Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-01
Reclamation Work Is Elk
planned by Judge Will R.
King at Luncheon Given
by the Boise Commercial
Club.
KING HILL THE FIRST
TO BE TAKEN OVER
Only Case in Which the
Government Has Taken
Charge Of Carey Act Prof
ect-Tells Why Settlers
Must Pay the Cost Of
Water.

Judge VIII r. King, chief counsel Of
the United States reclamation service,
in an address at the Boise Commercial
club luncheon today spoke at length
in connection with the enlargement of
the scope Of the reclamation service.
Thirty years ago." said he, lawyers
Of the country would have declared the
act unconstitutional. Only recently
the question Of the government re-
claiming lands in private ownership
was looked upon by many as q vio-
lation OF the federal constitution. This
was step in advance of anything that
had been taken. and now that the gov
eminent is taking over the King Hill
project another advance step is being
taken. This is the first time the gov
eminent IL stepping in to take over
Carey act project and it is an entirely
new departure. The reclamation SER
vice Is doing things which were not
considered only a few years back"
One of the things now being consid-
cred by the government, according to
the chief counsel, is to make public
lands pay for the projects in their own
vicinity. He said Idaho has several
tracts where this may be done. The
Pieh 10 W cCll tiiC JANUS 10 get IunQS
to pay the construction of the pro-
ject The matter of having all public
lands appraised and sold has been con-
sidered by government officials.
BOND DISTRICTS.
There is now pending before con-
gress bill to reclaim swamp and arid
lands without a direct appropriation
from the government" said Judge
King. "The way the plan will oper-
ate Is to have districts organized.
These will petition the secretary of the
interior to make surveys and esti-
mates. After this is done the district
will be bonded for money to build the
irrigation system, the government
underwriting the bonds The project
will be built by the government and
its management retained by it until
the full charge is paid. The idea Is to
have the repayment on the amortiza-
ton plan with very low rate of inter-
est. This may prove little more ex-
pensive than the old plan of annual
payments would be very small and
would continue over a period Of prob
ably 40 years"
According to Judge King there are
IN the United States about 10000, 900
acres of swamp and arid lands to be
reclaimed. This, when compared to
the 100000 acres now reclaimed
said Judge King. will give you some
idea of the many homes that reclama-
ton may provide for the people of this
country"
Sp al construction legislation
should be enacted now, according to
the chief counsel of the reclamation
service. The country realizes the ne
cessity for increased food production
as war measure and congress will
take more kindly to reclamation legis-
lation. Judge King said that the gov
eminent authorities have already given
some consideration to the use of IN
termed war prisoners in case this coun
try should become situated similarly to
Canada, where war prisoners are now
paid on public works.
SETTLERS. PAY COST.
"One thing in connection with the
reclamation must not be overlooked"
said Judge King, land that is in re-
gard to projects paying the full cost Of
construction. In many parts of the
country settlers are making no dis
tnction between the Improvement Of
public harbor where the ships Of the
world may float and the individual
farm where the owner alone has a
right to float around. Reputation, or
disclaimer of the full construction
charge on reclamation projects will
have bad effect on congress. The
people of the east are not familiar with
the vests irrigation problems and they
do not take kindly to the talk Of not
paying the full cost of construction.
Throughout the east the talk is COM
mon that not single one of the pro-
jects will ever pay back its cost to the