The herald., 1893-10-18

the svste of Illinois interested in the
question of irrigation?"
EYES," was Mr.. Aliens reply; con-
siderable Illinois capital has been in
vested in irrigation enterprises in the
west Only recently two corporations
have been formed in California which
employ Chicago capital"
is irrigation practicable in the state
of Illinois ?"
''Ibelieve irrigation TO be epracticable in
every state or section which may suffer
from drouths. Illinois, like the states
OF Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, suffers
more or less from protracted seasons of
dry weather which usually prevail dur
ing the summer months. At present
there is little or no irrigation precticed
in the east. / predict, however, that
the time is not far distant when the
farmers OF these states, IN order to OBJ
tain the best results, must adopt irrga-
ton. / am conversant with fruit and
garden farming, especially in the state
OF Michigan, and now of localities in
that state in which irrigation could be
practiced to splendid advantage. This
congress will be the means of awaken
ing general interest in irrigation. The
Chicago Post OF October 9th, contains sn
article, From Desert to Paradise, in which
the advice is given to the philosophic
farmer of Illinois to follow the proceed
ings of the irrigation congress now in
session. This is only the beginning OF q
general interest which will sooner or
later be taken in this great question by
the eastern huebandman."
"Then you believe that irrigation
farming compares favorably with farm
ing upon natural rainfall?"
II most emphatically do. Under irri-
cation the yield is increased and the
quality of the crop improved. When
the farmer has good soil and sunshine
there is but one element lacking to en-
able him to work out scientific results.
This is the control OF moisture. Give
him this and he is the most independ-
ent, successful and scientific farmer on
earth. A comparison between GER
tainty involved in irrigation and the un-
certainty in natural rainfall can easily
be understood by the practical man. It
is question OF science versus
chance" .rsa
"What is your position regarding the
cession OF arid lands to states and ter
ritories ?"
"Could this be done under certain linn
itations and covenants, it might be a
good policy to pursue; but my knowl-
edge of state and interstate legislation
has from the first led me to oppose this
measure. l am glad that the whole
subject of national and state legislation
is left in abeyance by this congrese, and
that the state commission provide way
for thorough discussion and patient
investig alton that can alone bring the
question 10 wise conclusion. From
this time on, every citizen of arid
America should become student OF this
great problem, and should express his
views, and discuss his opinions through
such mediums as will in the end enable
great and Just policy, that when carried
out shall be ideal In it's results"
by what means do you believe the
CATION movementT'
''By educating the people up to the
Importance of the irrigation question as
concerns the individual and the endur-
ing welfare Of our American institu-
tione. Ae in great reforms and other
great movements, education, as to the
Importance and knowledge of that ques-
tion. will be the result of constant and
judicial agitation. What the movement
requires ia not alone the support and
effort of the citizens in the arid regions
of the west, but as we'll the sympathy.
and cooperation of the people in the
east. We cannot hope for gem
ersl and effective corporation un-
til the people OF our national domain
shall have an intelligent understanding
of the vital Importance of irrigation and
its relative Importance to the prosperity
Of our commonwealth. | believe that
thorough state and territorial oreaniza-
ton is first of all essential; that an es-
tablishcd bureau of information, impair
tial in its policy, would be by no means
ineffective in it's results. Our public
schools should not disregard the import
anee of knowledge OF irrigation in the
free and liberal education which they
give to rising generations. The question
OF irrigation is one of national import
ance. which is destined to come more
prominently before the American peo-
Pile. l believe in the policy adopted by
this congress, and have no doubt but
that measures will be adopted by our
national executive board which will en-
courage and stimulate that kind of con-
certed action that means the ultimate
snccess of the irrigation movement gen