The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-09-15

Organization of District.
AS stated in the last issue Of The
Tribune, Judge Will r. King, chief
counsel Of the Reclamation Service,
is in the west, visiting the government
reclamation projects. Judge King
will visit the Boise project at an early
date. While here he wishes to meet
the members of the boards OF direc-
tors of the irrigation districts, canal
companies and the waters users as
ISOLATION.
We stated last week that Judge
King had given out an interview at
Salt Lake dealing with matters of in
terest to settlers on government
reclamation projects In this inter-
view the position of the Reclamation
Service is set forth at length. Think
ing that the matter discussed, and the
viewpoint of Judge King and asso-
ciates in the Reclamation Service are
of interest to the readers of The Tri-
bune we give the interview in full as
it was published in the Salt Lake
Tribune of September 3rd.
81 am again in Salt Lake City, not
only III tHC lnlClCSt vi NY
the government, but with the interests
my heart" said Judge Will r. King,
chief counsel of the United States
reclamation service, at the Hotel Utah
last night.
Il desire very much to get the recla-
nation projects away from the private
corporation idea, known as the water
IncerS' associations 70 that 0f
ton districts. The reclamation pro-
jects in the state of Utah are on the
best basis of any that | know of in
the sixteen arid states when 1t comes
to the question of organization, but
they can be materially improved by
substituting in place of the present
plan what is known as the irrigation
district system. Especially is this the
case with reference to what is known
as the nighttime system. Under this
system there are several million acres
of government land. These govern
ment lands, as will appear by what
will subsequently say, will reduce the
cost per acre to the project very ma
terially."
Tremendous Investment.
Judge King further stated that the
government had invested $l25,0OO,O00
in irrigation projects. He continued:
There is thrust upon the reclama-
ton commission the burden of not
only making this investment, but pro-
viding for its return. In any other
department of the government the
: money is expended and told good
BY" but in this particular service 1t
is expected to be returned; hence the
: best method of providing for the ex-
penditure of the money and at the
! same time returning it is one of the
= unusual responsibilities which is
thrust upon this commission.
A good many people, without fully
considering the situation. think that
because millions may be spent in the
Improvement of, we will say, rivers
q and harbors, in which, when the
money is expended, is not expected to
return. in dollars and cents. so far as
q those in that particular neighborhood
:, may be concerned, assume that the
q same rule should apply to expendi-
e lures for reclamation work. but in this
very important feature is over
looked, and while money may be ex
/ pended in the Improvement of river:
IS and harbors, the boats of anyone
81 might float over them, but when ex
r. pended in the reclamation of arit
/ lands, and the giving of the title t.
G. home builder, he alone has abso
e lutte control over that particula
- property.
Personal Property.
In other words. he is the monarc
y, Of all he surveys. 1t is his persona
I, property, which the government, a
H. his agent, has enabled him to reclaim
, ~ while, in the other instance, it is pull
lie property, in which every city of tn
p United States. and to some exter
re the citizens of the entire world, hav
ID, a right.
The irrigation district system wit
reference to United States reclaim;
he ton projects is in use on reclamatol
RS projects in Washington, Idaho ar
ck. Nebraska. Its advantages over VIII
nd is known as the water users ass
All citation" system are by experien1
in clearly demonstrated not only fro
the standpoint of efficiency. but
economy as well.
RS The ACCESSIBILITY of adopting Il
she irrigation district plan in place OF Il
DID, water users system has been m
ital terially increased by passage OF hou
cts bill No 1866, known as the Smi
bill. This bill brings the reclamati
service of the government in full M
be mony with the irrigation district pls
the Subject to Liens.
hes 1t subjects the land. the title
the which may still remain IN the Unit