The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-11-02
Current Comment
The Divided House

that they have no idea on the Boise
Payette project, from whence came the
money which built that wonderful ir-
rigation works for which they do not
now want to pay according to the
terms of their contract.
1t is certainly ironic to have the
Caldwell Tribune refer to the people
of other states; from which the money
was taken that is invested in the
Boise-Payette project; as, selfish in
terests who wish to continue the peri
cd of construction"
We do not believe that the Tribune
represents the spirit of the Caldwell
people in its advocacy of reputation;
nor that it is so devoid of vision that
it desires to have irrigation cease in
the Snake river valley.
But if it has no greater concern for
the reputation of Idaho; and no higher
ideal of its own duty than to urge
upon them the possibility of repudia-
ton; it ought to have the good grace
to be silent. for it will not be permitted
to get away with the idea that it can
get money from the reclamation fund
and keep it, without interest for 40l
years; while the states which paid that
money into the fund get nothing.
Apparently there is no such thing
as pride in the Boise Payette project;
at least not among those who pretend
to speak for the settler there or the
business men of the communities with
n the project. If there existed a pride
IT achievement; and with it, an honest
iesire to repay that which was bor-
owed from other states. there would
lot now be a weeping and gnashing
f teeth.
If there were real pride of achieve :
nent there would be now a general
ale of the hundreds of high priced
utos that the proceeds might be used
D pay their neighbors that which is
ue them. If there were real pride of
the banks of the Boise
ayette project cities would not be re- t.
orting increased deposits. fc
1t is undoubtedly true that many L
'ttlers are having difficulty in meeting Sc
leir construction and maintenance la
'arges. They are having that trouble
cause many of them bought land in
iring the era of inflated prices. 1t II,
not the construction charge that is w
cir difficulty, but their other business pr
'erations; their capital borrowing for in
her purposes on which they are pay m
high interest charges. D.
The fault is not all to be charged fo
the present settler, but to his pre- w;
cessors who sold to him, sometimes m
thout having paid the water charges
en- due. Apparently the folks down a,
the Boise-Payette project have en- 49,,
tanned the notion that they never -
'uld have to pay the government; e.
It if they howled long enough, and 49,
I'd enough. they would be permitted a..
forget all about the construction ,
lrges.
They will not be so permitted. Not 80.
long as the other public land states -.
Oregon, for example, have due
m millions of dollars taken from N.
state to be loaned to them through .
'ernment agency. -
he Tribune deplores the fact that n~a
success of the effort to secure the o.
ual reputation is jeopardized by 49,
division among the settlers as to
best means of working the scheme a..
y need not worry, for they will -o.,
that there is a divided house" r.
oughout the west. They will find
osed to their efforts those regions e.,
en- have manfully stood up and 80
their obligations, under condi- \,
no better than those in Idaho. r
y will find opposed to them those, c.,
neighbors, from whose state mil A.
have been taken and not returned
have patiently awaited their turn. -.
who are not going to be denied G.
the truly selfish interest of those -
would repudiate their debts.
gain even a semblance of SYM r.
from anyone who knows aueht ~,
the people of the Boise
lite project, their champion, the m
une, will have to admit the most U
t failure. They will have to adj Xii
hat many pumping districts, with III
.gher costs and annually meeting
r charges than they are.
c Tribune and others like it, are
their constituents a real dis
&c. They are appealing to their -
natures. They are pandering to OOV
most selfish interest; they are els
mining their morale They could r
o worse. =
Tribune and the other ;c,exo..s