New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-30
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IRRIGfMUS.
The bscchanalian salutatIOn Of the bibulons
has come TO be the cry of dlstrcsstul people.
Half continent lifts up the invitation and
the wall. "Let us irrigate." The parched
desert, described by its parallels in region
of country that is notably without parallel
cries aloud with cracked and thirsty lips
like Dives in torment, for water In ITS
behalf-not, Of course, in their own-perlsh
the thought that the American citizen cares a
brass farthing for Number One-a convention
of citizens Of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming,
New-MeXcO, and Utah-any one OF whom ~
IA competent to the Office Of Governor or Mem
Der Of Congress as almost any other man, and
no one of whom would shrink from wrestling
with public Office if forced upon him-has
lately met at Denver, Colorado, and
soemnly resolved that if the Govern
ment of tho United States knows or
preteBds to know it's business, 1t will pro-
ceed to irrgate "the portion of the pub
"ic domain lying between the ninety
"ninth meridian of longitude west from Green
"wich and the Pacific ocean, In the me-
mortal adopted by the philanthTOpic pioneers
so faithfully and beautifully described by
Whittier as the first low wash of waves
where yet shall goll a human sea'-they say
that "this arid region embraces moro than
zone third of the geographical area Of the
Omitted States;" that 1.-THE water supply of
"its rivers and smaller streams is abundant
"to reclaim millions OF acres that now he
"waste and unprOduCtyc," but that "a sys-
"tem of irrigation that will meet the wants
of the country will be too extensive and
costly for either individuals, private cor
"poratiOns, Territorial OF State Governments
to successfully construct consequently they
desre-the most natural thing in the world
that the General Government take hold of
the matter and bem the expense OF watering
the thirsty land.
1t is an earnest cry. To an Administration
recognizing the exclusive adaptability Of water
to irrigating purposes, and approaching more
fully than any of its predecessors the depend
ence of the people upon the General Govern
ment, it will come with force and emphasis.
Whatever else may be said Of the present
Administration, it has the disposition as well
az the capacity to offer an abundant ear to
the popular voice upon questions pertaining
To internal improvements as well az upon
matters of finance. And this is just such
measure rs must commend itself to the Presi-
dent. His great anxiety is to pay the national
debt 1t was for this purpose that he ne
gotiated so actively for the purchase of
SantO Domingo, III order, as he init
mated in his message upon the subject,
to pay the national debt with the bananas
and cocOanuts and other tropical fruits Of that
favored land. Had not Congress, jealous Of
the diplomatic ability exhibited by the Presi-
dent and General Babcock in buying the island
on their own responsibility, interrupted the
the debt might have been paid
by this time or at least 4 new loan have been
flOated on a banana basis. TO the Presden-
tal mind everything is subordinate to the
payment of the national debt. That he might
he able TO give his whole mind to it during
his second term without beng disturbed by
the contingency of his own possible reduc-
ton to want, he consented to have his salary
doubled. That he has devoted himself con-
scientiously to earning it will not be denied.
He has not. to be sure, devised any new
method of paying the debt, but he has been
very busy otherwise. When wo say
that some of his utterances upon ques-
tons of finance have been worth more
than 100000 to the country, who will
venture to dispute itR Indeed, a single dra-
matte spectacle he has given US during the
past month is worth more in moral effect than
all the increase in his salary. That was the
scene so eloquently depicted by Mr.. Woodford
at the Republican State Convention, when the
Great Silent Man stood up in the midst of a
Singing crowd and said he could not violate
" the law by issuing any of the $4,000 900
reserve There was moral sublimity in that
act. II was the week before the last issue of
$5,0O0,000 of the reserve and we think
within few days Of year after the Penn
sylvania election and the issue of S4,OO00O0 of
the reserve" TO "move the crops.n No other
President, not even George Washington, ever
stood up like that
But to recur to irrigation. In the Presidents
anxiety to pay the national debt he must see
that the irrigation of the desert west of the
Goth meridian is natural and logical sequence
of the extensive canal projects recommended
in his last message, and that both will he
in order to pay the national debt
during his administration. This scheme of in
ternal improvements, amp lifted as it doubtless
will be by the skilled talent which is en-
ployed by private capital to legisate for pub
he interests, when carried out in combina-
ton with the Presidents plan for a Post
Office bank authorized to pay interest ON
deposits. law forbidding all other banks
W pay such interest. tho RESUMPTION of