The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1920-09-16
IRRIGATION MEET
TO FORM LEAGUE
NORTHWEST STATES TO GET
TOGETHER ON RECLAIM
ALTON OLICY.
Representatives of Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana and
Wyoming Meet at Seattle This
Week to Plan Desert Irrigation.

A definite national policy for the
reclamation and development OF at
least 100000 of the 100000 acres
of desert land located in the five
northwestern states is to be worked
out at an irrigation congress to assem-
BILE at Meany Hall, University OF
Washington, September 16. for two
day session. The official call which
bears the signatures of senators, CON
gressmen and governors of Washing
ton, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wy
oming brings to the attention of The
people the fact that the welfare Of
the natio ndemands a fuller develop
ment of the agricultural resources of
the country, the reclamation of the
unused lands and the bringing into
their fullest bearing of the millions
of acres now lying idle for lack OF
water to make them producing.
League Plan a Success
The southwestern states already
have a league which is developing
the Colorado project and the states of
which Puget Sound is an outlet must
have a league to develop this section
of the nation. Nearly third of the
irrigable land lies in the state of
Washington alone 100000 acres be-
ing embraced in the Columbia river
project alone. The congress plans to
not only organize a permanent league,
but will authorize the appointment of
a legislative committee and a commit
tee on education and propaganda.
Positive Crop Increase
"Thus far the United States has had
no policy of reclamation" says the
call for the congress. with reluct-
ance it loaned, out of funds derived
from a special source, the net amount
of $118,OO0,000. During 1919 upwards
of 1000, 900 acres of land belonging to
those who had acquired water rights
and almost to like acreage the gov
eminent rented water. An eXamina-
ton shows that the million acres of
land having the water right in 1918
produced crops of gross value of
$66, 1921 1896 or an average of $63 go per
acre, while the average capital cost
per acre was $40. (This includes lands
receiving leased water) On all lands
oixyir fAn cod
the gross value of all crops for 1918
was placed at over $1,000, 100000. The
actual value of all property created by
federal reclamation is estimated at
$556, 100000.
Millions Of Acres Idle
1T will cost $112 900, 900 to complete
the projects already in course of con-
struction. To build those which have
been investigated and found feasible
will call for an expenditure of $780,
100000 more.
"In the strictly arid West, there are
100000 acres of land susceptible of
reclamation by irrigation and ample
are in the different sections of our
country total of 8O,00O,O0O acres of
swamp land and also some 200 900 900
acres of cutover land.
Prominent Men to Speak
The Smith-Fletcher bill will come
up for discussion by Congressman Adj
Olson T. Smith, of Idaho; J. Stanley
Webster, congressman for Washington,
will review the Columbia River basin
irrigation project and Arthur p. Davis.
director of the United States reclama-
ton service, will speak on federal
reclamation. Major Frank r. Jeffrey,
representing the national commander
OF the American Legion, Frand d'Oler,
will tell Of the attitude of the legion
toward progressive policy of irriga-
ton and representatives of the rail-
ways which operate in the Northwest
will outline the views of the railways
on reclamation.
While the reclamation congress
itself will close with the Friday after
noon session the delegates are invited
to take the nine o'clock boat Saturday
morning to Tacoma where a program
will be given including clam bake at
Point Defiance park and a drive
around the city and out to Camp Lew
Is where there will be review of the
Fourth Ivy Division.