The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-27
A Tract Of Country Equal to Two
Fifths Of the United
States.
Can Be Made Capable OF Support.
ing az Many as 100000
Families.
Synopsis Of the Powerful speech Recently
Delivered in the Senate by Mr.
Warrsa (Wyo.).

represents two-Afths 0f the area OF the
United States that Senator Warren (Wyo.)
addressed the senate. Senator Warren has
long been considered an authority on irri-
CATION. He is chairman OF the senate COM
mittee having this important subject in
charge. and his speech will stand for many
in exhaustiveness and interest.
Senator Warren argued in behalf Of the
value of irrigation as an aid to agriculture
and it's special importance TO the United
States, and the necessity Of giving serious
and helpful confederation to the subject Of
improving arid lands without delay. He
said that rsclniming the lands by
ceding them TO the states under
proper restrictions. was safe and
equitable, and would bring about rscla-
nation of the largest possible area in the
most speedy and economical way. In Or
der to secure increased irrigation and re-
olamation, it would be necessary to pre-
serve the forest areas OF the mountains,
which not only promote rain but hold back
the snow so that the latter is allowed to
melt gradually; to construct immense store
age reservoirs and innumsrable canals and,
in some places, artesian wells. Senator
Warren admits that this vast scheme of ir-
rigation will require an enormous expend-
iture, but he points out that the river and
harbor appropriations of the past ten years
have aggregated in round numbers $780,
OO0, 600. not one cent of which has been ex-
pended for the direct benefit Of the arid
states. He believes il would not be un-
reasonable. therefore. to ask an amend 80
\ AL
propriating $15.OOO,O00 or $40 600, 900 per
annum for tho construction of reservoirs
for the detention of waters at the head
waters of mountain streams.
After an elaborate review of the history
of irrigation from the days of the garden
of Eden, Senator Warren said that it was
estimated by competent authorities that
outside Of the United States in various
countries of the world there were 1913, OOO 900
acres of land under irrigation, supporting
800, ,O0OO 600 people. He asserted. too, that
thu 10O, 900 600 acres of irricabls land in the
arid regions of the United states would fur
nish homes for 20.000.0 600 families. Nor ID
the value ct this great territory matter OF
the future. Even now the aggregate value
of the gold, silver. lead. copper, horses.
cattle, sheep and wool moved out of the
arid region is not far from $240,0 600,
while it's imports aggregate 5000, 0OO. 600.
Over one-quarter Of the worlds supply of
gold, lead and copper and 40 per cent of
the worlds supply of silver are produced
within it's limits. This is accomplished
despite the fact that subsistence for the
miners has to be transported great dis
tanoes. The development of this country,
if crops could be raised within its borders,
would be phenomenal, while the wool crop.
already enormous wo aid be increased to a
point which would make the importation
of foreign wool almost, if not altogether,
unnecessary.
1t is not 10 be anticipated, according to
Senator Warren, that tho raising of crops
would be OF sufficient extent to interfere
with the export market viii oh grain grown
elsewhere in the United States now enjoys.
Farming by irrigation, he says, would be
confined to small holdings, or a limited
number of acres in each ownership. More
prosperity would result from raising citrous
fruits, raisins, grapes. prunes, English
walnuts. and other semi-tropical produc-
tions. 1t is also an impol tant fact that
almost the entire arid region is adapted to
the successful culture of the sugar beet.
Experiments, especially in the teri rlitory of
Utah. have already demonstrated that this
region il apable of raising sufficient guam
titles of sugar beets to produce sugar
enough to mako up the deficit between what
is now raised anu the entire needs of tn Q
United States. This would save millions Of
dollars to this country and give employ
ment to the thousands OF laborers. The
necessity for prompt action by the United
States, in view of the fact that very little
land remains for settlement, except within
the arid region, was emphatically argued bv
Senator Warren, who also discussed with
careful detail the legal and national con-
siderations involved. Uron the policy now
to be adopted by the government depends
the development or retardation of the new
states. Under existing laws the state con-
| trolls the waters within its boundaries, and
the worthless a. id land now hold by the
| Federal government should, in Senator
War,en's inion, be transferred to the
| state, which would reclaim ii and add it to
| the productive area of tho country. The
granting of lands to Illinois, Iowa and
other western states was stated as showing
precedent, and in each instance has re-
suited in material and financial prosperity.
BY the passage of tho bill which formed
the text of the speech. homes would be
made for thousands of prosperous and
| thriving people; it would upbulld all inter
ests--mining, manufacturing, railroads
and Eericulture-and prevent large hold
ings of lands for speculative purposes.
Surplus water, now rushing past vast terri
tories of urouth- stricken. thirsty land, and
inflicting incnlculable damage to property,
would, by proper storing and diversion, re-
claim thousands Of acres. Public forests
would be saved from devastation by fire
and the now arid mountain plains and val.
leys would be made to blossom like the
rose.
Should Study Conditions in Kansas.
BERLIN, July 26-Ex-Senator Ingalls,, OF
Kansas, has gone to Vienna, via Dresden
He told an Associated press oorrespon dent
that he is studying the economic and po-