| Show importance OF THE NATIONAL irrigation ACT ftfe national irrigation act provides iho plan by which tho irrigable but now arid lands in arizona california colorado idabo kansas montana no ataska new mexico north dakota oklahoma oregon south da awta utah washington and wyoming bay be it franr the proceeds of future land bales a tion find to be used by tho secretary of ike interior in the examination and for and ibo construction and of irrigation works for the storage diversion and development of fraters tor the reclamation of arid and arid ands the land BO reclaimed will bo sold to lett lens who must return to the gov inu nent la ten equal installments interest on deferred payments vhf coat of supplying water tt tho land flais aiu give free land under tho lioba estead law and tho water at actual cost on easy terms and under canal systems which will bo under their control and management it is believed that tho operations of this law inuring each ten yeara for the next third of tf century an acreage equal to tho total noa under all abo west may bo added to tho agricultural area of tha states and territories affected thus rapidly multiplying production fur lushing new homes for nu iriona and providing tho food products a needed for shipment from our pacific coast cities for uso an tha lands across tho racille where new markets are now being opan cd for tho surplus products a of this country tho arco homes bill which provided for the payment of a few millions of dollars to destroy indian conditions in order that lands in oklahoma could aca opened to settlement free furnished tho object lesson needed for national irrigation legislation president mckinley considered the free homes bill tho restoration of the homestead law president bays much of bur prosperity as a nation haa been due to the operation ot abo homestead law through the operations of the national irrigation act this great old law will ha millions of dollars will be expended to destroy arid conditions many mil liona of acres aul wul be opened to to american citizens and tho great new states will bo anada prosperous ft n aa a for senator aran rid E warren who during three previous tensions tes secured senate amendments to the river and harbor bill providing for aha construction of storage reservoirs when in 1002 tho senate of alio united states by unanimous action without a roll call sent to tho of depre the great bill which dedicates to development tho proceeds from tho publio lands ia arid states abo aar reaching of this policy has not been appreciated yet even in the district will bo most directly benefited the first effect haa been to civo a great advertisement to iho western states and to encourage tha investment of private capital in irrigation enterprises tho great benefit to tho merchants and manufacturer ot tho east and west will bo realized when ancla sams anil lions tiro being paid out for lumber iron and other materials and supplies eup plies and for tha labor employed in tho construction of tho great reservoirs reser and BOW being surveyed by the united stated geological burtcy under the direction ol 01 mr ia IT kawell chief engineer of the reclamation work the remaining acres of public land which have been dedicated to irrigation development arc now used as a great free pasture by millions of cattle and sheep whose owners pay nothing for the use of the land and who cannot under existing land laws cither permanent title to what they use or have even a temporary right to use exclusively any definite portion which they could improve and control to the advantage of all concerned the money kalua of the grazing lands in this great pasture is probably over yo one can estimate safely the value of the timber and minerals on the public the foresta should be preserved to pro leot the water and the lumber of the future the mining laws should bo improved to give greater en and protection to pros and mining operators and great st ar la the fund the grazing districts should ie put under control in order that the remaining grasses may not ie destroyed and that barren ranges may be restored alie present situation is a serious menace to the meat supply oe th nation in the reclamation fund created by the national irrigation act there ia now about which is being drawn upon to meet the cost of surveys and investigations wnm being conducted in nome districts of istah colorado california arizona and other states where favorable reservoir locations are found the people are planning to shape local laws and conditions to meet the demands of government irrigation officials actual work will be undertaken soon labor and material will bo needed contractors will bid upon construction work merchants will sell goods to be used by tho men engaged upon this work railroad bradic will be increased and new demands created BO that before the new farms are actually culli vatch great benefits will be recognized from tho entrance of undo sam upon the irrigation field existing irrigation now cover about acres of which about acres arc fanned it is be because of the assistance to be received by canal systems now in existence and tho strength given to the investment of additional private capital in new enterprises that with a few new government inaugurated the irrigated area in tho western states will bo increased fifty per cent within five years the operations of the rational yat ional irrigation act will force the improvement of land and water laws now sadly in need of amendment in many particulars force the repeal of the desert land act and the improvement of other land laws bring about improved colonization methods and better operation cooperation co between administrations railroads and landowners land owners attract attention to tho mormon and salvation army plans of providing homes for the homeless and prove to the philanthropists of the country that irrigation development opens up a new channel for great work of charity lands now owned by the states will produce greater revenue additional values for taxation will be created and lower rates will bo possible for states counties and cities the increase of irrigated ranches will provide more hay and cheaper feed and greater security for livestock in winter west will cause 0 greater demand sew for goods manufactured in tho east make possible the establishment of additional factories and centers b distribution in tho act and bring a great new growth to the western cities but above all tha national irrigation will provide a way for tho relief of the thousands in the who when the next period of depression comes to the nation will bo among the army of the unemployed ot labor conditions in 1893 end 1894 are not pleasant considering continued on paga 3 continued frodi page two the stand con existing now in days of prosperity will it not bea fortunate that another wave of depression roll over the country there will bo a plan already in operation whereby idle men may be put to work and provided with homes on the millions of acres in the new west now arid but which by irrigation may quickly be transformed into productive carmst thoughtful men and women view with alarm the recent trend of population from the farms to the cities cor they will hail with delight the inauguration of the great national movement to turn back the tide toward the farms of the land the nation celebrated and the hand of providence waa recognized when the fortunes of war gave to the nation the new possessions across the pacific as a base of operations for a great new commerce possibly some time in the future a national irrigation day will be cele berated when the supplies nee dedin the new and the old lands across the pacific are shipped from the valleys opened up by uncle sams datch builders when the great new states are developed and the worthy landless men of eastern cities are transferred to the manless lands of the mountain state probably it will be said that providence had something to do with the national irrigation agitation which started in utah the land of small homes and that at the critical time when western men had forced the fight to the front as a national issue and the west had great strength in the senate of the states it was fortunate that there was in the presidential chair a man who knew the west as well as the east who recognized the justice of the great cause and had the courage to throw his full strength into for the national irrigation act declaring that successful homemaking home making is but another name for the up building of the nation C E in gun tons SI agazine |
