OCR Text |
Show GETTING ON THE RIGHT BASIS. The feeling at the meeting held In Lewlston to consider the general Irrigation Irriga-tion proposition "was all that could he desired. The plan of the State Arid Land Reclamation Fund Commission wos endorsed, and the act of that body in presenting the plan to the Interior Department -was approved. The people of the northern part of Cache county, who were "well represented at that meeting, and who will need a portion of the water that 1b to be added to the supply, will no doubt he found steadfast stead-fast In approval to the end, and ready to do their pnrt to help themselves to got what they need, by the aid which the Government will render them. The activity In presenting this general gen-eral plan to the people, and Informing them of its terms, is good to sec- The sentiment in approval of tho development, develop-ment, once for all, of the Irrigation resources re-sources of the northern portion of Hie State Is growing, and presently we may fairly expect that this sentiment will become practically unanimous. When the people come to the full realization that it is a move to help them, a benefit tendered to the people, and not anything any-thing in the shupc of aid to the Government Gov-ernment that is asked, there will be a Wonderful rlonrinp nf the nfmnnhpro. The idea is perfectly .straightforward and simple, the Government makes the surveys and investigations necessary to ascertain what can be done, and If the project is feasible, It says to the people that it will do tue work, provided they want it done and will give reasonable security for the repayment, In ten annual an-nual Installments, without Interest, of the money expended in making the im-proi'cment im-proi'cment and bringing to the land the needed water. As long as the people had an Idea that this work was something which the Government wanted to do, and that in taking hold of it they were helping the Government, they lacked appreciation apprecia-tion and interest. But let the true Idea become fixed in the public mind, that it Is not a help to the Government, but the reverse, that it Is a Government help to them, then there will be no difficulty; diffi-culty; all water-users will be 'anxious to se the work go on and the improvements improve-ments completed. The work doing by the Commission and the State Engineef Is enlightening and helpful In the right direction. If, after ho people fully sense the proposition proposi-tion and the true situation, and give full consideration to the subject, thc-y do not want the Governmental aid, there will be no harm done to any Interest In-terest but that of the people themselves; and the Government can easily take Its money elsewhere, (o people who are hungering lo get it. But of this there Is no ear. The people hre want the help as much as any others do, and they will take hold of the matter In the proper spirit, onco they understand the whole matter. And so far. Utah Is ahead of every other State In the orderly presentation presen-tation of a workable plan and scheme that Is both general and comprehensive in detail. |