The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-12-18
GOOD|NG CALLS
On COMMISSION
To HELP IDAHO
Idaho is All Right, De-
clares Senator, But
State Needs a Chance
to Recover

Washington-Sena Gooding ap-
pcared before the Fact Finding Com
mission last week and discussed with
them the resolutions passed by the
Roise-Payettc Water Users assoeia-
ton and a statement furnished by the
Southside Unit OF the Minidoka irri-
CATION project
Senator Gooding showed eonelu-
sively that there had been very little
default in payment up to 1920 on the
Idaho projects; practically every set
tier had been able TO meet his ooii-
cations. and il was not until the crisis
swept over agriculture in 100 that
the irrigation projects showed a great
delinquency in payments.
Senator Gooding reviewed the con-
dition on the Boise project At some
length and showed the commission
that the prune crop. as Tar as the
growers were concerned this year. was
an entire loss. and that other crops
had paid but little above freight
charges. lie called the COMMISSION $
attention to the fact that IT cost some
thing over 5000 to ship carload ol
oruncs TO market from Idaho. Whole
train loads of prunes had been shipped
on, of Idaho which brought the rail-
roads from thirty to ihiriy-iive thous-
and dollars in freight. but not dol
lar to the grower.
The senator said there had been
general complaint for a number OF
wears of water shortage under the
numpine plant OF the Minidoka pro-
iect. The shortage. he said. had seri-
ously affected the ability OF all those
under the pumping plant to meet their
obligations to the government.
The senator told the commission he
believed where it could be shown be
vond a reasonable doubt that the set
tiers had been induced to settle on
government irrigation projects with
the understanding that the water was
to cost them between so and 30
and acre. as is shown by records OF
the reclamation service was the base
on both the Minidoka and the Boise
projects. some reasonable reduction
should be made in the present con-
struction charge OF S5o.50 that the set
tiers are now forced TO pay on the
southside pumping unit OF the MINI
doka project. and S77.44 on the BOISE
project.
Insists on Extension
Senator Gooding insisted that the
settlers on the government reclamation
projects were not responsible for their
present conditions which made II I'M
noss;ble for them to meet their obi
cations to the government. and INSISTED
that the settlers would have to be
given an extension OF time. and that
the payments on construction charges
should not be more than per cent
year.
Owing TO the serious condition oil
some OF the projects, he said. some
Of them would require even a lighter
charge than ? per cent for few years
10 cradle them to meet an increased
indebiness that had accumulated IN
the last few years.
The statement furnished by tho
water users on the southside unit ol
the Minidoka project shows that al
the banks save one on the southsid'
= unit OF the Minidoka project have
failed. the loss to the farmers approx
;mately Sl.50O.OO0, very little OF whicf
,hev can recover. During 1921, l9Z-
= and 1923 the farms OF this projec
have been operated at loss, due nam
lv 10 high freight rates. low prices
] of farm products and high prices o
fam supplies and farm labor. Whii
the crop OF 1923 was better than thos
j Of the two preceding years. even tn
e last crop was not marketed at price
d that will enable the farmers to pa
off their obligation to the govern
:, ment. and some substantial relief mus
be extended.
Farms Abandoned
Records OF the reclamation ofnc
show that 1000 acres on the south
:, side pumping unit OF the Minidok
project once farmed have been abar
doned and are fast going back to
desert condition. Ou, OF 900 farm
on this unit. over $50 have been lo'
'e 10 the farmers through ioreclosur
One mortgage company is operaiin
-------------------