The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-04-07


HOS GOVERNOR ASSERTS THAT
WATER, IN THE RIGHT PLACE
SPELLS UNTOLD MILLIONS FOR
UNITED STATES.
BY d. w. DAVIS. Governor Of Idaho
and President Western tates Recia'
nation Association.
Editors Note.PFor snappy diction
for clear reasoning and general inter-
est, the following article by Governor
u. W. Davis Of Idaho is worthy the
consideration of the most busy Of men
These who are seeking better eco
nomic condition for the nation have
suffered many suggestions. wise and
otherwise, but Governor Davis. wiring
from a unique perspective gives one
Of the most Intriguing ct suggestions
What has primarily lured men to
the West? What has been the guild
ing desire in the hearts and mines OF
those who set their faces toward the
Pacific? Gold-the shining and pre-
cious metal. to be dug from the noun
tain or PANIED in the streams.
Millions Of it have been found. Eut
it's value has not compared with the
established by these pioneers and
those who have followed them. These
are permanent investments. In addi-
ton. many more millions have been
produced. frcm the soil than, from
mines in the west. And millions of
acres still await the magic hand of
enterprise. when water - impoundins
dams which will course through irri-
ION Il 1SAS bloom.
This is a proven fact
Where do these millions CT dollars
Eoc Into the channels of trade. into
the world of commerce.. Here is a
concrete example. 4 man has been
a renter in a humid section. He has
created the average wealth possible
on an acre CT humid land. The profit
is small--he divides even that. The
government h. impending water
makes it possible for him to tawe a
farm under Il government project. This
farm produces, according to statistics,
twice the wealth his rented farm pro-
duced. Producing twice the wealth. he
Is twice as good customer of the
eastern or central state manufacturer
and jobber he was in his old environ
ment.
Step In the home Of Il man who has
fully developed his government farm.
There you will find all of the common
varieties CT nationally advertised
goods. He has piano. a monograph
Il kitchen cabinet. He buys an auto
mobile made in Detroit or Cleveland
or indianapolis. He buys tires made
in Akron, farm implements male in
Moline. a separator made in Waterloo
His family wears eastern made clothes
His purchasing power has been en-
larsed with Is opportunities.
1t is a most interesting study to
come in contact with the irrigation
farmer. Go back into his life and note
what he has been able tc, do since the
government CAV. him his opportunity
to create wealth. He assumes great.
err share of tax because of his accu.
mutation of wealth. A great majority
Of these men have paid but small taA
shares on personality before the!
wendell their way westward into The
land OF opportunity. They now owr
land.
The manufacturer of the eastern ant
central states as we'll az the jot.bel
who cannot the active in'ares
which the development, of the ives; has
upon his business Is blind to his OPP
portunity. His additional receipt!
through reclamation of land by thu
government are truly enormous. Thes'
receipts should be multiplied by tel
in 2s years. There is not sales man
ager nor executive head of any trsi
ness in all that eastern territory bu
who would startle himself by think
ing Of the possibilities lying hefOr
him for an increase Of his buying pub
lie and it's ability tc pay.
4 trifie less than two million acre
have been reclaimed by the govern
ment. There are twenty million
which could be placed under waite,
To accomplish this a system of fnanc
has been worked out in the McNar
Smith bill now before congress whic
an appropriation Of $3.50. 100000. tn
payment of which would cover a nun,
her Of years. could be made to revolv
into an expenditure and value of tw
billions in quarter Of a century
without adding to the investment.
The plan we have worked out 70
financing Is not in it's proper sense a
appropriation by the government. fo
every cent that is used is paid bac
to the government. While the none
is in use the government draws NOR
interest from it than It must pay on
It IL good craftsmanship to- provide fo
the future of agriculture in this ccur
try. 1t is good craftsmanship for dill
ferent sections Of the country to jci
in building other sections. 1t grease
the wheels of commerce. 1t increase
per capita wealth. 1t encourages OF
portunity.
As these lands are developed the
will furnish thousands Of homes to 81
terprising citisens who have not b.
fore had an opportunity to 6ecou
producers Of wealth except in non
inal way. Towns will grow. railront
he built. enterprises flourish. minea
opened, countless markets come.
The selfish argumen: is made som,
times that the development Of the,
nev lands will reduce the va1uc ,