Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-01-06

tentative bill itemized and properly
classified, as required by section $50
Idaho Compiled Statutes for 1919, fol
all proposed appropriations for the
coming biennium.
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT
Fixing responsibility in state gov
eminent marked the action of the fif
teenth session of the legislature. That
body abolished many boards and com
missions and placed responsibility
upon nine commissioners and the con
stitutional officers. Greater efficiency
| increased revenues and reduced eXpen-
ditures have justified the changes
made, but experience has shown that
further coordination of departmental
duties is possible. Certain minor
changes will, therefore, be suggested
in a special message to your honor
able body during the session. Giving the
department of public works super
vision over the construction of all state
buildings, and making the budget Off
Ger tax commissioner. so that the
raising of taxes, as well as their ex-
led and outlined are among the
changes that experience suggests.
Our unused lands can be made our
greatest asset. Upon the use made of
them largely depends our future de-
velopment. Only a small portion of
our lands have been made productive
There are approximately 100000 acres
in the Snake River valley that may
be irrigated in large projects. There
are $780, 900 acres of swamp lands
awaiting drainage, and as much more
of cutover timber lands which await
only the removal of forest refuse to be-
come productive.
We should study the possibilities
the state and be ready with informa-
ton to invite capital to assist in their
development upon the return of nor
NAL financial conditions.
Let us not be blinded by belief tina
it will be possible for the federal gov
eminent to develop all our reclamation
possibilities, for there are many small
feasible projects embracing from a few
hundred to few thousand acres, which
will not interest the government, yet
in the aggregate they will provide
homes for hundreds of families and add
millions to the wealth of the state.
More than so percent of our increase
in population during the past decade
is on our 100000 acres of irrigated
land, or the towns principally support
ed by them. The banks of our irri-
gated districts contain two-thirds of
the total bank deposits of our state.
These facts indicate the great posi-
bilities awaiting the development of
our unused lands.
We made no more wise appropriation
at the last session that the $2O,OOO
used for measuring the flow of our
streams and inventorying the state s
water\ resources. We should continue
these investigations, so that our great
water assets may be fully known and
thus make possible an outlining of
plans for the reclamation of every acre
they supply. An accurate knowledge |
of cur water resources will tend to IN
wife capital to undertake their devle- |
will safeguard the interests of
capital and investors by preventing the
of projects where there is an
water supply, and assist |
in stabilizing irrigation securities. The |
lack of such information has largely |
been the cause of our mistakes In II /
rigation. Wise legislation will do much |
TO restore confidence in irrigation and |
make possible great development by |
a market for irrigation Sc
eurities. Valuable lessons have been
learned. and the defects in our irriga- /
ton laws should be corrected. This |
will be the subject of special mes
sage to your body.
SAFEGUARDING SECURITIES
Capital to develop our mines, estab-
fish new industries, utilize our raw ma
terial and make productive our arid |
lands is one of our greatest needs. The
principals necessary to be
observed is obtaining capital are to
acuuaint it with our resources and to
safeguard its investment Every OBJ
struction should be placed in the way
Of questionable stocks and securities,
whether originating in Idaho or else
where. Millions of dollars that are now
needed to develop Idaho have gone out
IF the state to line the pockets of IL
nancial adventurers. Legitimate en-
-erprise will invite such scrutiny as
viii give it standing among conserva-
i've investors and encourage capital to
eek investment in the state. Enter
)rises, both foreign and domestic,
which cannot stand such scrutiny
hould not be permitted to operate.
Abnormal conditions affecting mar
Seting and agriculture prevail the
world over. Europe is unable to buy
he products of farm and factory which
We have to sell. American producers
ire forced to meet in our own markets
he competition of producers of other
lations High labor and material
osts have entered into our products
hat must now compete with like pro-
ucts produced at lower costs. For
ign competition and reconstruction
i<.-o1 do,.-,, inducfrv and les