The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1920-07-08
HARDING TOLD
OF IRRIGATION
NEEDS IN WEST
Representative Smith Writes Of Ben
efit- Already Achieved and Pro-
I@ets Needing Funds.

4 -
giving the republican presidential
lnomInee Information on which 10
base his stand on the reclamation ~
sue In HIS speech Of acceptance. Rep
sos6ntative smith Of Idaho has writ
ten Senator Harding setting forth
briefly what ths reclamation law has
dons for the west. and more particn.
larry pointing out the necessity u
material government aid and In *
isnding and expanding government
irrigation enterprises. Prior 70 writ
ns thia letter Representative Smith
discussed the western irrigation sit
uafi0n With the senator and found
him anxious 10 help. II was al Mr..
Hardlng's request that the following
letter vas written 90 that he might
hays before him Ia preparing his
speech OF acceptance a reliable state
ment Of the facts The letter OF Rep
reasntatiye Smith follows
Dear Senator Harding: Refer
ring 10 our Interview concerning the
importance Of the more rapid recia-
nation OF the arid lands In the west /
aud complyin with your request |
that 1 submit data as 10 what has al /
ready bosn accomplished take
pleasure In submitting the follow
ing
THE Wisdom OF reclamation pol
ley a. established BY republican
In the enactment OF
the reclamation law IN June. 1909.
has been eonclusiyely demonstrated.
Projects Lack Money
During ths time the law has been
20 projects In IA different
states In the arid west have been
more than one-half OF
hem have been practically compiet-
III. aud ali could have been com
,leted long ago had the money for
work been made avail
bile.
Water for Irrigation Is actually
'elng supplied 10 one million seven
hundred thousand acres, and. with 9
no completion of storage reservoirs 3
o~ under way. water viii be avail a
Bile for two million seven hundred
lghty thousand acres under existing [
roploets Over 10000 families .
ave independent homes on these a
lnda. and the value OF early crops n
mounts To more than one-hair Of Il
10 total cost OF the construction OF n
lose works. The actual wealth ere d
cd amounts 10 more than five times 4,
~ 3Hh 1tFFhANN " f'N EVHNf NfH'ffh A
reclamation work since the law
as enacted. Land values averaged n
10 per acre prior 20 irrigation. A,
hich, by the magic touch OF water. ~
I've rlsen TO 5000 per acre on some bl
'oIects and 10 800 per acre on 80
hers. OF
Land Formerly rninhabitabio III
Fifteen years ago this great guam 80
" OF land was inhabited and was D,
tie more than worthless desert. ~
IN n not only supports five hun hi
sd thousand people. who are hap
aud prosperous and who are build 10
( comm antilles. towns and cities, IN
I thsy are furnishing for the non vi
oducers Ia the cast hundreds OF so
OF dollars worth of food rel
ifs and affording market for A.
Inufaeturod articles not exeelled -
ywhore In this or any other eoun- -
I'm addition 70 this happy aitua-
n. the settlers on these lands are
aging TO the government In ye1sly
tallments the actual cost OF tho
issructlon and maintenance OF
80 projects. Up 20 June 80 OF last
" the net cost OF these works was
nHnUfNu NTU NNNHtf "tWn fnlAAANN
hundred and forty-fiva thousand
lars. approximately $50 per acre
the land within reclamation pro-
t.. storage reservoirs and canals
10 been constructed for the further
amatien OF land on projects
Ieh. when utilised. will further re-
% tho average acre coat.
This great sum OF money repre-
q tho proceeds from tho sale Of
lie land and tho repayment
rxoa No money expended Tor rec
latlon has been direct charge
m the federal treasury. with the
option OF twenty million dollars
nea By tho government. and which
now being repaid at tho rate OF
million dollars per year.
The reclamation fund viii be
msatsd hy portion OF the re-.
- from leases and royalties an.
the recently enacted OH land
'inx Law. but even this additional
,ms n Gar from sufficient 60
,dily complete existing projects.
er projects Involving the expcnd-
. ~ five hundred millions % dol
have already been examined aud
q % them approved by the reela-
lon service witch. when com
81. would make open 20 entry at
'ascasbie cost per acre ten mil
acres Of the finsst agricultural
Ssisttcn ~ Feed supply
Ii the government could make
isnd available 20 settlers al act
cost az the rata % one million
. per acre for the nest ten years.
great problem % Increasing cur
supply IN proportion 20 the lr-
90 of eur population would BE-
" solved
ne hlxh wages received ~ labor
10 Industrial eentsrs cannot prob.
30 PAID By the farmer. and "a a
Il. he must necessarily eurtail
activities. hence the constantly
'sslnx price % fcodstuffs due TO 4
'empetisive bidding Cor the ever II
nfnx supply. While labor with
'sturr 20 the faru, Tor wages. the
elilty OF securing title 10 the
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