Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-27
SATURDAY. july 27, 1859.
A coed Mevement-A national Issue

brother dOlC, IN late Issue OF DIS
paper, the San Bernardino Times Inder,
suggests that it would be good idea to
have a National Arid Land Convention.
Mr.. Holt is o member of the State Board
of Trade, and is also one of the commit
tee appointed by that body to accom-
pany the Senate Committee, which will
personally inspect the arid lands of the
Pacific Slope. In view Of the impor-
tance Of the subject, we reproduce IN er-
tense the article of the Timts-Inder:
Now that the move ia fairly on foot to
push the question of government aid in
reclaiming the arid lands of the United
States, the subject should be kept before
Congress and the people in vigorous
manner.
The Senatorial committee will devote
two months to the question, and after
the meeting of Congress that committee
will submit its report. AS Senator Stew
art, of Nevada, is chairman of the COM
mittee; and as the committee will have q
good opportunity to study the question
at length and see the practical workings
and results of irrigsting systems, there is
no doubt but that the report Of this
special committee will be favorable
one.
That report ought to be backed up by
recon- bined influence of all the States
and Territories having arid lands to re.
claim.
The Times Inde1 therefore suggests to
the State Board Committee of Nine and
to the people of the western half OF the
United States that National Arid Land
Convention be called to meet in Los An
geles during the month of February next
to consider the question OF Government
aid to reclaiming arid lands.
The question of National Convention
will be called up at the next meeting of
the committee, and we desire the press
of California and other States and Terri
tories interested to discuss the question
and assist in the work.
We have no doubt but that this move
ment will be warmly seconded by the
press and people of the Pacific Coast.
Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Arizona. New
Mexico, and great scope of country, as
well as California, are interested in hav-
ing the Congress of the United States
adopt liberal and beneficial policy in this
matter. The committee, during its coming
visit to Southern California, cannot have
better instructor than Mr.. Holt. Hav-
ing lived so long in San Bernardino
county, alternating between the city of
that name and Riverside, he can point
out to the Senators the magical effects
which have followed the intelligent ap-
plication of water to our arid lands.
Property which was not worth dollar
an acre before water was developed has
yielded, after three or four years, from a
hundred to q thousand dollars yearly
income.
The present appropriation of $3.50, 900
is sincerely for the purpose of eliciting in
formation and making surveys for the
guidance of Congress. The time has ar
rived when liberal appropriations for re-
claiming our arid lands ought to be made,
and policy of development on large
scale should be adopted. A remarkably
energetic and influential race Of statesmen
are springing up on the Pacific Slope, and
they ought to make their influence felt in
the councils of the nation. In view of
the demonstrated results in the increase
of our national wealth effected by the
system of irrigation already under way,
there should be no difficulty in engraft-
ing the improvement of our arid lands as
Q distinctive feature of our national pol
icy. By all means, let a National Arid
Land Convention be held in Los Ange-
les, and let us welcome representatives
from all the Pacific Coast States to the
Angelic city. The project cannot fail to
be productive of much good.