The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-02

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ert land law. Wyoming. Titan and
Montana are awaiting themselves OF the
millionaire donation act. With the
revival Of ISM increased interest
will be- taken in this law. The individ-
ual state IS passing useful laws bearing
upon the apportionment OF the water
and the settlement OF disputes there
under. While much has been done. a
/ commencement has scarcely been
made.
The population 81 the country West
Of the Missouri river has grown very
rapidly. In a comparatively few years
II has increased several hundred per
cent. There is no doubt that this
growth viii go IN as rapidly in the fu-
ture as 81 has in the past few years.
1t is estimated that ne population
West OF the Missouri river VIII reach
1900. 600 OF people by the time Of tho
taking OF the census Of 1900. This is
a government of the people, and the
nation must be a all times most deep
" concerned for the increase that an
nually takes place in its population.
The nation. I do not think, viii belle
its record; Il will meet the obstacles
and remove them. The lands which do
not require Irrigation are nearly all oc-
cupied. To make room for the Increase
and influx of population IT
riCation works must be constructed.
The great countries until recently un-
occupied save by rowing bands of In
dams and a few mining settlements Is
now well traversed by railroad lines,
and among them are great continental
roads. on these railroads, every rev
miles, are young cities, towns and VII
lagos made and inhabited by enterprfs-
ing people. These people are not con-
tented to stand still; they are anon
the most progressive people Of the most
progressive nation on the face OF the
globe; they are willing To venture and
take chances; the country t~hereabout,
wherever II is possible, Is being rapidly
occupied by the ranchman and farmer.
These enterprising people are urging
the necessities Of such legislation as
they believe is best adapted To the con-
ditions as they are now found in these
states and territories.
These questions arc comparatively
new ones to the people OF the United
States. But a small number Of those
who make the laws or administer the
executive departments OF the govern
ment have ever seen irrigation canals,
or any practical experiments made
through this system Of the cultivation
Of the soil. Indeed. until the Mormon
people began to make homes In the
Salt Lake basin, irrigation had not
been undertaken by any considerable
number of people under the turisdic-
ton of this nation. The country in
which we live was ooked upon as a
/ great. hATTen Waste llal Npulu ItNN u
be occupied by civilized man.
I've who have experienced and cul-
tivatcd the soil In any one OF the arid
states or territories may to some eX-
tent measure the possibilities OF the
country which was considered so bar
ren and worthless for purposes Of cul-
tiyation a few years ago. There Is
none OF the territory West Of the Mis-
souri, river but what has within its
borders great irrigation plants, great
and small fields I'm bearing which would
be deserted save and except for the
i~rriCating ditch and canal, which have
reclaimed them from a most unproduc-
tive condition to that OF one Of great
fertility.
when we speak, therefore, Of the
. possibilities Of these states, We only
= assert what we know-that the broad
acres which will he cultivated will be
] enumerated by the million, and that
their numbers VIII only be limited by
the supply Of water that may be made
, available. In some of the states the
total acreage that may he reclaimed
!, may be but a small percentage Of the
total area, yet the small acreage COM
paratively brought under the control
of the "hushandman will he sufficient 10
: bring about the development OF other
great natural resources other than those
Of agriculture. thereby building IN
/, communities Of varied Industries and
! providing for thousands upon thousands
Of American citizens.
THE country described has every VI
riety OF climate within it's confines, the
! fruits Of the tropics and the cereals
I common to the extremes OF the temper
J ate zones are successfully cultivated
1 and natured. The country II rich in
: cattle. horses and sheep and other do
, mestfc animals common to the home
! and farm. The natural grasses are
I yYa,.,v pY,tpgffpnaG hBf short and scatter
E cd. the soil producing them only requir,
, ing water TO magnify the forage ton
l mage tenfnld.
; much Of the country IL rich In min
p erals. Within its borders have beer
o discovered most Of the minerals Ssowr
To civilized man. In some OF these
. ate and territories great development
I has been made in gold, silver, copper
lead, coal, iron, petroleum, soda, ashes
e tos. gypsum and mica mining. yet the
m"ineralogists and geologists tell US
. that a commencement has scarcely beer
: made.
! Irrigation FOR the most part ia still
primitive. In many ofshe states only
from the small streams have the Wa
= tiers been diverted the great streams
n have only been touched. For the full
g development and utilization Of all th'
water that flows IN their beds n vii
q require immense expenditures Of laho,
10 aud capital. Experiments which haVj
% been made on the underground sheetj
y of water have only been sufficient Il
q show that underground streams exist
e and that their capacity Is sufficient 4
bring about the cultivation Of a larg,
;, acreage.
u I'VE hear OF failures: many VIII "a!
that in their e~ndeavors they have los
their CAPITAL and labor. This could no
" be otherwise, for all that has been at
= tempted in the way Of irrigation worl
: has not been completed, nor has al
, been done satisfactorily and success
fully. In great undertakings Their
= have always been some bitter disap
il pDintmeut and failures. This win ocou
, in the future as il has In the past. A
= raLlrnal hmiLdLnE has not hrmmght larE-