Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-21
The Champion of Irrigation and of
Silver.


There are no two subjects In which we
| feel more interest than we do in the irriga-
ton Of western lands and in the full re-
monetization Of silver--the latter with the
proviso that our present currency Is not to
be injured by free coinage. An old Vir-
ginia Democrat, well known 10 oil of our
people. has sent to us the following CON-
munication bearing upon these two ques-
tions, and telling us what manner OF man
thor champion Senator SrKwART is We
keep on our desk some of Mr.. STEWARDS
arguments on the silver problem, and are
not at all unwilling for Virginia Dem ocrat
to speak word in his praise
WAgHrYoToN, ID. g., March IL, 1890.
In tho history of the growth and develop
men of the great western portion OF the
American Union there are many interesting
features and incidents, but one. OF the
most striking, and certainly not the Ieasi
important, is the policy recently initiated
and urged by Senator William III. Stewart,
OF Nevada, looking to the reclamation and
settlement of that large body OF territory
known as the arid lands OF the west. Inc
policy has fallen into the hands OF one
specially adapted 20 achieve success. for
OF all the men in public lite to-day no one
is more distinctiyely an American with
all that the name implies. Hsspirit Is I'M
firing. his energy inexhaustible, and to
these he adds an ambition always exalted
and patriotism that is as broad as the
section in which he has won all OF his
honors. His career in life has been phe-
nomenal one viewed from any standpoint
Leaving an uncompleted course at are
College in 1919 he started across the plains
10 seek fortune and name IN the then
distant FL Dorado. California. 1t Is not
generally known that the figure on top OK
the peak waving the American flag IN
Ieutze's fresco of westward DO " IN the
west gallery of the House OF Representa-
tives is intended for Senator Stewart, ana
others of our public men have had ther
faces painted in the same picture.
At that time Stewart was great, big, raw
boned. eood-natured fellow. Time has not
changed him in either respect since. Like
Others in those days he commenced the De;
ginning of his fort0ne with PICK ana
shovel In 1858 surveyor and engineer,
building hume over thirty-hve miles
long through the most irregu lar part OF the
Sierras, with no instrument but pocket
compass and two crossed sticks, 10y MS
own industry and without the interest OF
friends he acquired a large fortune and he
is now placed on the list of the millionaire
senators. II he is a millionaire he holds
his money in the nature of trust for the
GOOD he can do with 1t. Ii would be a sur
prise to many TO know how many lntelh-
gent people are employed by the Senator
in getting the statistical data boiled down
for use. The mass of matter IN relation 10
the silver question and its ever increasing
volume demands an unwearled attention,
rs the reconciliation of silver and the recla-
nation of arid lands in the great west
were the reasons that led Senator
Stewart to return to the Senate.
man Of the people. with the interest
of the public at heart. and believing IN
the American people and not in the bond
holders of the money centres OF London,
New York, and Berlin, he opposes their
conspiracy that has cut of one halt OF the
supply'of the precious metals ana reduced
that supply from 5000, 100000 to less than
500 OO6. 0O0 per annum Against this
secret combination of boudholders against
the rights of the people be is the untalter-
ing, unwesried, and untirlng enemy: AS
chairman of the Committee (select on
Irrigation he travelled nearly 1900 miles
through the West and Southwest last sum
mer. Senators, stenographers. ana omclalS
on their arrival Mt ST. Louis were wearied
and exhausted, but Senator Stewart, with
that indomitable perseverance,. energy,
and pluck, was "ready for the next" The
report of the commission will con-
tain over 5000 pages OF closely
printed matter, upon which Senator
Stewart is to present bill for the re-
habitation of the arid lands of our west,
and making the water there pubic pro.
perry, and giving the settlers the right of
making bitches and yiaducts to such wa;
tiers for the irrigation of their lands and
other purposes, these rights-oi-way to
be guaranteed by land-patents issued
by the Government. 1t also provides that
natural waters may be diverted from place
to place, and if necessary stored in great
reservoirs, the Federal authority resuming
its control of interstate streams, and
| when transferred to the States or Terrific
ries, TO be granted in trust upon the con- N
| ditions precedent that the States shall
| speedily pass laws providing for the organ
ization OF irrigation districts, with power
to own works, regulate the use Of water
| levy taxes for its consumption, and TO IS
sue bonds and debentures for such con
structions. and the whole subject of its
administration to be transferred to the
Agricultural Department. A. NJ. L.