The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-07-17
WANT TO KNOW
THE REAL FACTS

Mission valley that the word has gone
out from the Office of the secretary OF
interior that no more work is to be
done on the reclamation project where
the object is to irrigate the lands OF
the white men who have homesteaded
and proved up on the excess lands
just how much truth there is in the
report no one who knows has been
found who will tell. But the truth
should be known. What are the facts
1t is stated that when the senate
increased the appropriation for the
Flatheadirrigation project to $250,o0o
it was with the understanding that
none of this money was to be used to
build bitches which would furnish
water for the white mans land. If
this is true then why so much secrecy
on the part of our senators and repre-
sentatives in congress? If they were
unable to secure an increase in the
amount to be used here the coming
year without concealing from large
number of their constituents the true
situation in so far as the white man
here is concerned, why not let those
facts be known?
1t is a crime to conceal the informa-
tion that no white. mans land is to be
furnished with water. Many of them
have been holding on for the past
four years under the belief that next
year the water would be available
and if they are not to be furnished
with water they should be told so that
they might escape bankruptcy before
everything is lost.
Many of us remember the slogan
of the victorious forces in the last
presidential campaign, when it was
heralded all over the country that
there was not to be so much secrecy in
governmental affairs as had been the
practice in years gone by. Some of
us hoped that this would be the case
and that it would be announced in the
future what the policies and plans con-
cerning the reclamation of the Flat
head were to be. But nothing has
been announced as yet what it is in
tended to do. The surveyors will run
from one to dozen lines of surveys
across the white mans homestead and
be no nearer a solution of the problem
than when they started except use up
the funds which are so grudgingly
appropriated, but not a word is given
out authoritively as to what is to be-
come of the white man and his land.
That may be treating those right who
in good faith went upon the land, built
a home, plowed the land, fenced and
put in crops, under the implied con-
tract that their lands We're to be ir-
rigated, but it does not so appear to
this paper. They are entitled to fair
treatment; they are entitled to know
whether or not the policy is to water
their lands. If not then they should
be given back their money which they
paid for the land and should be reim-
bursed as liquidated damages, all the
money they have expended to main
tain themselves and their families
while they have been finding this in
formation.
The government gave every man
who homesteaded tract Of land on
the Flathead, which was indicated on
the schedule as farm unit, an i'm
piled contract that water would be
furnished him to irrigate his farm
unit. The title to his land is being
held up with the intention of holding
the land as security for the payment
Of the water charges which may be
assessed against each farm unit, but
still no water is forthcoming to much
Of the homesteaded land and now the
report becomes current that no white
mans land is to be furnished water in
he future. Such treatment is what
brings parties and officials in power
INTO disrepute with the people. And
we'll it might.
So much has been written and print
ID concerning this question in the past
our years that repetition would be
# no consequence and probably would
10 no good, but there should be a.
means of ascertaining just what the
policy Of the interior department in
he future is to be concerning the farm
lnits. The people who have home
teaded the lands should make de-
nand, and make it in such a manner
IS to receive an answer, as to what
hey are to expect.
I o0rn Nox,,o