The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-08-30
The Government and Irrigation.


An eastern paper, referring to re-
Gently published irrigation statistics
and what is yet to be done in order to
reclaim the arid region, says "The
immense area Of land available for
agricultural purposes as soon as the
water supply can be assured makes
this question one of great interest to
the nation, and sooner or later govern
ment, either state or national, will be
enlisted in the costly undertaking of
irrigating these lands. But eastern,
southern and central western opposi-
ton to loading large part of the ex-
pense on those sections will be strong
enough probably to defeat for the pres
ent any attempt to enlist the federal
government in the work" That there
is a practically unanimous sentiment
in the eastern and southern states
against the general government aiding
irrigation by direct appropriations is
not to be doubted, and this opposition
is not wholly due to indisposition on
the part Of the people of those sections
to assume their share Of the expense.
They do not want the arid lands re-
claimed for the reason that they be
lieVe such an increase in the produc-
tive capacity Of the west would result
in injury to the jewellers of the older
portion of the country by unduly in
crea5ing agricultural productions. This
feeling has been expressed from time
to time, and whatever opinion one may
have of it the fact that it exists and
that its influence is strong must be
recognized. 1t is not in harmony with
the spirit of national progress and de-
VelOpmeht, but is on the contrary mar
row and selfish, yet it is vital fact far
more obstructive to the reclamation of
the arid region through government
aid than the matter of cost, large as
the expense would be.
This subject has commanded more or
less of the attention of congress for a
number Of years. Various plans have
been presented to that body and dis
cussiOn Of irrigation has taken a wide
range. Every argument that could be
educed IN support of the proposal of
government aid has been offered. Tt
has been urged that as conditions now
are the millions of acres Of land in the
arid district, belonging to the govern
ment, will not be settledfor generations
to come, but will lie unOccupied, a
waste and desert in the very heart of
the nation, acting as a wall between the
Atlantic and the Pacific. It has been
argued that as a prudential investment
the government cannot do better than
to take steps to redeem this vast body
of land from its ardity and make it pos
sible and pTactable to have a prosper
Gus settler upon every quarter section
of it. But all these arguments have
failed to make any impression upon
the opponents of government aid, nor
are they likely to ia the near future.
The question of retaining the arid
lands will, however, continue to be
pressed upon public attention. It's i'm
poFtance is too great to permit it to be
abandoned or lost sight of even for a
single session Of congress. The people
of the vest, who understand and ap
preciRte all that is involved In this
question respecting the progress and
prosperity of the country, and who re-
gard it from a national and not a sec
tional point of view, intend to agitate
this subject until wise and practicable
plan is adopted by which the vast arid
region can be made available for set
tlement The fact must be recognized
however, that eastern and southern OBJ
position to government aid is an
obstacle that will not be easily over
come.