The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-08

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ton of the physical and legal prob
lens and other conditions relating
to irrigation and in promoting the
adoption of more effective laws,
customs and methods of irrigated
agriculture, and urge upon Com
gress the necessity of providing
liberal appropriations for this i'm
portant work"
F. The holding of the National r.
rigation Congress in the East, as it
turned out was wise move. The
people of that half of the country
have had the subject of national
irrigation brought home to them in
manner not otherwise possible.
The far-reaching Importance of the
problem has been presented to
them and a genuine interest has
been awakened. Instead of find
ing opposition in the East, the Con-
gress found that eastern men of
prominence were more than inter
ested in a proposition which prom
ised an increased western popu1a-
ton of millions of people,
AS the "enemy's country" has
been Invaded, the myth of eastern
opposition has faded away and its
people are found to be anxious to
see inaugurated anational policy of
western arid land reclamation.
The western delegates went home
with the feeling that they have the
hearty support of eastern interests
in securing action which will open
to settlement half a continent, cap
able of supporting fifty millions of
people. They cannot but feel that
this support is growing; that it is
developing into great movement;
that many people are realizing that
national action would meet such a
western development as would in
crease the national wealth beyond
measure.
The time seems fully ripe for the
west to take a firm and decided
stand on the question of national
irrigation and something great may
be accomplished at once. Why
not? 1t is as right that Congress
should appropriate money for stor-
age reservoirs as for river and har-
Dor improvements. The building
of storage reservoirs would obviate
the necessity for much river ex-
penditure and would be vastly in
creased. And now if the West
makes this demand the East will
back it up, for the benefit would
not be local.
Every western paper is interested
in seeing this development accom-
plished. What would be the re-
suit of an appropriation of eight or
ten million dollars spent annually
in the west for irrigation construc-
ton? The immediate stimulation
would be enormous and the future
benefit greater. This policy should
be inaugurated and the western
press should urge it with one voice.
1t is national matter; it can be
productive only of great good; the
East is responsive; will the West
be aggressive; it is time to work.
1t is the opinion at Washington
that $40, 900, 900 will be appropri'
ated by this congress fol
river and harbor improve
ments. Of this the western half ot
the United States will get, Judging
by previous records couple o
million or so. Whatever are hel
possibilities, it is not contendec
that the West is as important or in
: fuential as the East. She has no
yet the dense population; but why
should she not get at least shar'
of this great appropriation? Why
should she not get fourth of it, tt
be applied to the building of grea
storage reservoirs to be filled will
flood waters for use in irrigation, TN
der a system of internal improve
ments?