THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



51 



GOVERNOR HAINES SERVES NOTICE ON 

 RECEIVER OF BIG LOST-RIVER PROJECT 



The following is a letter addressed by Governor 

 Haines of Idaho to J. E. Clinton, receiver of the 

 Big Lost River Irrigation Company. This letter 

 was written after Governor Haines and the State 

 Land Board had visited the project when they inter- 

 viewed a large number of the settlers and entry- 

 men. Governor Haines is showing a disposition 

 to go thoroughly into this matter and we look for 

 good results from his recent visit to the project. 



November 5, 1913. 

 J. E. Clinton, Receiver, Big Lost River Irrigation 



Company, Boise, Idaho. 

 Dear Sir: 



The members of the state land board have here- 

 tofore believed that they should await the decision 

 of the circuit court of appeals in the case of the 

 Corey Brothers Construction company vs. the Big 

 Lost River Irrigation Company before taking any 

 steps which would serve to indicate the attitude of 

 the state in the settlement of this most important 

 question. The time consumed in the settlement of 

 the legal questions involved has been much greater 

 than was anticipated, however, and it must now be 

 apparent to all that further delay should not be 

 looked upon with favor from any source. 



The members of the present land board accord- 

 ingly hope that the expected decision will be 

 accepted as final by all concerned and we say this 

 prior to the decision so that it may apply alike to 

 both parties to the controversy. 



We realize that because of the legal difficulties 

 which have heretofore stood in the way it has doubt- 

 less been impossible for you or anyone else to effect 

 a reorganization of the company and to proceed 

 with the work of supplying water to the settlers on 

 the project. This delay has resulted in great suffer- 

 ing and hardship to many of the entrymen, partic- 

 ularly those who have moved to the project and 

 begun the improvement of their entries, and must 

 not be allowed to continue a moment longer than 

 absolutely necessary. 



We have been given to understand by the 

 attorneys for the several litigants that there is no 

 likelihood of an appeal from the decision of the 

 court of appeals. We propose, however, to fore- 

 stall further appeal if within our power to do so, 

 because such appeal can only result in delay in 

 the reorganization of the company and still further 

 delay in the doing of justice to the entrymen under 

 the project. Our reasons for this conclusion must 

 be sufficiently obvious to all who have given any 

 thought to this matter and we desire you, as re- 

 ceiver of the company, to notify the different liti- 

 gants that they cannot expect further inaction on 

 the part of the state land board. Should further 

 appeal be attempted we shall be compelled to at 

 once bring action to cancel the contract existing be- 

 tween the company and the state. 



On the other hand the land board will lend 

 any reasonable and proper aid in the matter of the 

 reorganization which should be proceeded with at 

 once. Those who may have charge of the new 



company must be made to realize the sufferings and 

 hardships of the settlers and must so shape their 

 plans as to fully protect them in the future. The 

 moral obligation resting on the state in this matter, 

 enjoins the members of the land board to insist 

 upon : First, early reorganization of the company 

 and actively looking to the resuscitation of the 

 project, and, second, such reorganization as will 

 provide primarily for the welfare of the settlers, 

 upon whose success depends ultimately not only the 

 physical and financial success of this project but 

 of all other Carey act projects within the state. 

 Yours respectfully, 



JOHN M. HAINES, 



Governor. 



SUBSOILING WITH DYNAMITE. 



By J. M. Smith. 



Although devoid of humus, practically all sub- 

 soils are rich in mineral plant foods necessary to 

 promote the growth of vegetation. Many varieties 

 of subsoils are so physically constituted that plants 

 are unable to send their roots down into them to 

 gather the mineral elements required for their 

 growth. This is due to what is known as tight soil 

 conditions, as hardpan beneath the top soil. 



The advantage gained by subsoiling with dyna- 

 mite is that the subsoil is not only fully broken up. 

 thus releasing and making available for plant food 

 the sustaining mineral elements contained in it, but 

 this subsoil is not thrown on top of the ground with 

 the exception of probably a shovelful from each 

 hole that is tossed out by the blast. As subsoiling 

 holes are spaced about fifteen feet apart, it is readily 

 seen that the mixing of this very small quantity 

 of subsoil will in no way injure the top soil. 



By doing the subsoiling with dynamite at any 

 time between harvest and the advent of hard 

 freezes, the soil thus mellowed and made porous 

 is put into prime condition for the storage of water, 

 and in the spring is in the best possible condition 

 for planting, because of the additional moisture 

 stored in the soil from the fall rains and the thaw- 

 ing snows of winter and spring. Water thus con- 

 served is where it is needed instead of on the sur- 

 face, where it will speedily run off or evaporate, and 

 in the spring the crops are likely to have the benefit 

 of sufficient moisture to carry them through even an 

 extraordinary dry growing season. 



There is no question but that dynamite has 

 solved the farmer's problem of how to plow deeply 

 and get all the benefits therefrom, while at the same 

 time escaping the deleterious effects arising from 

 the use of the deep tilling machine which so con- 

 spicuously blended the subsoil with the topsoil and 

 often proved ruinous to the field for years. 



There is no necessity for a single crop failure 

 where suitable cultivation is practiced on land that 

 has been properly subsoiled with dynamite. 



Send $1.00 for 1 year's subscription to the IRRIGA- 

 TION AGE and bound copy of THE PRIMER OF IRRIGA- 

 TION. If you desire a copy of The Primer of Hy- 

 draulics, add $2.50 to above price. 



