Graham guardian., 1899-10-27
EDUCATE THE EAST.
GOVERNOR McC0RD TALKS ON
IRRIGATION.
Need of Action by the Government-West-
ern Congressmen Urged to stand
Soildly Together,

West and Educate the East" said
Ex-Governor Myron McCord of
Arizona, in a short address to the
National Irrigation Congress, at
Montana, Governor Nc,
Cord has certainly clear conoep-
tion of the needs of the West on
the irrigation subject, and of the
policy which should be pursued TO
most quickly and effectively nc
compIish what everyone comedies
must resul, IN the greatest direct
development, and benefit.
Governor McCord strongly ad.
yocated reclamation of arid terri
tory by the Federal Government,
"We are not asking the Govern
to embark on any new and untried
scheme" he said. Successful
irrigation is as old as the hills.
Look at the wonderful results
achieved by it in the Salt River
Valley, Arizona, where 100000
acres of desert land have been
converted into one of the most
productive sections in the United
States. In Arizona alone there
are 100000 acres of just such
lands that need only water to
make them the garden Of the
earth; and in the great West there
are 75,OO0,OO0 acres Of such land.
With water, every acre OF this
now useless land would be worth
in its virginity at the lowest cal
cula,ion SIS an acre. Here would
be S375, 600, 900; and people tell us
the Government could not profit.
ably undertake the building Of
storage reservoirs 70 develop this
landl"
Mr.. McCord expressed the be-
lief that by combining, the mem
bers Of Congress from the social
cd arid States could so concentrate
their force and influence as to
make their attack absolutely ir.
resistible.
"Let the voice of this entire
transmississippi country" he said
"be heard in the halls of leglsla'
ton, sounding as the voice of one
man, demanding the granting of
this simple act OF justice and equity
In this country public opinion,
when based upon indisputable
truths, is force that commands
respect and obedience as well in
Congress as elsewhere.
s'Let us show that this whole
country is now looking with con.
| tidence from the oyerstocked
markets Of Europe, with It's $780,
100000 people, to the growing
markets of the Orient, with its
750, 10000 of population to sup
ply. From our Western coast the
heart of that market is reached
within 5000 miles over an open
sea in the temperate zone, whereas
the same point is 1000 miles dis
tant from Liverpool by the Suez
canal and Red sea and the torrid
Cult of Alden. IL certainly cannot
be our part to sit in the midst OF
an empire OF desert land, protest.
ing but mildly against the current
Of events and dong nothing else
to change it,"
Every newspaper in the State
should take up the question OF
water development in the West
What benefits any one section will
benefit the Who'll, state, and what
benefits the West Will benefit the
entire country, the eastern op.
posltlonlsL TO the contrary not
wilhstanding. The more develop
ment and industry in the West the
more supplies Will be required
from the East in the line OF manu-.
faclures, wnile at the same time
the West will consume or ship TO
the OIlent practically all Of its
own agricultural production.
Arizona contains 51,734, 600
acres OF government land open TO
settlement, besides several large
reservations. Only aoout $685..
ou0 have passed out OF the hand )
OF the government. The irriga.
Aon engineer of the State Expert.
ment Statlon has estimated that
mere tnan 5000, 900 acres can be
III tns fertile valleys vi
tue uiia aud the Salt River alone,
through The construction of storage
Reservoirs and the conservation oi
ali The waters OF the Territory
which now ruu To waste.
irrigation development means
lneslImabie increase Ia wealth alike
Z, State ana lndivldual; II means
an Increase OF taxable property
u lower rate Of taxation,
aud The building up of communl
ties with the increased demand
which immigration naturally ere
ates for merchandise and other