The Florence tribune., 1899-04-29
As the Government Has Expended Over Two Hundred Millions in Other States the West May Rea- sonabIy Hope to Receive Assist ance if the Figures and Facts Are Fairly Presented to Congress.
From the Phoenix Enterprise.l

 avoid the expense of travel, but ob- tained many theories, especially on the subject of irrigation and the reclama- tion of the arid lands. But 1 care notRing for theories; am perhaps too full of them already; what I desire now most are facts, indisputable facts, to sustain the theory that believe to be the correct one. You understand that l have disposed of the idea that this vast domain of arid lands in these broad valleys will be reclaimed by private capital. It certainly will not, unless advantages be given it to such an extent that the using, consuming, general public, will have but little or nothing left. am not only afraid of, but opposed to, any theory that sub mits the great questions of impounding the waters of the territory and the reclamation of the lands within its jurisdictional dominion, to private corporate control, and for the reason already stated, the advantage neces- sary to be given to such control to enlist it and make its undertaking such, would be too burdensome to the people.
 To answer the question emphatically l say, yes. The impounding of the waters for the reclamation of the lands Of this country should be done by the government itself.
 The reasons are many. In the first place the government has nearly 600,- 00,000 acres of arid lands subject to being reclaimed, much of which, about 55.000. .000 of acres in extent, are in this territory. They are now under her control, are valueless as they are, but would be to the very highest landed value if reclaimed by irrigable means. That there is enough water flowing down our streams and goes to waste every year to reclaim all of these lauds handsomely is an admitted fact. What is necessary is to impou nd them at the proper points to carry them over the lands.
 The means of doing this are in the hands and within easy reach of the government.
 Now, what I desire to know at every point is where water may be largely stored. Is it practical to build dam there? That is: 1. Can permanent bedrock be reached there? ?. At what depth? 8. How high will it be necessary to erect it above the surface to retain the requisite amount of water? 4. What amount will the dam when completed retain? 5. What is the character of the walls on either side to which the dam is to be built? 6. What will be the probable cost of the dam completed? z. What amount of lands will be reclaimed below it by means of the water thus impounded behind it?
 To answer such questions as these you see will require staten ent of facts and not theories. As I said, these 1 want, and for them am now searching. A detailed statement of facts on these lines will arm any one with an argument that cannot be answered on this neral line of na- tional public improvement.
 Yes. I know it is a common reply: Oh the government will never do this. But who knows? Our answer again is: The government has already made her beginning in this direction at the Buttes above Florence. It is not fair to presume she will abandon before the door of experiment is opened.
 Furthermore, the government is as much under obligation to her agricul- tural people as to her commercial peo- pie. She has expended heretofore, for the benefits of inland commerce in thirty-six states in this union $230 0,S50,- 567 50, and most of this vast sum was expended in twenty of the states in the northeast and south, by the gov ernment, exercising the functions of a canal builder. Such expenditures for the benefit of agriculture in the west will reclaim all these lands, place them within easy reach of mill ions of home-seekers and at price. too, that will finally repay the gov. ernment for her outlay, thing which aided commerce never has done.
 am serious in the thought that the government ought to do this as matter of duty to the country, especial ly the agricultural part of it.
 It would be but fair dealing be- tween the different sections of the country, and the government will surely be not unfair.