White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-03-14
RECLAMATION FUND NECESSARY

The resolution, drawn up by some of the legis-
lators practical joke, which asked that King
county be made separate state, was not perhaps
such a laughable exaggeration. There has been
reason enough in the past for the other thirty
eight counties of Washington to resent King
county's dominee1ng attitude.
We have long believed that Washington is an
ideal state, with diversity of agricultural and
industrial development and with variety Of eli
matte conditions and scenery to please the most
particular. However, it has been sad plight
to be involved in constant pickering between not
only the east and west sides, but between the ag-
ricultural and industrial and the metropolitan and
rural sections of the state.
late example of this near-sighted attitude is
seen in an editorial appearing recently in the Sc
attic Star exhorting the Legislature to abolish the
reclamation revolving fund
The Star quotes Senator Cannon of Whitman
Ca county in which only dry farming is practsed)
who declared in the senate: If you investigated
the reclamation revolving fund you would find one
OF the biggest scandals IN this state There is
than three million dollars in this fund but what
is it? Nothing but lousy, bum bonds-not cash"
The editorial further states that there are bet
ter places to put cash than in bonds that may
be open to question as to their value and int1nates
that the fund is merely dumping ground for the
tax payers money. It further recounts the efforts
fund eight years ago.
If one considers the source of wealth in this
state he will realize that agriculture is the basic
industry. In some sections climatic conditions are
such that no irrigation OF crops is necessary, but
in at least % of the 80 counties water must be APP
piled for the land to produce, bitches must be
constructed to take of the excess water. In
these sections the formation of irrigation or drain
age districts is necessary if this is to be done at
reasonable cost
At the time that irrigation districts were getting
start it necessary that market be found
for their bonds. The reclamation revolving fund
was set up for such purposes and through it many
districts of the state, formerly arid or unceared
land, were built up into prosperous communities
selling their products to the world at large and
aiding in the development of industries in this
state.
Through the efforts of Governor Hartley, who
was never sympathetic with the farmers this
fund was blocked off in such way that it did
little good The 1888 legislature liberazed the act
so that districts in financial difficulties could make
use of it to get back on their feet
Many of the irrigation districts of the state were
IN bad shape at the time, owing to the depression
and had not the reclamation fund been available it
is safe to say that at least threequarters Of them
would have sunk into oblivion and the state as a
whole would have suffered greatly.
The reclamation revolving fund comes out of
the pocket OF the taxpayer it is true but it is not
dumping ground for their money. Furthermore
we can think of no better place for the taxpayers
OF King county to put their money than in fund
which makes possible the great agricultural de-
velopment OF Washington. Without this same pro-
ductive fertility King county would not be the in
dlstrial center it is today.
1t is about time, we believe, that those residents
OF our great metropolitan sections who attempt to
dictate to the other twothrds of the people of the
state familiarzed themselves with the retroactive
virtues OF agriculture upon metropolitan activ-
tiles.