Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-04-06
IS FAVORABLE
TO DRAINAGE,

At a meeting of the KOotenai VAL
ley Commercial Club held a few weeks
ago, the drainage committee was re-
quested to urge the Idaho delegation
in congress to support an amendment
to the Smith-McNary bill providing for
the reclamation of logged over lands
and swamp lands. Chairman Kent has
received the following letter from
Congressman French in regard to the
matter:
II am in receipt of your telegram
of the 18th instant urging that the
problem of reclamation under the
Smith-McNary bill making provision
for reclamation of lands by drainage
and also by clearing cut-over lands
Il shall be glad to support the prop
ositions you recommend though prob
ably l should say we are still uncer-
tain as to whether or not this bill can
be passed and what its provisions will
be. If the bill shall pass, | believe
we shall be able to include reclama-
ton by drainage together with recla-
nation by irrigation.
ION the other hand, reclamation by
clearing cut-over land is not in such
satisfactory shape Congress has been
hard to convince that the work of rec
lamation by irrigation should be un-
dertaken, much less that it should be
extended by drainage or by clearing
cut-over lands.
Reclamation by irrigation and
drainage, however, is supported by
somewhat similar reasons and it looks
as though the congress might be per-
suaded still further to aid this work.
n To-
clearing stump lands we meet several
difficulties.
First it is urged that vast areas
have been cleared by individuals, a
few acres at time, and that national
aid is not necessary even though de-
sirable
Second, it is urged that there is
no natural necessity that will draw
together persons living within a cut
over land district such as draws to-
gether persons living under q recla-
nation or drainage project, that is.
when the cut-over lands belonging to
A and B are cleared, A and B have
no natural interest in bearing the ex-
penses of continuing the work of
clearing lands.
I'm drainage and irrigation, A and
throughout the years, will be de-
pendent upon the continued mainte-
nance and success of irrigation or
drainage, as the case may be-
Third, 1t is urged that under the
Smith-McNary bill the government
will advance the money for the initial
reclamation work and then sell the
district bonds so as to turn back into
the revolving fund, the money it has
advanced. 1t is pointed out that under
irrigation these bonds would find a
ready sale because reclaimed lands in
crease from 200 per cent to 500 per
cent In value Immediately upon recIa-
nation, while cut-over lands would
not thus increase and consequently it
Is urged that the government would
tie uD in frozen securities, money that
would be expended on cut-over lands.
Il have felt that in writing YOU of
the situation l should point out the
objections that We are compelled to
meet though at this time I do not
know how controlling these objections
will be.
Il will appreciate 1t if you will fur
nish me data at your early conyen-
fence bearing upon either or all of the
three objections raised.
Il hope very much we may be able
TO take care of the work of reclama-
ton in the ways you have suggested
but on the other hand have felt I
should be quite frank with you in stat
ing what we are up against"