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Show GOVERNMENT RECLAMATION. Importance of It in. Idaho and Utah Apathy of tho Farmer Is n. Hindrance. Special to Tho Tribune. NAMPA, Ida., March 2. The reclamation recla-mation of arid lands by the Government Govern-ment of the United States Is a stupendous stupend-ous undertaking! The expenditure of millions of dollars, which eventually will reach the hundreds of millions In course of time, Is a task that requires the best engineering talent and the acutest business men to he found in this country. It is a work that requires years and possibly centuries, on the part of the geological survey of the Department De-partment of tho Interior. The work in the reclamation of arid lauds, In the States of Idaho and Utah, ln Itself, will require fifty years. Here in the Bolso valley wo have 75.0G0 acres of land ln cultivation, with a water supply If conserved In reservoirs, reser-voirs, which is capable of Irrigating 300.000 acres of land. Some of the lands cultivated havo a sufficient supply of water for all needs, but the major portion por-tion has a limited supply and the result Is almost endless litigation ln the 'courts, "whose decisions arc usually nullified by the axiom," that a man will steal water when he will not steal anything else. I see that the some conditions exist ln tho Utah valleys as they exist here. Like tho fanners in Utah, the farmers in Idaho are in favor of the settlement of these difficulties through the national nation-al reclamation act. Addresses have been delivered by members of the United Unit-ed States geological survey and especial interest has been created by the visit of Prof. Newell, who advised the adoption of the plans of the Salt River Water Users' association. Committees were appointed to form a similar association ln Boise valley and I think a committee was appointed ln the Salt Lake valley. DISCOURAGING APATHY. I notice In your Issue of March 1st that the president of the Chamber of Commerce ln Salt Lake complains of the apathy of the farmer. Wc have the same complaints here ln the Boise valley. val-ley. Let me state right here, that the farmer Is not apathetic, and that he has a perfect right to take plenty of time in considering the matter. His farm may be encumbered with a mortgage, taxes may be high, and It is well for him to know whether his property will give an Income sufficient to meet the new obligations obli-gations that would be created by accepting ac-cepting Government aid. Another matter mat-ter which is not exactly satisfactory' to the farmer Is tho washing of the hands of the Interior department of all reclamation recla-mation matters, until the farmers have settled every lota of difficulty or difference differ-ence of opinion on water matters. This must be done before the Interior department de-partment will pay rthc slightest attention atten-tion to the project. All the harmonizing harmoniz-ing work must be done by a committee, who are generally appointed ln a haphazard hap-hazard manner, and who may not have the ability to fill the position. I believe the speedy solution of this problem can be accomplished by the appointing of a committee of farmers and business men, who thoroughly know the benefits that will accrue to everybody by tho proper storage of the flood waters. Have the Interior department send a special agent to assist this committee ln their work. Let the people and the Interior department and the farmers of Idaho and Utah work hand In hand in the States of Idaho and Utah, rather than to have one in Washington, D. C, the other In Idaho or Utah. It Is a long distance to grasp hands or do business. |