Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-30

OF "heeher lHey IND their way mys- |
teriously into the large areas of the
reservoir sites of the Dubois project |
which Sites OF themselves. furnish n |
fifth source of possible conservation |
of the water vapors.
Further irrigation DEVELOPMENT in |
this region may continue to Increase n
the railways the menace of heavy snow
falls, but 1t holds forth good promise
to those who are depending on the i'm
pounding OF ldaho's waste waters.
Few OF the arguments used here are
the stock arguments for irrigation
projects In general; they are rather
unique and for the greater part are
essentially peculiar to the Dubois ir-
rigation project. In the main factors
of economics in water conservation.
this is especially true, and in the mat
ter of strategy of position or the urge
of a stern necessity, no project in the
west bears a plausible comparison with
1t.
AS soon as data is available from the
weather bureau, on isothermic lines,
etc, and as soon as the required infor-
nation may be obtained from other au-
thoritative scientific sources, the writer
will undertake the preparation of a
map In colors. This map will empha-
size graphically such strategic posi-
tons as are especially peculiar to the
locality, and will afford basis of COM
parison through which those in au-
thority may better judge of the relative
merits of the western reclamation prof.
ects in general.
THE THREE-CROP ARGUMENT.
The Dubois irrigation project would
not classify as Il three-crop area
Sometimes the third crop is harvested;
more often it is not. However, the
advocates of no irrigation project can
afford, especially in the most northerly
regions, to pin their faith on the vul-
nerable three-crop argument.
To begin with, that argument can
pertain to not over 10 per cent of the
total crop. No project would be given
over entirely to the growth of the one
single important three-crop products
alfalfa; few of them would be devoted
to SO much as a 10 per cent growth of
hay The other 80 per cent of crop
must necessarily constitute perennial
growths, used as cereals, potatoes,
beets and seeds. The proximity of an
alfalfa market to the Dubois project
offsets any economic advantages of
fered in the inferior third crop while
the value of the prime first crop and
less superior second harvest, is greater
by far than that of any subsequent
growth. This may not apply in the
extreme south, but it does in the mid
die and northerly western states.
In the higher attitudes it is univer-
ca 1lNr trIra ~ nd
crops are of a higher value than the
same product raised in lower zones. In
the high altitude of the Dubois project
there will be manifest an early ten
dency to seed growing, an intensive
and highly profitable form of agricul-
ture. The new land, free from the
germs and parasitic elements as COM
mon to the areas where the process
of cultivation has been going on for
years, is superbly adapted not only to
seed growth, but also to the production
of the sugar beet and the potato. More
severe but yet not blighting elements
are encountered in the higher attitudes.
These elements develop great powers of
resistance in plant life. None but the
robust and most verile plants survive
and therein lie the secrets of the SUI
perior products.
CIVIL AND ECONOMIC STATUS.
Over 80 per cent of the settlers of
the Dubois project and contiguous
areas are soldiers; the remainder are
civilians. The settlers having sold
their holdings in neighboring states,
came to the Dubois region to COM
mence anew. Settlers in the areas con-
tiguous to the project proper have been
able to avert serious financial misfor-
tune but those on the irrigable flats
have not been so much favored.
They have worked industriously and
assiduously; they have spent the prof
its and earnings of a long and trying
period Of years prior to their moving
into the district; the families have
toiled and grubbed and out of it all
has come not one cent of return. Their
situation is desperate. 1t must be
placed Immediately, with all of its pitt
full and sordid history, before those
who are high in authority and from
whom the only possible relief can come.
A man may endure the contumely
and scorn of his neighbors, or the
sings and arrows of his enemies and
yet survive triumphantly; but when in
| spite or the TACT that he stands nigh
in the estimation of those about him;
when he has by his thrift and industry
won the respect and admiration of
everyone, and nature herself turns her
face against him, it is not merely mis-
fortune it is worse by far than that.
1t is tragedy.
The Palouse and Mountain View
farmer and the Sweet Sager have
stood of nights for four long years, in
the midst of their families, not in
smiling radiance, but with portentious
frown. which no man may disguise as
| he contemplates that which this mar
has looked out upon-the specter of
utter ruin.
| And yet through his earnings apart
| n z = N y m II n ] = = =