Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1919-10-09
STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR ON
RECLAMATION POSSIBILITIES

have believed for years that the
waste of water each year has been
a serious and inexcusable one, but
there has been much speculation as
to the best means of utilizing this
waste and reclaiming the hundreds
of thousands OF acres of now almost
worthless sagebrush land lying with
in our borders.
Since 1904 eminent engineers have
been unit in proclaiming the feast
bility and practicability OF putting
water on vlst number of acres
which could be made into prosperous
farms and whicn would bring mater
ial wealth to the state in amounts
which seem nuge when they are con
sidered in the light OF what has been
done with other reclaimed areas in
the state.
Our commissioner of reclamation
corroborates the statement of 9TH
ers in his report when he gives US
his findings along engineering lines
of the possibility of storing water
and public good that can be served
by this storage.
At the Governors Conference in
Salt Lake the fact was brought out
that there are now more thon 372,-
100000 acres OF government land
within the st-tes of the country, from
which the states get no taxes and
on which expenses are paid for ad-
ministration by every citizen in the
land
Part of this land. in fact a big
share, is within the boundaries of
Idaho Much of it is susceptible to
irrigation. According to the report
of Mr.. Swendsen, there is enough
food water lost each year in the
Snake river to irrigate more than
million acres of this. 1t would seem
TO be a clearcut business proposition
for the people of the state of Idaho
to start coming into their own.
A combination of circumstances
has made it difficult to finance these
vast reclamation schemes for a num-
Der of years. We have thought for
months that the government would
help finance them, but it appears
now that other commonwealths have
sthrongh their representatives in con
gress somewhat shattered the dreams
of Idaho for getting all the money
to do the first big work of storing
100000 acre feet of water at
American Falls. However. the gov
ernment will assist to the limit OF
the reclamation departments power
in financing the American Falls dam,
because by this plan the government
will get water for their 150, 900 acre
VI Minidoka project which has been set
aside purposely to carry out Secre-
J.. tary Lanes plan for the reclamation
OF lands for soldiers. The time is
: here for action If we find that suf-
" ficient strength financially can be
developed by the group of men who
; have asked for the segregation OF
the so-called Bruneau tract I believe
" it can be done.
No one can question that with the
Interior department of the federal
government, the state of Idaho and
sufficient capital from Idaho and 9th
er states, that the way can be clear
m ed for substantial action when will
'e add millions to our taxable wealth
2 and millions to the people of the
n states income. as they work togeth-
pr er. 1t presents Idaho's biggest op-
IS portunity to my mind
ly The suggested Bruneau develop
O. ment. and there are number OF
ie others. is about the same size as the
e socalled Twin Falls tracts. Last year
Nt the latter produced S4O,OOO,000 in
wealth. or interest at the rate oi
more than per cent on the tota
assessed valuation of the state o
Idaho.
or When the land board today votet
to accept the reclamation depart
+; ment's report and asked for the seq
l. regation of the Bruneau. it askeo
st. the government for something tina
e. belongs to the state and took th'
y' first necessary step in bringing thos'
II lands back where they should b.
d. and toward the great work that ha
Ic- been proclaimed feasible by tn
1t country's greatest engineers.
ID In asking the government for thi
e; segregation the state of Idaho doe
er. not give one iota of right to tn
e; company which says It can fnanc
M the development In fact 1t place
IN the state in the position where 1
ii; holds as virtual owner the tract O
M more than half million acres an
is; where it can dictate the terms ur
III der which the land cen be reclaimed
MS. In other words, the state will n
err, sist through its commissioner of rec
'l. lamation and land board that cap
rs tai for the work be shown to b
pr. raa1V for tho davalonmpnt. that th