The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-25


summers the water that is so plentiful
In the winters, and by its means secure
fruitful crops from what is now worse
that wasted soil. The redemption Of the
many million acres of the present arid
land of America is a task that should en-
gage the attention of the authorities,
both State and Federal. for its success
will add promptly and immeasurably
to our taxable wealth and population.
The conserving of the flood waters OF
winter will require the investment OF
many millions of dollars, which If in
vested by private capital would subject
the settler and land owner to imposition
and extortion. We therefore pledge our
representatives in Congress to the policy
of the location and construction of SyS-
tenn of storage reservoirs by the General
Government
The fusion Democrats and Populists,
ignoring the interests of the cultivators OF
the soil, have. made neither pledge nor
reference to the subject. Content with
the determination of Mr.. Mcguire to inn
farmer, fruit-grower and landowners
generally through the medium of the sin
gle tax, they did not deem the matter OF
irrigation of any Importance in the light
of fusion politics.
1t needs no argument for the sensible
people of the State who are interested in
its growth and development to under
stand the supreme Importance of irriga-
ton, not only far as respects the arid
regions, but even its richest parts. Here
tofore all State attempts to aid farmers
and fruit-growers and others cultivating
the soil have resulted in legislation bur-
dening the landowners, imposing addi-
tional taxes and causing perplexing COM
plicationS.
The Wright irrigation system, while it
has benefited certain portions OF the
State at great cost to the peo-lo of the
lands in other parts, and is matter
of common knowledge that all similar
and burdensome where the expense of
purchasing and storing the waters is to
be paid by the landowners in the dis
trict. With the method proposed by the
ment aid in collecting and storing the
mountain waters for the dry seasons and
constructine large reserv0i,r systems stems
are now arid regions, but all settlers in
farming districts may obtain water sup
plies at practically nominal rates in COM
pariSon with the present cost or lrrlga-
ton.
In the report of the special committee
of the United States Senate on the irri-
cation and reclamation of arid lands,
May 8, 1890, the following statements were
ut is difficult to make anything like
area of California: With the water in
sight certainly 1900 900 acres will be a
low, estimate Water storage on a grand
scale, such as the conditions warrant,
will, require the reclamation of at least
whatever, area may be reclaimed will
products possessing a high market value.
Its fruits are. among the best in the
world 1t bids fair to become the sue
and wine making lands. It's nectarine,
prune, grape and orange are already
found in the markets of the world. The
olive, fig, lemon, date and other semi
tropical fruit are fast becoming of great
commercial Importance. Nearly all these
products are the direct results of irriga-
ton. They are all benefited by it when
wisely directed
Taking this estimate from the Senate
report of the reclaimable public lands, at
twenty millions of acres and multiplying
this at the Government price of 81 rs per
acre, we have. total of $3.50 900, in the
event of the land being made by irriga-
ton desirable for settlers. This amount
being received by the general Government
by the sale of land made reclaimable by
irrigation and expended in the construc-
would in five years enhance the value of
this land to $40 per acre, making a grand
total value of $400, 100000. which sum
would yield to the State of California
$1,000 900 per annum at a tax rate of so
cents on each 500 worth of this now
worthless realty. 1t would create homes
100 acres of irrigable and productive land
Still another step: these families would
add 625 900 TO the population of the State.
With this increase in the value of land
now irreclaimable the value of all other
land now farmed and cultivated would
more than double in value. Such splendid
increasing the material wealth by the de-
yelopment of the arid public lands of the
State is well worth the present expendi-
ture of a few million dollars by the gem
eral Government which expediture, be-
sides the prospective advantages. would
relieve the existing distressed condition of
labor by giving e. nloyment to many de-
serving unemployed people of the State.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cages adj
dress the chairman presented General
w. H. L. Barnes. The general received
superb greeting from the vast au-
dience.
General Barnes address was a mas
terly and eloquent review of the leading
questions before the people to-day
General Barnes replied to the criticisms
Of Democrats and Populists. that Mr..
Gage spoke with his hands in his
pockets. The general reminded the au-
dience that Cages hands were not in
any other mans pocket, and mention
ed incidentally that Mcguire as an
office holder for the past fifteen years
had drawn 100000 from the pockets of
the people, yet to-day he was indorsing
a platform declaring that public ser
wants should receive no more than the
wages of a laborer.
Mcguire was again handled without
gloves, and the people apulauded every
point made against the nominee on
the fusion ticket.
Tremendous enthusiasm greeted the
sentiment in favor of holding every
inch of territory that has been conse-
Grated by the blood of American sol
diers. In several respects the orator
surpassed his great effort at Ventura
on Friday night. His hearers listened
with breathless attention to his clos
ing utterances, wherein he traced the
growth and expansion of the American
nation and declared that the one hun
dred millions of people in this country
would never permit the geography of
this earth to be changed unless they
had something to say about it.. The
sixteen to one doctrine to which Barnes
bears allegiance-that is the destruc-
ton of sixteen Spanish ships t COM
pensate for the loss of the Maine
produced the widest enthusiasm.
In addressing the Silver Republicans,
the orator was persuasive rather than
caustic. He invited them to come back
to the true faith and uphold the admin
istration of that great President, Will
lam Mckinley.
After the meeting adjourned Mr.. Gage
received with General Barnes the con-
CALCULATIONS of a multitude Men and
women pressed forward on the stage to
clasp his hand and cheer him with as
Surances of individual support. The
crush at the Pavilion was so great that
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