Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-03-03
IERIG ALTON As a NATIONAL
PROBLEM.

The more we think about irrigation in this
country, the more we become convinced that
it is a question requiring National rather
than local solution. 1t is too big subject
for local treatment, except in the merest ex.
perimental way. We have said substantially
this same thug before in these columns, and
we have from time to time pointed out that
our delegation in Congress should do all IN
their power to secure aid for our State from
the Federal Government in the shape OF land,
as there seemed no other way apparent by
which aid could be had. But we did not in.
tend TO confne this article to irrigation in
Nevada. What is true Of the arid soil IL
Nevada is equally true Of one-third OF the
sell of the whole United States. Did any
one ever stop to think for a moment of the
vast area in this country which is pracucaliy
worthless for agricultural purposes without IL
rigation? AS we have already said, 1t Gem.
prises one-third of the territory Of the
American Unien. Commencing at point IN
Kansas not more than two hundred miles
west of the Missouri river, 1t stretches
through to the Pacific Coast a distance OF
nesrly two thousand miles. From north TO
south, it extends from British Columbia to
Mexico with the exception OF certain portions
of Oregon and Washington Territory. 10
reduce it more nearly to approximate proper
tiens it is 4 region OF country say fifteen
hundred miles one way by one thousand
miles the other At the present time less
than hve million Of our sixty milien of pop
ulation find homes within the limit we have
described. In twenty years from today 1t
must furnish homes for twenty millions OF
people. 1t is the only outlet for the over
crowded East. 1t embraces at the same time
about all that is lett of the public domain
Ii is a high province Of the Government to
make possible comfortable and happy homes
for the people, which in turn bring content
ment to its citizens and stability 10 its insu-
tutions. Individual enterprise can never re-
claim the desest wastes of which we are
writing. The scheme is too gigantic. Fed
eral money and engineering skill must be
brought to the solution Of this great problem.
The Government will have to adopt an irri-
CATION policy in connection with the public
lands new departure on this score is i'm
peratively demanded. Pacific Coast men,
bers of Congress should at once begin the
work of demanding change in the land
policy Of the Government. At best It will
require years OF ceaseless agitation to awak
en- in the obtuse Eastern mind realization
of the needs Of the situation. The Govern
ment must be made to understand that there
can be no sale of these arid lands to actual
settlers until the same, shall have been re
claimed. Loss need not necessarily be en-
tailed. No one will object if the public
lands are placed at higaer rate per acre to
the settler, only make it possible for him to
take a homestead and live on it after he has
taken it. We notice that the Public Lands
Committee of Congress is now considering
changes in the land laws. No change will
be complete which does not carry an irriga-
ton feature. But whether our oft repeated
suggestions are taken up now or not, the
time will come when reclamation OF the pub
lie domain will be living burning question
in this country.-Eureka Sentinel.