The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-07-19

(NOTE: Mr.. Flenner is one of the
Oldest newspaper men, In point OF
service, in the northwest. In his
capacity as q newspaper writer he
has long taken an active interest in
irrigation development. AS head OF
q civic organization in Idaho, he put
over the American Falls project, as
to its financing comparatively be-
tween the farmers of a large terri
tory and the U. S. government, .
task that engaged his time for nearly
two years. This work will result in
the construction of the largest stor-
age reservoir in the WORLDLY
PORTLAND, Ore, July 19.-De-
claring that all the gold brought
down from Alaska, which was terri
torially a United States government
investment in 1857 to the amount OF
$7,200,000, was not worth in per-
manent progress and prosperity, nor
in normal effect, lone agricultural
valley full of American homes" Guy
Flenner, of Boise, Idaho, veteran
newspaper man of the northwest,
speaking today on the subject Of re-
'clamation, drew a sharp corOllary re-
speeding the expenditure of govern
ment funds in various directions
and of federal loans in aid of irri-
cation development.
1--WE do not urge that these ex-
penditures or donations or gifts or
whatever they may be called should
not have been made, nor that they
should be curtailed in the future,
the speaker said, for healthful ma
tional growth neceAitates general
and not provincial development; but
we do urge that to rivers and har-
bors be added ranches and homes.
National Expansion
Expansion is the outgrowth of
congestion in every nation. 1t is
sought peacefully or otherwise. The
ambitions of war lords have been
popularity supported more on ac-
count of congested conditions than
because of any natural appetite for
armed conflict on the part of the
population.
THE requirements for expansion
will become increasingly pronounced
in this country. We can expand
within our own borders or through
acquisition of outside territory.
There is room here for all the
growth the nation will experience in
many generations If we utilize the
space. That space is represented by /;
arid and semi-arid America, and the ;
Key that will unlock its doors to a
and making [
people is reclamation. |,
Expansion is bound to come.
Night we not better expand within
,ur own borders? Is not the shovel
preferable. to the sword? That sug-
,estion does not seem to be map
especially at time when
he country appears to stand at the !!
hreshhold of re-dedication of the !
Palace of Peace!
Commercial Growth
Speaking in purely commercially
way, devoid of all utilitarian as I
ects, reclamation is the keynote of
dvancement. To the west in very
arge degree must business look for
uture expansion. Eastern manu-
acturers will find in the west the
lrger opportunities it seeks. When
fficial figures show that on a small a
ian 100000 acres, there was pur- s
1ased in one year over $7,000,000l
[ eastern manufactured products, c
en- of affairs in the manufacturing t
enters of the country may well take f
otice; for that is but drop in. the ?
1cket compared to the present total Q
all projects and only a tip of the @
-op contrasted with future possi- e
lfties. In all the government pro- c