Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-07-16
RECLAMATION TEAMWORK

must go on day by day if we are to
make prosperity for its citizesns
THE IDAHO RECLAMATION
ASSOCIA ATION is methodicany, earn
estly, and honestly attempting to or
sanize so solidly that every lick viii
count, so that, in a reasonable time,
the millions of acre feet of water that
are going to waste every year may be
stored in reservoirs, and, at the proper
time put on the land, to insure full
grown. fully developed crops every
year
And, People, this is really our larg-
est problem in Idaho where irrigation
is necessary. The sooner we all get
together and systematically outline our
plans for procedure and go to work.
the sooner we will have dependable
water rights and certain crops every
year, our credit will be assured, and
there will be no disappointments any
where in irrigated Idaho.
When all the projects in our state
are thoroughly organized. and we know
just how much water we have, and
Just where the food waters can be
stored; when our engineers give US
plans and specifications, and our diff
ferent districts are formed, we will
then be ready to do business.
There comes a time in the history
of every great enterprise when we
pass the talking point and must get
into action an go to work, and that
time is right here; Congress will never
get down to a serious consideration of
the reclamation needs of the West and
South until the West and South or
ganize and unite in one common cause.
Then Congress will sit up and take
notice, and not before. This being true,
why delay7
Suppose that the West and South
were organized and working in har-
mony, and twenty eight states should
say to Congress-: you have given mil
lions to Rivers and Harbors; now we
make no threats. but our demands are
righteous. and we are going to sit in
this game from now on and fight for
our own. What do you suppose would
happen? Why. they would invite us to
sit. and we would be considered as one
of the family. Congress as a whole. is
A brutal situation, and the only way to
stand strong is to have a big growl
with a bite behind it, if necessary.
Until last year. the West was un-
organized, and probably the South the
same. Now the West is getting to-
gether, and the thirteen far-western
states have an organization known as
the Western States Reclamation Asso-
citation. and the inspiration for this
act came from the Idaho Reclamation
Association. This is a big step up a
big flight of stairs. and, if we keep
climbing, we Will get to the top. Cover
nor Davis, of Idaho. is the president
Of the Association of Western States.
In Idaho, reclamation means doub-
witty as a commonwealth, and con-
sdstent. definite, sustained, national
policy in the twenty
seven or eight states in which recla-
nation is legitimate issue. would be
IF incalculabIe value and benefit to our
sntire nation.
fu a
The Idaho Reclamation Association is
lsing senators congressman. governors,
,nly as a means to an end, and they
il. Democrats and Republicans. look
like to US. so long as they work FOR
and when they don't. our
association has no use for them. The
eason is, that we want irrigation,
rainage, and destumpage. and our
iublic officials are the medium by
yhich we epect results.
Then, our people must raise their
lelr own environment. It's IDAHO
rst, and localities second (In other
.ates interested in reclamation it
lould be the same.) If we get Idaho
,lling right, localities viii go ahead
I'd we will all be busy, prosperous.
Id happy. No community is strong
Tough to go alone in this big recla-
alton game. We must unite, and help
-eh other to succeed.
Reclamation is a gigantic thing. 1t
kes men of vision, nerve, and brains;
takes the united pull of united
ople TO succeed. The sooner we or
nize and go to work, the sooner
,clamation will be on it's way TO sue
SIS and accomplishment.
Fred r. Reed
Executive Secretary
Idaho Reclamation Association.