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

| jects that are today going concerns
whereas the territory was barren
without people or production, q few
years ago, more than $15O,0OO,O0(
of eastern manufactured product,
have been purchased. 1t may be ar
gued that people on these projects
would have bought more or less Of
those products wherever they might
be; but the fact remains that the
soil tiller is a much heavier pur.
chaser than the city tenant
In Twenty Years
The speaker called attention to
the fact that July II this year COM
pleted 20 years of operation under
the national reclamation act. The
government had expended, he said
$135, 100000. More than 100000
acres of arid land had been supplied
with a complete water supply and
100000 acres additional had been
furnished with a supplemental sup
ply.
Italicizing the results on the %
government projects now in opera
ton, Mr.. Flenner stated that land
values had been created to the
amount of $250,OO0,000, having an
assessment valuation OF not less
less than $1OO,OOO,0OO. People on
these projects had bought over $780,
100000 of eastern manufactured
products. They owned livestock to
the value of $20,0OO,000. They
had built 60 towns, 200 public
schools, 800 churches. On these
tracts were rs banks, with deposits
of 100000, sugar factories,
cheese factories, creameries, -four
mills, etc.
Crop Valuations
ION these % projects, with 3d.
462 farms of an average of SO acres
each, the value of the crops raised
is officially given at $475, 100000 or
$40, 100000 more than the total
to date" the speaker |
stated. ITO this must be added the
crops raised by reason of supple
mental water supply on over III
100000 acres. 1t is true that crop
values do not constitute direct re-
payment to the government; but the
production of the additional wealth
cannot be legitimately disregarded
rs very large credit on the books
Of national prosperity and growth.
It must be remembered, too, that
.hese government loans in aid of
reclamation are being repaid as fast
Is it is humanity possible to do so.
"On the eight government pro-
ects in Oregon, Washington, Idaho
md Montana there are over 100000
!cres being irrigated out of an irri-
,able area of 100000 acres. The
.verage crop value on those projects
or 1922 was $40 an acre, running
s high as $685. on one project.
he net investment to date on those
light projects is $35,0O0,00O; and
he total crop value in 1922 alone
7as more than $21,50O,0O0."
Unreclaimed Territory
The speaker related that in the
our states mentioned consideration
7as being given approximately s.
100000 acres of .unreclaimed land
hat is irrigable and for which water .
J available within the ability of the /,
and to pay the cost. He classified
hese lands by states as follows: ;
IDAHO, 1,221,000 acres; Montana, :
9,4O0; Oregon, 10000; Washing ;
On, 2,361,100. The latter included
he Columbia river basin project of
hitch 1,753,000 acres is proposed
, be irrigated by gravity, $1,000 by
umping $50 feet and $4,000 by
umping more than $50 feet.
The Columbia river basin project t
lone will cost, estimated, 1856, 000,- /
90 for the gravity system, and {
omething additional, of course, for
lie pumping project" the speaker !
ontinued, "but on the other side of J
le ledger we see more than $4,000 {
arms of SO acres each, a farming a
opulation of around 100000; $780,
100000 in new values; $50, 100000 Q
assessed valuation and an influ
nee that will give birth to greater {
ty activity and growth and make