People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-08-10
A Good Place and a Good Way to
Expand.

an empire-a semi-arid region, which, /
brought under cultivation as it could arr
Should be, would easily support pOru
lation greater than that Of our whole
country. The Missouri, the Platte, The
Arkansas and other streams flowing
through t.iis region, carry to the Missis
sippi and the ocean each year, during
the food season Of the early summer, al
Immense volume Of surplus water, often
spreading devastation and destruction
along TIER courses and along the lower
Mississippi, necessitating the expenditure
of large SUMS Of money each year by the
government for levees, jetties and other
means Of protection for hundreds Of
miles above the mouth Of the Mississippi
This piling up OF deposits by the river
and Of embellishments by man, has raised
the river itself above the land on either
side. Further work Of this kind must be
continued, if present methods are pur-
sued at a constantly increasing expense,
and with a constantly increasing DANCE
the higher the river and the embark
meuts are raised. This work has been
carried on in the valley of the Pc in Italy
until the surface OF the water in tire
river is above the roofs of the houses in
the valley.
The permanent and sensible remedy
IOr the dificulg-the solution of the
whole problems the construction by
the government Of in,uense storage res
ervoirs along the upper courses Of each
c, those rivers. Reservoirs numerous
enough and large enough to hold this
surplus water and then use it for irriga-
lion and reclaim that immense area. The
money now being spent to conquer a de
fenseless people on the other side Of the
globe and to create a desire for a stand
ing army would give Us an empire in our
midst worth infinitely more than any
thing that can be obtained in the Philip
pines by present methods. This is an
enterprise 50 vast in its proportions that
1t must be done by the general govern
ment, if at all; but as a business venture
itwould pay large dividends upon the
Investment and render unnecessary
large part Of the millions that must
otherwise be expended annually for all
time upon the lower Mississippi. This is
but one OF the many places and methods
that might be suggested cor expansion on
this continent Opportunities now ne
elected because they do not serve the
Purpose Of 6ols;erins up the fortunes of
the mOneyed interests and Metropolitan
party OF imperialism and a large standing
army with which to overthrow the liber-
ties of the people Territory and trade
and commerce-sxpansion greater than
This generation can possibly assimilate
and use, is possible upon this continent
without war and bloodshed, without en-
teriHg oil world politics, without viola
ton Of the spirit Of the Monroe doctrine.
of the injunction Of Washington and
century Of precedent but this does not
serve the purpose OF the robber barOns,
who have absolute control today Ct syery
department of our government. A for
,eign war, war OF conquest where the
Facts can be suppressed and the real nc
lEes covered up-a war for glory and to
ioster the military spirit is Necessary TO
htraci the attention OF the people away
rom ;lisir own wrongs, while the trusts
getin tier work and the rich grow
hicher and the poor grow poorer and
more numerous, while the Millionaire and
the million 7aupers come on apace. |
The enormous fortunes made possible Y
the civil war, the fortunes made by
brilding and wrecsing railroads and
sUther gigantic swindles of like character
VIII be more than duplicated, by the
trusts now forming. This wealth is all
produced as wealth always is-by those
who toll.
This war is part of the large plan now
n successful operation to still further in