The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-06-17


thru.
And then, as for the local inter-
ests, he declared the need for q good,
outstanding, two-fisted, bear-cat OF
an organization to put over the Du-
bois project. He said that the Black
foot leaders of the fight had every
confidence Of upper Snake river val
ley men, who would back to the finish
all engaged in the good work.
1--WE are not out for any glory in
this," he said. I'VE want only an
opportunity to serve under anybody
and any organization; we are for
all who are for the Dubois project.
We want results, must have them.
We want the credit to 60 to the
strong men who will put this project
thru"
Simon D. Duke of Arco described
the trip from Idaho Falls to Arco,
the vast level plains wanting only
water to make them bloom with
cities and comfortable homes.
]. E. Smith, colonization expert
for the Union Pacific railway system,
with offices at Omaha, who made an
especial trip to Idaho to view at
first hand the territory that now Of
fers the best field for colonization.
He said the Dubois project offered
the one adequate solution of the SOL
der problem as it is being worked
out by the railroad officials. He said
he wanted to see the soldiers put
the project thru, do the work and
reap the benefits. As thoro con-
vert to this great scheme he said
he would do all in his power to in
terest national leaders in it.
Byrd Trego gave some effective
facts and figures. He said that
under the enlarged scope of the
project a million and quarter, acres
of unirrigated land would get water.
Two-thirds Of the water of the Snake
river runs away and out of the state
cen the seasons of irrigation,
and the impounding of that immense
wealth of water was what the Du-
bois, project meant. He said this
would not interfere with the use Of
present canal systems; they would
continue to get as much as they now
can. He explained how the press
Yields it's power of publicity in ad-
vertising the Dubois project He
said he had sent out about 10000
copies of The Idaho Republican con-
tanning information about the project
and the lands of the Snake river val
ley, to other newspapers of the state
All of the chief points in these
talks were enthusiastically applauded
by the meeting.
Major Reeds Address
Then Major Fred r. Reed was in
troduced with happy expressions of
confidence and gratitude by Toast
master Charles E. Harris.
The major said that he had been
engaged in hard struggle since the
inception of the state reclamation
association last spring getting the
counties organized, holding meetings
and making speeches, but that of,
all the meetings he had seen the
present one was, if not the largest,
then the most enthusiastic. He said
his eyes had been opened while on
the present trip beyond all expecta-
tons, and that the Dubois project
seemed to him, after life's expert
ence with reclamation projects, the
biggest, most far-reaching, most
feasible, most promising of results
to the most people of any he had
ever examined.
He spoke feelingly of the pitiful
condition of the settlers who had
been seen along the route, living in
shacks, burned by the sun, and hard
put to it to exc out the barest living
on dry farm products. And l would
rather have a hand in solving the
problem of these people than to have
seat in congress or, the governors
chair
He described his first coming to
Idaho, in 1878, when with a party
of emigrants he had walked most
of the way from the Black Hills,
South Dakota, and how he stopped
at Glenn's Ferry and found job.
That first square meal was the sweet
est of all recollections.
He said he was grateful for the
reliable information he had secured
on the trip and pleased with the
friendly reception he had been &C
corded all along the line. He COM
lmented the reclamation workers
of Blackfoot, Messrs. Stewart, Ken
nedy, Trego and Seeger on their
energy. The trip meant whole lot.
he had never seen such spirit
among settlers under such conditions
in his life.
Tow the state reclamation asso-
citation was formed, of what men it
consisted, what it's purposes, how,
worked, who it sent to Washing.
ton, difficulties encountered and
hopes for the future were all set
forth in the majors attractive way.
Calls for Unity
But his strongest appeal was for
nifty of action. Not for Boise, not
for Blackfoot, but for Idaho. When
you've done that, he said, you have
got somewhere. One man can do
nothing; one project can do little
with individual backing. He called
attention to the millions of dollars
spent by eastern folks in worthless
reclamation schemes, SO that the east
is plastered with bonds that are a
bad advertisement for all projects,
and urged that the only way to ac-
complish results was to all get to-
gether, improve county ORGANIZATIONS