Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-10
REDEEMING THE DESERT.
Vast Possibilities of Irrigation Intel
lisentIy Applied.

Washington IlfneS.
One of the features of the closing night
of the fifty-tifth congress was lively effort
made by Senator Carter to secure the pas
sage Of an appropriation bill. The OBJECT OF
the bill was to provide for the watering of
the arid lands in Montana, Nevada and other
far western states at the government eX-
pense. 1t is said that this measure, il it had
been successful, would have added immense
tracts of land to that already under cultiva-
ton in the northwest.
The proposition, however, in connection
with the immense amount OF good already
done by similar irrigation schemes IN the
west suggests an interesting traln VI
thought. To the members OF the FIRST Amer
lean congress it would have seemed utterly
absurd that large tract of land, practically
a desert in its natural state, could be MADE
fit for the habitation of human beings. lhey
could have understood the principle as ap-
piled to a small farm, but the idea or max
ing half a state arabic by any such means
thew would have dismissed as a chapter from
Gullivers Voyage to Laputa Yet tne
thing has been done, not once or twice but
monv times What is more, it is averred
that the climate as well as the soil OF some
of the western states has been changed by
this means and that nature, in soiltuues
once fit only for the coyote ana tne sage
hen is now fostering the efforts or man 10
establish homes. What fairy tale OF Dean
Swift is more marvellous than TINS!
Another fact which is known to scientlhc
men is that the cutting of OF 1oresls III
many states is not only affecting the water
supply, causing floods and drouths aiIei
nately, but that it actually changes lhe eii-
mate to scme extent, making IL more chahse-
able than in former years. Ihls Is one y. 'ne
strong arguments for the preservation Vi ou'
forests by law, against the reckless depreaa-
,ions of the lumbermen. With all the ma
torials now at hand for fuel and building
nurnoses. there is no need that we shoulu
lose our forests; and If the present unscru-
nuIous waste of timber continues II VIII not
he long before some other sections OF the
country besides the far northwest VIII De
begging for artificial irrigation by proper
forest laws enforced now, the country eau
save itself an expenditure of millions IN the
future.
AS time goes on doubtless, man VIII learn
better and better how to control the mlghty
forces of nature, and to turn to good account
those which he cannot control. IN MS
"Traveler From Altruria" Howeils puts INTO
the mouth of his Altrurian a suggestion on
this line. In telling of the Altrurian de-
partment of public works he says that one
of the first things accomplished by it was
the cutting of a canal through an isthmus
which connected the continent with the
mainland, so that the equatorial current
could flow along the shores OF the country;
and he states that by this means the climate
was changed from inhospitable bleakness to
balmy warmth. Changes greater than any
thing in the fanciful descriptions Of this book
may yet be wrought by American skill and
inventive genius in years to come. We may
discover, one of these days. that we are
not only shaping laws and customs, but a
continent for the home of the greatest people
of the world In European countries en-
cheering skill has grown but slowly, with
the growth of the nation hampered by the
greed of kings and the hindrance of foreign
wars. The science developed through many
generations comes in the prime of its
strength to a land unmarried by the hand of
man. We have no ruler but ourselves. The
will Of the people determines what this con-
tnent shall be-whether 1t shall be made
desolate by the greed of few or beautiful
by the enlightened effort OF the many;
whether our children's children shall have
a healthful and delightful home, or whether
they shall work all their lives to undo the
consequences OF our mistakes. Which shall
II be?