The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-07-24
7. SMITH TALKS
ON TWENTY.YEAR
BILL

In addressing the house of repre-
sentatives when the twenty year rec
lamation extension bill was under con-
sideration, Representative Smith OF
Idaho said in part;
Mr.. Chairman:
If you should purchase a horse for
$500, and were unable to meet the pay
ments as they became due, and the
seller should advise you that in order
to get an extension of time you would
De expected to pay $500 for the horse,
and interest on the deferred payments
you would feel that you were not
getting square deal. Yet, a trans
action of this character represents ex-
actly the situation which confronts
the settlers on great majority of
the government irrigation projects.
The building of the great dams,
storage reservoirs and canals was
work that was entirely new to the
engineers of the country, and those
employed by the government to esti-
mate the cost were greatly mistaken
in their calculations. In every instance
the cost of construction was greatly
in excess of the estimates, and in
some instances was two or three
times the original estimates. These
settlers in entering the land were
naturally under the impression that
the first estimates were correct, and
that the water would cost them in
some instances as low as SIS, when
subsequent events have shown that it
will cost them three and four times
the original estimate.
The enactment of the reclamation
law of 1912 was hailed with delight
by thousands of people who desired a
home in the arid states, as we'll as by
the senators and representatives from
those states, and the economists and
philanthropists who recognized the
great possibilities of turning hundreds
of thousands of acres of worthless
lands into productive farms, and the
establishment of cities and towns, the
construction of railroads, and other
evidences of progress in a country
which for centuries has been nothing
but a desert. AS quickly as possible
after the enactment of this law, the
Secretary of the Interior to whom
TIC vi lIlC law was
committed had the necessary surveys
made and the boundaries of the vari-
Gus projects were established. This
land was withdrawn from entry under
the general land laws, and made avil.
able only to those who desired to en-
ter under the reclamation law. Not
withstanding that none of these pro-
jects could be completed within three
to five or more years the land was op-
ened to entry and the people invited
to select the land they desired and
make entry at the local land offices
Residence was required in order tc
confirm the right to the land, not
withstanding the fact that there wa.
no water available for even domestic
purposes.
Thousands of homeseekerS fockeC
upon these various projects, some o
them without money and probabl,
only team of horses, others will
1 several thousand dollars. They es
ablished themselves upon the land il
such houses and shacks as they coult
erect, and settled down to wait pat
iently for the delivery of the water
!. AS heretofore stated they were re
/ luired to continue residence upon tn
land, or subject their entries to con
test by other prospective settlers VIII,
were anxious to get homestead. TIL
hardships and sufferings of these PEG
ole living upon the desert, in man,
instances miles from the postoffic
and required to haul water great dis
lance for domestic purposes, and tn
. water such stock as they had on thei
places, cannot be portrayed in words
r Only those who have endured ther
: can convey any impression of tn
l agony which they endured. In nearl
81 every instance those who went ther
with money consumed it all in MAR