years for the COM
pletion of Carey act projects, and that
the settlers who were parties to the
contract, granted this company three
years additional time in which to COM
plete the project. | am informed that
the land board had no right to grant
threeyear extension of time, and
that the extension is of no effect and
that the company's time limit in which
to complete the project will expire
next April. 1t will be a physical i'm
possibility to finish the project by
that time, and unless your board will
join III the plan to secure the United
government to complete the project,
or failing in this plan, if your board is
not willing to at least promise to use
your influence with your next state
legislature to secure state aid to COM
plete your Carey act projects, either
alone or in cooperation with the ma
tional government, | believe that for
their protection, the contract holders
under this project should join in a
request that the state begin foreclo-
sure proceedings on the company's
bond Immediately upon the expira-
ton of the original contract. Cover
nor, / believe that the officials of this
company are honest. | plead with
you to join with us in securing the aid
of the government so that we may be
relieved of the unpleasant duty of en-
forcing their bond and thus bring fur
Their trouble upon them
| believe you and all the other mem
bers of your board are honest, that you
have the interests of the Carey entry
men at heart and will gladly do all in
your power to correct the mistakes of
your former state officials. The plan
of reorganization which the company
proposed is impossible of success. AS
you know capital is frightened at the
mere mention of irrigation bonds. The
company cannot finance the project
alone, and if it were possible for them
to interest capital, the promoters pro-
tits OF 100 per cent would necessitate
selling the land on the diminished pro-
Ject FOR nearly 500 per acre. The
government could complete the pro-
ject quickly, substantially and econo-
mically, and the expense to us would
probably not exceed $50 per acre. The
reorganization plan contemplates our
assigning our land and water contracts
to them for preferred stock, to the
amount we paid in four years ago, to
be later paid us in cash from the pro-
fits CD of the company. What if the
company should not succeed? We
would be much worse off than if we
held our contracts. The matter might
drag along perhaps for several years,
the company would sink more money
and all this time we would be growing
old with anxiety and worry I do not
want per cent preferred stock with
its uncertain value. | want an irri-
gated Idaho farm that have bought
and paid for.
At, this time the project is in ex-