The Norfolk weekly news., 1900-09-06
10 WATER ARID LANDS.
wATeRLess WEST TO BE RECLAIMED
BY IRRIGATION.
Republican Platform Declares Itself
In Favor of National Legislation 60
That End-In Line with the rarty's
Homestead LAW.


Homestead LAW.
Senator Warren, before leaving
Washington for his home In Wyoming,
speaking of the work OF the national
Republican convention, said:
The platform adopted by the con
vcntion conveys TO the people OF my
state and of every western state and
territory the most hopeful tidings CIV
en- them for many years. srhcy are Ill
the declaration that, in further pur-
suance of the constant policy of the
Republican party TO provide free
homes ON the public domain, we rec
ommend adequate national legislation
TO reclaim the arid lands of the United
States, rescrving control of the dis.
tribution Of water for irrigation to the
respective states and territories
"Thc fact that the Republican party
puts no idle words in its platforms
and redecms every promise II makes
to the fullest degree is appreciated IN
the west, and with the positive dcclara-
tion that the party is committed to
country all doubts that this Will be
done, and done speedily, are removed.
Had had such declaration to back
me up at the close of the Fifty hfth
congress, when we attempted to Sc
cure an appropriation for the building
of storage reservoirs In the west, sue
cess would have been assured. with
4, tI.,n a
the platform of the Republican party
success Is In sight, and | confidently
believe that before the Fifty-tifth con.
gress closes it will provide means for
the inauguration of n system or rec
lamation OF our arid lands which viii
do ms much for the waterlcss west ms
the adoption Of the homestead law did
for the middle west country.
"The Republican party has already
taken the preliminary steps in the
work of reclaiming the arid lands OF
the west. and what It has done Is OF
such practical nature that a substan
tial foundation Is already establish
ed upon which the work Of reclama
ton can be continued and be made OF
lasting material benefit to the east
The first definite action taken TOWARD
reclamation OF arid lands by the gov
ernmcnt was secured by the RepuD
lican party in 1896 when, by the pro
visions Of the river and harbor act
under a section which | had the honor
to present, an appropriation of S5,Oo'
was made for the examination OF
sites and n report upon the practi
cability and desirability of con
structing reservoirs and hydraulic
works necessary for the storage
and utilization of water; to prcven
floods and overtlows, erosion of rive
banks and breaks OF levees, and tt
re enforce the flow of streams during
drought and low water seasons, n
least one site each in the states OF
Wyoming and Colorado
"rhe most practical step in the di
rect!on of arid land reclamation was
taken in the Fifty-ffth congress when
by provisions Of the agricultural ap
preparation bill, appropriations O.
$4,000 and $50 900 were provided L
make n series of Investigations by eX
perts in practical irrigation. Thes,
Investigations were placed in charge
Of Professor Elwood. Mead of Wyo
ming, recognized rs the leading author
ity on irrigation problems in America
The present congress has increased
the amount for this years investiga
tions under Professor Mead to $4,000
and the scope of his work has beeI
enlarged to cover many new irriga
ton experiments and problems.
"ln addition to these investigations
congress has encouraged and sustain
ed by liberal appropriation the worl
OF stream measurements and investi
tiOn Of water resources Of the countr,
conducted by the United States geo
logical survey, and the amount appro
priated by the congress Just close,
for this work was 100000, an IN
crease of $4,000 over that of last year
"The Republican party, as hav
said, never makes a promise II does no
fulfill, and confidently anticipate tha
at very early day the practical worl
Of irrigation investigation under Pro
AtSSol llc COIltttiOil VI VI
water resources by the geological sur
vey and the location and survey OF
storage reservoir sites in Wyoming ant
Colorado by Captain Chittenden vii
be followed by the erection by the
government on the headwaters OF oul
principal western rivers of reservoirs
which will serve to reclaim millions o,
acres Of land now arid and useless ant
transform them into productive farms
The Increase In value of land as soor
as 1t Is reclaimed and Is insured per
manent water supply is enormous
and with the waters OF our western
rivers now running TO waste fully util
lied the growth that will come to tho
west will be almost beyond compre
hension."