Workmen's advocate., 1889-12-14
A VILE SCHEME.
TO ROB THE PEOPLE OF
 THEIR INHERITANCE.
Major POwell's Address to the Cham. Der of Commerce He Tells Wall Street How to Steal 100, 1000, 900 Acres of Productive Land.


 Some weeks ago we called attention to Major Powel's report on the so called arid lands of the public domain. His statement, that on comparatively small portion of the vast territory which still belongs to the nation, one hundred million acres could be brought into a high state of cultivation, has not escaped the vigilant ear of capital and the distinguished geologist was promptly requested by the New York Chamber of Commerce to address special meeting of its members. Of course, this noble body of eminent spectators did not care to know much in relation to the scientific part of any irrigation scheme that Major Powell might have con- ceived. But, aware that the Major was in full sympathy with the capitalist class, and that in his official position as Director of the Geological Survey he could exert considerable influence upon members of Congress, they desired to secure an expression ot his views in favor of the legislative scheme best calculated to promote the interest of land grabbers.
 The special meeting in question was therefore held last Thursday. As fit preliminary to what was to follow the Chamber first adopted a suggestive reso- lution, offered by Tariff Ammidown, in which the President of the United States was respectfully requested to open negotiations with the Emperor of China tending to the restor- ation of cordial feeling between the two countries in other words the rest oration of free Chinese immigration "for the better protection of American La bor."
 Major Powell then took the floor. He said that his proposition presented these problems:
 First-That capital to redeem by irrigation 100,000,000 acres of land is to be obtained, and $1,000, 0,000,000 are ne- cessary.
 Second-These lands are to be dis tributed to the people, and as yet we have no proper system of land laws by which it can be done.
 "Third-The waters of the land must be divided among the States, and yet there is no law for it, and the States are now in conflict.
 Fourth-The waters are to be divided among the people, so that each man may have the amount necessary to fer tiize his farm, and each hamlet, town, and city the amount necessary for do- mestic purposes, that every thirsty gar den may quatf from the crystal waters that come from the mountains.
 Fifth-The great forests that clothe the hills, plateaus, and mountains with verdure must be protected from devas- tation by fire and preserved for the use of man, that farms may be protected and homes built, and that all this wealth of forestry, these unborn cottages and schoolhouses, may be distributed among the people.
 Sixth-The grasses that are to feed tne llochS duu HeTuS HluSJ De protected and utilized.
 Seventh-The great mineral depo. sits, the fuel of the future, the iron for the railroads, and the gold and silver foi our money must be kept ready to the hand of industry and the brain of enter. prise.
 Eighth-The powers for the factories of that great land are to be created and utilized, that the hum of busy machi nery may echo among the rocks of the mountains the symphonic music oi industry"
 Major Powell, who, as already ob served, is by no means Socialist or { Nationalist, declared emphatically tha the work should be done by private enterprise and not by the government Furnish the people,, he said, "witl institutions of justice, and let them dt the work for themselves" And all tn, land .grabbers present, who never worl for themselves but grow fat on injustice applauded vociferously. This was tn, propositions:
 "That the entire arid region be or ganized into natural Photographic di stricts. Each such community should possess its own irrigation works; i would have to erect diverting dams, di, canals and construct reservoirs, ant such works would have to be maintained from year to year. The plan is to esta