The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-10
STATUTES RELATING TO ARID
LANDS ARE INADEQUATE.
DR.. Elmer Points out the Advantages
TO Be Gained by Proper and Sys-
tematic Immfgration-Thous
of Acres in Eastern Washington
Could Be Transformed From a
Desert Into Productive Fields

lands and al different times tiS addressed
meetings upon the Importance OF proper
legislation by the state. To the PoSt-In-
teiisencer correspondent he said:
To-day irrigation Is forcing itself on the
people OF Washington. What the state
most requires is thar the Eastern mind
shall be convinced that an open field is
here presented for a happy. contented
people where education and this age or
improved methods will produce an adj
vaDced civilization. America, one OF the
youngest countries settled by the eau
casian race and the last to discover that
wonderful art. (which makes concentra-
ton of effort a necessity and consequently
a step nearer a great civilization, has
only to turn 20 the pages OF the history or
Colorado, California. Utah and Nevada 10
fully appreciate. the grand transformation
or the desert in these states in the past
few years and awaken to the necessity OF
that the state should simplify the irriga-
tion laws and put a premium on the de-
veiopmsnt of the so-called arid lands OF
Eastern Washington.
"Of the 24.00o 600 acres of land in East
ern Washington, 20 o10. 000 or thereabout
are arabic; of the latter over 5000
go are desert or semi-humid. A
small part OF this land has been
ton supplied through canals or bitches.
The gravity ditch or canal VIII supply a
part OF the desert lands, but the genius
of the engineer shall have TO come 10 the
relief of larger stretches OF these lands.
As alsa the Securing of the fullest results
from the semi-humid portions. For this
purpose. we have our ma testic and rapid
rivers. Tt IS there the expert engineer
VIII find a fed for the best elements OF his
skill, the utilizing OF the thousands or
horsepower now useless and the tens or
thousands of cubic feet of water OF our
lakes and rivers running 10 waste every
second of time. passing our doors and
yearly carrying the wealth or nation
TO be lost in the wide ocean.
he -Fff M Ia NTH "a i'm
urns OF water equal TO about 10000 cubic
feet per second, at present practically
runs to waste. The vast possibilities OF
this river II is fair to suppose, should en-
gage the attention of the national govern
ment. There IS an object lesson for US IN
the great irrigation works or India, IN
which the English government has WITHIN mn
the past 80 years invested over $5O,ooa.ooo
Large as this investment is, II IS reported
to give returns of from Az TO per cent
per year and this with semi-savage people
as contributors. These works are OF the
most finished and permanent character,
being built of specially prepared brick and
large blocks of stone, works that Will
withstand the hand OF time hundreds Of
years One canal on the Betwa river. a
tributary to the Gauges. discharges a
greater volume of water than the Column
bia of our own state at flo ID time. Many
OF their restraining dams are 5000 to 1000
feet in length by 60 to 20 feet high These
figures give some conception OF the mag
nitude Of their works and the engineering
difficulties.
eff the interstate laws were so consti-
tuted that works of this character could
be undertaken by the government. some
three or four general supply canals could
be built Tt Is an onen question that East
ern Washington would in the near future
have her population rolled upto milton
people. The problem of the early settle
nent of the rich valleys OF the Yakima,
the Columbia river basin. the Wenatchee,
and the Okanogan valley would be prac-
tically settled. Would 1t not be question
ertA ftzfp - 6
were to investigate this subject as a state
enterprise? The amount of investment
and probable result OF generous supply
canal centrally located. With this as a
test would not II likely pave the way for
larger and more generally useful works In
1--WE have arrived at that period In
t the H westward q now wv OF immigration
must from natural boundaries come TO an
end Washington's Western boundary Is
stop. and spread itself out over our broad
plains and foothills. II liz self-evident that
some pref.aration ought 20 be made to re-
ceive and hold the constantly increasing
exodus from the Eastern states. What
does the history OF our country teachg
How short the time since Plymouth Rock
and jamestown! What fabulous wealth
has rolled I'm upon this land In but span
in the worlds history. How easy 20 traee
the march of emigration and settlements
until now the ocean bars the way TO iarth-
er westward progress.
arabic lands OF Eastern WASHINGTON were
the better for water supply IL IS then IN
irrigation that the great problem OF the
early settlement OF the state lies. II Is
question for the best efforts Of our iegis-
iators worthy OF the best minds IN political
economy. for today Il is the critical cues
ton in the providing for the future not on
ly for the Pacific coast. but for the Unit
ed states The farmers east of the noun
tair,s are not averaging moro than living
m
PEELED 10 look elsewhere for broader and
more productive feds. This cause alone
Is driving the sons and daughters 10 me
great centers of population for remuners-
five work The cities through foreign emf
grafton and this one other cause are now
overcrowded. and have their THOUSANDS
who even in times OF plenty would want
bread This broad territory. with its
eorabIa climate Is being INQUIRED into as
a possible and desirable field for homes
ana an outlet for the overcreUded East:
Washington has every element 10 attract
the best Of the farming population OF the
East II Is only necessary 10 make sucn
provision backed by a liberal policy that
men with moderate means may succeed
az nerranent settlers TO soon place Wash
ington in the front rank OF the sisterhood
OF states. We have the making OF an en-
pire in our Own hands with the rounoatlon
already laid. The future lies in the secur-
ing men not the man of large capital,
but the man of moderate means. who may
so invest his small capital, as, step py
thereby converting the necessity for econ
orny into a contamination Of liberal in
dulgence Of the requirements OF life
'sThe virgin soil OF Washington offers
10 the willing hand and active brain an
that which makes ND the sum OF life; II
may be said that the arid regions OF THIS
state are one vast sanitarium, Cry at
rnoSphere clear and eGuanle, an early ana
balrny spring. summers without cloud.
mild winters. and long and late fails, when
nature gives out her riches In abundant
crops az fruits and vegetables.
'sThese are some OF the conditions that
cau for carefully considered legislation by
tn, powers that govern and control the
destiny OF our state. There are az pTesent
Iaws on the statute books purportng 70
bs In the interest OF irrigation bat %
rrscffeaI men. these laws are crude and
unfinished and were conceived by men lily
ylrepared 10 meet the requirements or the
n-eSeut conditions for the settlement or
be arid lands as thesa laws are caicu-
YetAa 70 overtuate IN the absorption o. the
lands BIZ corporations or the lenders or
the rryc ney for development work. For the
settler OF moderate means. VINO sha4i SUD-
rsrefv fail 20 meet the requirements or in
fsresr and taxes before ne can SEIZURE re-
furrs from the lands 70 meet expenses
@evolvlrz up0n him for personal require
raarts and the interest on the money in
v,esses Thee can be bu- one safety 10 the
ssttier-a supplementary Jaw 70 the pres
80. district irritation Jaw. IN which the
Efa.a wsn assume the liability for taxes
and interest for three years n9l1l9S *
esa}Dxt tbe land as a charge for future
srf7ecfton (ar an emergency tax lawl Tho
afSfr{-t irrigation law OF Washington az
hssaA On the Wright law IS absolutely IN
ertsrgr{xua 70 local conditions in Wash
ir5vt0n. a good law doubtless in an old SET
- a-H produciug community. but quite
out Of place IA conditions that now OBJ
tain tu iris state"