Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-02
took place which could be said to violate
the proprieties of the Sabbath day.

| LOOK place which COULD be said to violate
the proprieties of the Sabbath day.
At the conclusion of the lunch
informal remarks were made by {
number of those present. Secretary
Davies announced that he now formally
turned over the Senate Committee OF
the Reclamation and Irrigation of Aric
Lands which had been in his charge
since they entered the State to the Los
Angeles Chamber of Commerce for thei,
care and guidance. He called attention
to the fact that they were all safe and
sound and in good condition.
Major Jones accepted the trust in a
graceful speech and promised to delive,
the committee to their next guardians in
as well-satisfied a frame of mind as he
found them now.
THE SENATOR'S REMARKS.
After few remarks from J. De Barth
Shorb, Senator Stewart was asked to speak
and he replied as follows: "I do moi
feel that under the circumstances ]
ought to make anything of speech, YET
as the opportunity of addressing you all
on the matters of national interest may
not again present itself, l must avail
myself Of the present time to make few
remarks" The Senator then briefly ex.
planned the act of Congress under which
the department of Geological Survey had
begun its work of reserving reservoir sites
and water sheds, and narrated the circum-
stances of the passage of the resolution
appropriatipg $250,000 for special inves-
legation, which gave existence to the com.
mittee of which he was Chairman.
"The work seems now" said he,
about to 60 further than we had ex-
pected. The plan met at first with some
opposition from sections of the country
where irrigation was not needed and
was not practicable. It was thought
that there was not Sufficient value in
these arid lands of the Far West to pay
for the cost of survey. It was a new
proposition to many Representatives of
the Eastern States, and the question was
even raised whether the land, when
irrigated, would be of any special value.
1t was found that the preliminary sur.
veys to be made by the Geological De-
partment would not be sufficient, and
this committee was chosen to travel the
road over, to ascertain in general way
the value of the land when improved.
to learn such particulars as quantity
Of rainfall, gauge accurately the amount
OF available water, and learn the exact
nature and extent of each watershed.
For this the mountain region must be
explored, and its typographical features
set forth. The mere preliminary work
would be expensive, but when it should
be done and all the information in a col
lected form be stored in the hands of the
Government, the settler need moi 20
blindfold into an unknown region.
SIN our travels through the West we
have found some remarka bic things
enough to satisfy us that when the
completed surveys were made, settlers
would pour in on millions of acres. It is
q fact, significant in this connection,
that three-fourths to nine.tenths of ali
the agriculture Of the world has been
accomplished by irrigation. Northern
Europe is the only part of the cultivated
world outside of the United States with
sufficient rainfall to grow all kinds of
district in the '1s' world WITCH @ can bs caiti:
waited under rainfall alone, it is natural
that we should thus far have given the
subject of irrigation but little study. Yet
on the lowest estimate there are 1,200, 900
square miles of arid land in this country,
nearly half the area of the United States,
excluding Alaska. British India covers
0,000 square miles, and is by
nature supplied with no more water
than our own arid region. The latter is
capable of an equal amount of agricultural
production with India and can support
population as great. 1t has generally
been supposed that this land was worth
less, but the publication of our report
will show the people OF the United States
what can be done in making it produc- |
tive. The large amounts which will be
spent by private individuals and by
States in the reclamation of this land
can be used with infinitely better econ
omy with tie assistance of the facts |
which we are gathering.
"And the country needs all this |
land for the use of it's people.
See what rush there has been to Okla |
homa, country of rich soil but situated
in a semi.arid belt, where irrigation
would prove very eficacious in bringing
out the best results. The Dakotas,
which are also settling up rapidly, need
water. They have an artesian belt, but
how long this supply will hold out no
one can say"
The Senator here ran rapidly over the
line of travel of the committee through
the Western States and Territories, ex-
planning what sections stood in need of
systematic irrigation, and what areas
could be reclaimed.
"In this State" continued the Senator,
"practics in irrigation has supplied you
with information, although the laws ap.
pear to stand in your way. You have,
say, detailed information, yet through
such work as we contemplate, you can
get new ideas and learn of rev methods.
You have advanced in the line of econ
omizing water, for you have more land
than water. The results of your expert
ence will be of value to the whole coun-
try. One fact of importance should not
be forgotten: that drainage must 60 with
irrigation to avoid the deposit of alkali.
In the countries where this law has been
overlooked agriculture has starved itself
out.
We regret the necessity Of passing
through this country so hurriedly. But
what we most need is an object lessen.
We find accurate reports ready prepared
for us. We wish to see the results. See.
ing is knowing. The people of the East
have as rule seen the arid tracts only
from the windows of railroad car, and
in this way they get the worst possible
impression.
II believe that if water could be made
available for use on this rich soil now
arid it would support q greater popula-
ton than there is in all the East. The
public domain is not half occupied.
Here then is different condition Of