The herald., 1893-10-10
Government Aid for Irriraticn,

The Kansas City Star. ae well as many
other newspapers further east, discoun-
tenances the proposition Of government
aid for irrigation. The Star is confused.
The plan is not to irrigate the land it.
self, but to provide means whereby the
land may be irrigated and thus be re-
claimed. Years ago the government
passed drainage laws looking to the re-
clamation OF swamp lands. If the gov
ernment can legislate to take water out
of lands it can certainly legislate to put
water in the lands.
1t is just that appropriations should
be made for these purposes out OF the i'm
mense surplus of the governments
revenues. Look at the millions of dol
lars annually appropriated and expended
for the improvement of rivers and har-
bors. The number of people benefited
thereby are only those engaged in trans
portation. Is transportation the only
thing requiring the paternal care of the
government? Has there ever been a
secretary of transportation The sub
ject has never been deemed of sufficient
Impc rtance to create such an Office in
the presidents cabinet.
Agriculture has secretary. 1t has
been elevated to the dignity of the most
important, and made the equal of the
other functions of the government. 1t
is agriculture which demands the ed-
vancement of the cause of irrigation.
Already has the last of Uncle Sam 9
naturally watered domain been given
away. The land offices are preparing to
close up.
Nothing is left now but the vast arid
plains on the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains, in the Colorado basin and
on the western slope of the Sierra Ne
cada.
Within this area it is plainly the duty
of the government:
First-To cause general survey to be
made to ascertain:
(a) The area OF catchments and vol
ume of water supplies.
(b) The sites for reservoirs and routes
of waterways.
(c) The local duty of water and acre.
age capable of supply.
(d) The estimated cost OF construc-
tion of both public and private water
works.
Second-To appropriate sufficient
funds to economically execute such of
the foregoing plan as is plainly of a
public character.
Third-To arrange some equitable
plan for the settlement or occupation of
said lands by Uncle Sans bona fide
children and none others, and utterly
excluding spectators and monopolies.
Some Of this work has already been
done, especially the appropriation for
the preliminary survey of cRtchment
areas and reservoir sites. But the work
should not be allowed to stop. This is
one of the objects OF today's convention.
The civilization built upon the irri-
CATION of the arid lands will be of the
most permanent character, even as irri-
CATION is more constant and eQuable
than the natural rainfall.
In irrigated countries failures of crops
are never known. Hence there is never
a cessation of the revenues of the people.
The first great principle of finance--the
creation and maintenance of revenue
with such people is always solved
problem. Hence, with the exercise on
their part OF the second great principle
OF fnance--the saving of part, greater
or less, of their revenues-the-e is bound
to be colossal accumulation of wealth
IN the irrigated belts.
With wealth will come leisure, cul-
ture, education, refinement, elegance !;
in fact, the greatest civilization of this
age will grow up in the arid zones, as it
did in other and former ages.
The most pleasing pictures opening
before the mental vision are the arid
portions OF the United States, viewed as
they will be fifty and hundaed years
hence. Great cities of grand mansions
and tine thoroughfares, besetting emer-
aid tialds. watered with crvstsl floods
from everlasting and snow-crowned
mountains, with every condition favora-
BILE for physical and psychical Develop
inent, what magnificent race of men
nere will be
Let us all put our shoulders to the
wheel and help lay the foundations OF
this desirable state OF affairs.
SsI5 Reward.
Of & Vaughn, druggists, corner
Forrth and Sprlng etreete are author