Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-03-05
Yours truly,
SHoRTEY.

SENATOR oteWdrt, Ol Ne'dud, mas
introduced resolution in the Senate
of the United States empowering the
President to appoint select COM
mittee of seven Senators on relama-
ton and irrigation of arid lands.
This is a thing that in our judgment
properly belongs to the government
to do, and should have been entered
into long ago. All over the western
frontier are large tracts OF public
lands that are valueless without irri-
cation, and the expense Ct irrigating
them is too great to be incurred by
the class of people who seek homes
and open up the regions outside OF
the populous districts. These lands,
if made productive by irrigation,
would be purchased by settlers and
brought under cultivation, supplying
at once revenue for the government
and homes for the people. In our
own section of Southern California
are many thousands of acres of land
known as desert" that could be
made valuable and highly productive
by subiecting them to irrigation, and
the. water is here to do it, but the
means are lacking. The Mojave
desert alone would, if irrigated, give
homes and support to thousands OF
people, and would prove one OF the
finest raisin grape producing sections
in the State when so reclaimed; and
most of it Is still government land,
we believe. But while water is at
hand in sufficient quantities to make
this valuable, the expense of devel-
oping, collecting and distributing it
is too great to be borne by any but
the government or some cormorant
syndicate, by which it would be
placed further beyond the reach OF
the general public than it is at pres
ent. Should Mr.. Stewards resolution
be adopted, this land will be saved
{ to the people and become source oi
profit and pride to our State and ma
ton. Let the resolution be adopted
Nothing better could happen for oul
section.-Ventura Democrat.
And the Avalanche adds: Broth
er McGonigle strikes the nail on the
head, when he says, "Shouid Mr.
: Stewards resolution be adopted, thi
land will be saved to the people ant
i become a source of profit and prid'
t to our State and nation" The re
e marks apply as forcibly to us in Ida
no. where millions of acres could b
converted into fine farms. 1t
e hoped the resolution will pass.
y Since placing the above in type W
u notice that the resolution referred t
s. has passed the Senate and specls
g committee appointed to visit tn
q Great West. 1t consists of Senate
e Stewart, chairman, Allison, Pluml
e Hiscock, German, Reagan and Jont
e of Arkansas. 1t is the intention thu
1. this committee shall visit during II
e recess of Congress all the States an
d Territories where irrigation is r.
+ quired to learn by personal observ'
le tiou the characteristics of the countr
ID with a view of devising system
* irrigation which shall be suitable
at the various localities. Probably Il
Il committee will start on their to'
''' about the first of June, and will COZ
y tinue their explorations until they a
pc satisfied that they will be able to d
W, wise a system whereby the great
70 part of the arid lands susceptible
IRRIGATION may be reclaimed. Che
I'd up, people of Snake river valley
~ dayli ght begins to dawn upon tt
DO Great Inland Empire Mt. Hor
H. Bulletin,