The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-02-27
REPLIES TO
DEFENSE OF
Land plan
Mrs. Sweetman Answers
White Bluff Editors
Criticism OF Her


n found little argument or proof re
futing the assertions made.
Editor oIArey resorts to dcnun.
Citations and frequent charges Of
falsehood IN place OF facts. lie Il
apparently more Interested In the de-
velopment Of this confessed desert
section and the uphunding OF a rural
metropolis around his Washington
handpress and few fonts of type
than in the welfare OF the former
service nren. The people Of Wash
ingson differ with the distinguished
editor In SO Ear as they are more
interested In the welfare OF the scrv-
Ice men than in White Bluff.
Editor O'iarry should refresh
his nsemcry regarding the his
tory 81 Judge tianford's irriga-
lion scheme and for this purpose
would refer TO the old flies OF
his own paper. where he VIII
find A record of high finance.
Great promises Of immediate
wealth 10 both investor and set
tier. all blasted ON the rocks ei
nm impractical irrigation scheme
which was terminated by court
ycceiver~hip and the silent pass
ing Of the busted SETTLER. \ res
ord that helped nightly Ia kill
the market for irrigation bonds
in this stale.
The paper published by MT
o'larey was owned by Angus Hay
who also owned fruit farm. MT
Itav was compelled 10 let his farm
20 on account Of tho cost OF irris'e-
lion. which went to tts.s5 per acre.
II. sold the paper 20 Mr.. oLarNy
and turned over the poStoffiec with
Al He SAYS family after family
walked out without dime after put
ting their all into the land.
Any time stats activity canno.
ntnnd constructive criticism without
having TO fall back on personal
abuse as defensive measure II =
high time for the cards 10 be sprrah
sace up on the table for examination
nv the dlSlnterested hut overbur'
drned taxpayer as well as the pres
rrctive sol.iier satfier. The land set
Element law and appropriation were
hath pas~ea with the idea of assist
ing the returned soldier in making
= farm home and at the same unie
!, heIn In the development OF the
state, but under the rules as 'ssnso
nv the department u Is GOING 70
Il. an uphill struggle for the soldier
..stler. and the man without flnan.
r,al hacking amounting 10 not less
than 81. 500 is left out entirely.
~Thlx valley was chosen only after
ADMINISTRATION Of several months
~avs Mr.. OFLarey. The Anerfs'an
f.e~ion committee was headed by
uanford man. The Experts rnef-
TONES bv the White Bluff editor
w~rc headed by Marvin Chase. ny
xiraulic engineer"
There was a Mavrin Chase. by
ArsuIic engineer for the Okan-
3kan Power and Irrigation Co..
~ which nut a profess ON the mar
krt known as the Brewster Flats
The settlers thereon. who have
Loaf hundreds of thousands Of dot
lars. and many of whom have
gone into bankruptcy. due TO the
lack Of the bountifui supply OF
water promised by Mr.. Chase,
win bear witness TO the fact That
he y = questionable authority on
irrigation subjects.
We suppose Mr.. Jenkins. tho
ecoIogist. told them the land was
ssud and volcanic ash. which fact
has long been common know'-
edge. The prcdominance Of
sand Is evident 10 any who viii
look.
There Is so much sand in this land
that n well-known engineer with ex-
perienee asserts that Il IL necessary
10 line the irrigation bitches with
concrete 20 prevent the porous land
from drinking up the water before II
reaches It's destination.
As to the soil experts opinion.
there IS hardly piece of land In the
state OF Washington. no matter how
worthless, that has not the com
rnendation Of some professed soil ex.
pert. This may be the best land In
the world, but without water II Is
worthless. Mr.. oIArey refers TO
wells as the best form OF irrigation.
Upon the authority Of engineers, !
assert that IL Is the worst form OF
irrigation possible. IL Is costly and
inefficient.
was not at all startled over
the editors declaration that there
were already 10 applicants. II The
proposition had been any good,
there should have been 1000.
THE question Of Holsteln cows.
Clark Seeding Strawberries and 9th
err like questions. are administration
matters" declares Mr.. OLarey. Very
true, yet they are matterg Of vital
Importance 10 the man who settles
on the land.
That mortgage company has
foreclosed on many acres Of land in
this section IS denied and my state
rnent called a "barefaced falsehood.'
Whether absolute foreclosure was
put thru the court or not, do not
know. IL is often the case that land
s. turned over without court action.
we do know that this mortga &c com.
pany has amassed large holdings In
this territory and whoever heard Of
it's buying land?
Editor O'f>arey says the success Of
the governments undertaking de.
ponds on three elements--''Fhe abii-
ity OF the soil 20 produce crops, the
intelligence OF the state administra
ton. and the type Of settlers who
take up the land" Now have no
quarrel with the department super.
vising this project and certainly
want II 10 be successful. but n care.
full study Of the % rules as laid down
by the department has convinced me
that success Is impossible regardless
of the location. climate, or the abil
ity OF the prospective settler.
1.-The agricuIturist cannot carry
any excess baggage at this time.
Take the matter Of project
manager" a. an example--this
man II estimated by the depart