South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-21
IRRIGATION HOPE
OF WEST, GOVERNOR
ASSERTS TO EAST
Idaho's Executive Says Water
in Right Places Means
Millions to L. ).
IN u. W. DAVIS.

IN u. W DAVIS.
Governor or Idaho and President
Western states Reclamation
Association.
Editors Note For snapry die
tion. for clear reasoning and gen
eral Interest the following article
by Gov. ID. w Davis OF Idaho
IS WORTH the consideration OF
the most busy 81 men. Those
who are seeking a better econo-
n1lc condition for the nation have
suffered many sugses tlonsr~wise
and otherwise but Gov Davis.
writing from a unique perspec-
tive gives one OF the most intrigu-
Ing Of suggestions.
What has primarily lured men 20
the West2 What has been the Euid-
Ing desire IN the hearts and minds
OF those who set their faces toward
the Pacific Gold-the shining and
precious metal 20 be dug from the
mountain or paBned in the streams.
Millions Of 90 have been found But
SIS value has not compared with the
value OF the homes which have been
established by these pioneers and
those who have followed them. These
are permanent Investments. In add
ton many more millions have been
produced from the soil than from
mines fin the west And millions OF
acres stu await the magic hand or
enterprise. when water IS imEound-
ing dams which viii course through
irrigation bitches makes the desert
bloom This ~ proven fact
Where do these millions OF dollars
goo Into the channels OF trade. into
the world OF commerce. Here Is
concrete example. A man has been
a renter in a humid section. He has
created the average wealth possible
on an acre OF humid land The profit
IS srnall-he divides even that The
government by impounding water
makes Il possible for him to take a
farm under a government project
This farm produces. according TO
statistics. twice the wealth his rent
Cd farm produced. Producing twice
the wealth ne Is twice as good
customer OF the eastern or central
state manufacturer and jobber he
was tn his old environment.
our Modern Farmer.
step I'm the home Of a man who
has fully developed his government
farm There YOU will find all OF the
common varieties OF nationally ad-
vertlsed goods. He has a piano. a
monograph. q kitchen cabinet. he
buys an automobile made in Detroit,
or Cleveland or Indianapolis He
buys tlrcs made in Akron. farm i'm
plements made in Moline, a separa-
Tor made In waterloo. His family
wears eastefn-made clothes. His pur-
chasing power has been enlarged
with his opportunities.
RI Is a most interesting study 70
come in contact with the irrigation
farmer Go back into his life and
note what he has been able to do
since the government gave him his
opportunity TO create wealth. He as
sumes a greater share OF tax be-
cause OF his accumulation OF wealth.
4 great majority OF these men have
paid but small tax shares on per-
sonality before they wendell their
way westward into the land OF op-
portunity. They now own land.
The manufacturer OF the eastern
and central states as well as the
5obber who cannot see the active in
terest which the development OF the
west has upon his business - blind
20 his opportunity His additional
receipts through reclamation OF land
By the government are truly enorm-
Gus. These receipts should he multi
Piled by n in 25 years. There Il not
a sales manager nor executive head
OF any business IN all that eastern
territory but who would startle him
SELF By thinking Of the possibilities
living before him for an increase OF
his buying public and its ability TO
pay.
Waiting for Water.
A trife less than two million acres
have been reclaimed by the govern
ment There are 90 10000 which
could be Placed under water. To
accomplish this a system OF finance
has been worked out in the McNary
Smith bill now before congress
which an appropriation OF $4,000
600. the payment Of which would
cover a number of years. could be
made 70 revolve into an expenditure
and value Of $4,000. 600 900 in a quar-
ter OF a century. without adding TO
the investment.
The plan we have worked out for
financing IS not i1 its proper sense
an appropriation by the government.
for every cent that is used IS paid
back 70 the Eovernu.. NJ. While the
money is iu use the government
draws more interest from It than It
must nay out TT is good statesman
ship 20 provide for the future OF
agriculture in this country IL Is good
craftsmanship for different sections
OF the country 20 Join I'm building
other sections. II Ereases the wheels
OF commerce. II increases per capita
wealth. e encoura ses opportunities.
As these lands are developed they
VIII furnish thousands OF homes 20
enterprising citizens who have not
before had an opportunity 20 be-
come producers .of wealth except IN
a nominal way Towns viii grow.
railroads be built enterprises -four
ish. mines be orened. countless
markets come
The selfish argument r. made /.
sometimes that the development OF ,
these new lands VIII reduce the
value OF land IN the humid districts;
that the production from the soil
thus reclaimed would reduce the
price OF the products. Nothing
could be farther from the truth.
over production IS not a possibility.
No less an authority than DIT. Ball
sad before the Agricultural con
ference.
The peak az agricultural produc- !
tion per pita was passed IN 1898. |