234 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



In that barren waste, 

 where the sage-brush des- 

 ert, and the rolling hills 

 only need the life-giving 

 fluid to convert into beau- 

 tiful and profitable farms, 

 orchards and vineyards, 

 the people have been de- 

 nied all that makes life 

 worth living. Only un- 

 der the most strenuous 

 conditions can the set- 

 tlers and their little ones 

 enjoy neighborly pleas- 

 ures, schools or the com- 

 forts of religion. The 

 savings of a lifetime, in 

 many cases, have been ex- 

 pended in the erection of 

 the little shelters they 

 call home, and in clear- 

 ing,' improving and fenc- 

 ing their lands. 



At the Denver Irri- 

 gation Conference, held 

 recently at the call of 



Secretary Lane, the long-deferred promise of the 

 Government to relieve these settlers was discussed, 

 and conditions in the project were depicted. An in- 

 stance was related which had been told by a Cald- 

 well doctor, who had ushered a little one into the 

 Black Canyon sage-brush world. The doctor told, 

 with tears rolling down his cheeks, how the mother 

 had sewn together a lot 

 of rags, to cover the tiny 

 body. Hon. J. M. Thomp- 

 son, who described the 

 incident, said: "Such un- 

 favorable conditions for a 

 little baby have never 

 been known, unless it was 

 the babe that was 

 wrapped in swaddling 

 clothes and cradled in a 

 Bethlehem manger." 



In 1909, Secretary 

 Ballinger, at that time 

 Secretary of the Interior, 

 visited Idaho. The situa- 

 tion was explained to him 

 by a delegation of the set- 

 tlers themselves. Ac- 

 knowledging the respon- 

 sibility of the Govern- 

 ment in the premises, he 

 stated, however, that 

 there were no funds in the 

 possession of the Depart- 

 ment to undertake the 

 work. He said he saw no 



hope of getting the project under way for another 

 five years and he advised that an Irrigation Dis- 

 trict be formed, so that if private capital could be 

 secured to prosecute the work the settlers would 

 be in position to make such a contract. 



He assured the representatives at that time that 

 such action would not in any way militate against 



Settlers entering the meeting at Caldwell, Idaho, 

 at which the Black Canyon campaign was opened. 



ing from Caldwell for a 

 Black Canyon project. 



their rights with the Gov- 

 ernment. In fact, he 

 stated that the Depart- 

 ment would prefer to 

 treat with such an organ- 

 ization, regarding it as a 

 responsible and legal 

 body with whom the 

 Government could make 

 a contract should the op- 

 portunity or necessity 

 arise. 



Acting under this ad- 

 vice, in 1910, the District 

 was organized. Its every 

 act was guided by the 

 laws in such case pro- 

 vided and were subse- 

 quently passed upon and 

 confirmed by the Su- 

 preme Court of the State 

 of Idaho. In 1912 the di- 

 rectors, finding it impos- 

 sible to interest private 

 capital in the undertak- 

 ing, on account of the 

 large cost, formally asked the Government to make 

 a contract with them, and proceed with the work. 

 The answer came back that there were no funds 

 available and that has been the reply to every effort 

 made up to the present time. 



These are the conditions under which the Gov- 

 ernment stands pledged to water the lands under 



the Black Canyon. Secre 

 tary Lane, Comptroller 

 Ryan, and the Reclama- 

 tion Commission as a 

 body fully recognize the 

 responsibility of the Gov- 

 ernment in the matter 

 and have repeatedly 

 stated that they favor the 

 building of this project 

 the moment that the 

 funds are on hand. 



During all these 

 years the settlers have 

 been waiting and hoping. 

 Many of them are desti- 

 tute, most of them are liv- 

 ing from hand to mouth 

 on the little they can 

 raise by dry farming or 

 from work they may be 

 able to secure in the ad- 

 joining towns. In many 

 cases conditions are pitia- 

 ble, but faith in the im- 

 plied pledges of the Gov- 

 ernment has never wav- 

 ered. They are true Americans. 



The Secretary of the Interior has asked for one 

 hundred million dollars to be loaned to the Recla- 

 mation Fund by the Government. If the Congress 

 of the United States concurs in this recommenda- 

 tion and the money is made available, the construc- 

 tion of this project is practically assured. 

 (Continued on Page 243.) 



Governor Haynes of Idaho and state officials start- 



"booster" trip over the 



