American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-08-15
West Not Game
Preserve But an
Industrial Unit

day hunting ground Oh an incubator
for frenzied fiction than as an honest
to-god part OF our agricultural and in
dustrial nation.
This class has somewhat the same
reluctance to consider seriously the
benefits of western development than
the titled gentry in the old countries
have felt toward throwing open to
cultivation their great game preserves.
The nobility of England who, dur
ing the war, gladly devoted their
broad reserve acres to the husband
mans pillow, showed better spirit, bet
ter judgment, better patriotism than
some eastern and southern leglsla-
tors, the convolutions Of whose brains
are so clogged with the cobwebs OF
ignorant selfishness and whose vision
is so bounded by the nearest dollar
that they fail to recognize In our great
effort to reclaim the arid west q move
ment for the betterment and progress
of the whole nation ranking in mo-
ment with the great territorial acqui-
sitions OF our history, besides solving
the problem of homes for all our un-
employed service men who seek only
opportunity, not aims.
Nor are we OF the west asking for
gifts-all we want is justice. There
seems to be plenty Of money In the
II. s.. to loan to every foreign govern
ment that makes a touch, even Ger
many. We have patiently waited for
the VESTS share of congressional APP
preparations for development purposes.
Plenty of private capital that is now
being directly or indirectly diverted
to Europe would BIO available under
government and state jurisdiction to
build all the irrigation systems, pro-
vided IL could be sure that he various
states could build the reservoirs and
deliver the water.
We Want Justice.
II the states could do this, the de-
creed water-rights would be forever
protected, and the surplus used on
new lands, and every cent the govern
ment advanced 10 the states on this
work would be paid back with inter-
est within a reasonable number OF
years. Is not the credit of our states
us EUOu Hh lIt DOllu VI my Ibiiibh |
country?
This Is the driest season that Idaho
has known for thirty years. The re-
suit OF the water shortage Will cost
the farmers and s-tockgrowers of Ida
no many millions OF dollars. Every
man interested feels this situation
keenly. The remedy is this: To store
the water that runs down the Snake
river every year and Is lost to Idaho
forever. This can only be done by
building reservoirs and holding the
waters that in the spring and early
summer 20 to the sea. The states are
the proper agency through which TO
build these reservoirs. Whom this Is
done and the states police the water
TO the point of intake, the water situa-
ton In Idaho Will be forever settled
and an additional million acres will
be put under cultivation,
Al Must Help.
The best way to get government aid
and quickly, Is for each far western
state to organize Il reclamation asso-
citation and every citizen join and pay
money to become Il live member.
County commissioners In Idaho are
authorized TO appropriate up to $1,000
"a year for any matter which may be
necessary to the promotion of a plan
TO secure aid from the U. $. govern
ment for irrigation purposes; session
laws 1911. chapter 8. page %, on petit
ton OF 100 taxpayers.
The Idaho Reclamation association,
an organization officered by men of
character, ability and experience, has
adopted this slogan; store the water
In reservoirs bu!tl by our states with
thorough government cooperation, and
not only insure the old water rights
against such conditions as are exist
ing this year, but also use the surplus
for additional new acreage" II we
had the reservoirs built they would
pay the cost OF construction this year
by the amount of money represented
bf the loss of our crops this season.
With reservoirs on all our streams, II
we do not use the water n year we
will have IL there for the next season,
which may be a dry one. II is bet
ter TO have the mater bottled up in
luaho thiil TO nave II IN the IAclllc
ocean. The equalization of water
flow would also vastly increase the
potentially of the power systems
Which supply our pumping plants,
manufacturers, railways, cities and
towns with electric energy,
win Stay ON the Job.
The Idaho Reclamation association
with offices ut Pocatello was not or
ganized for q year; it intends to stay
ON the job until Idaho Is reclaimed,
Having ne state appropriation, It is
wholly dependent on the people OF
the state for support. The bills now
before congress need support The
big effort is on.
When all the far western states
form an association of states with