Cañon City record., 1900-08-09
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The platform adopted BY the coo-
vsntion conveys to the people Of ny
state. and Of every Western stats and
territory, the most hopeful tidings
given them for many years. This v
contained in thu declaration that. IN
further pursuance Of the constant pol
icy Of the Republican party to pro-
vide free homes on the public domain.
We recommend adequate national leg
iaation to reclaim the arid lands of
the United States. reserving control OF
the distribution Of water for irriga-
ticn to the respective statss and ter
ritories'
.The fact that the Republican party
puts no idle words in its platforms aad
redeems every promiss II makes to
the fullest degree IL appreciated In the
West. and with the positive dsclsra-
tion that the party IL committed to
reclamation OF the arid lands Of the
country. all doubts that this will b
done. and done speedily. are removed.
~Had l had such declaration to
back me up at the csose Of the Ssh
Congress. when attempted to secure
an appropriation for the building Of
storage reservoirs In the West. sue
cess you'd have been assured. With
such q declaration now = plank In the
platfrom Of the Republican party. sue
cess is In sight. and confidently be-
lieve that before the 56th Congress
closes. 1t will provide means for the
Inauguration OF system OF reclams-
tion Of our arid lands which will do
NJ much for the arid West a the
adoption OF the Homestead Law did
for the great Middle West country.
The Republican party has already
taken the prelimipsry steps In the
work of reclatming ne arid lands OF
the West. and what Il has done 10 OF
such practical and useful nature tnat
q substantial foundation IL already 80
tablished upon which the work Of rec
made Of lasting material benent to
the West. The frst dennite action
taken towards reclamation Of arid
lands by the government was secured
by the Republican party. in 1895. when
by the provisions of the River ana
Harbor Act. under a section which
had the honor to present. an appro-
priation Of 5000 was made for cx-
animation OF sites and report upon the
practicabiIity and dcsirability Of con-
structinE reservoirs and other hy-
draulic works necessary for the stor-
age and utilization OF water. to pre-
vent floods and overnows. erosion Of
river banks, and breaks OF lsvees. aue
to reinforce the now Of streams during
drought and low water seasons. 1t
least one site each In the states Of
Wyoming and Colorado
''The examination thus provided for
was made BY Capt. H. N. Chittendsa.
Corps of Engineers. and this report
ingly the practicabiIity. utility. and
economy OF land reclamation by means
OF storage reservoirs to bs built at
government expense. The report Of
Capt. Chittenden is regarded as the
most valuable contribution OF infor-
nation obtainable upon this subject,
and 10 In 10 great demand that tAR
seth Congress has directed that 5000
additional copies be printed.
THE next practical step Ia the d.
rection OF arid land reclamation was
taken In the 55th Congress when By
provisions Of the Agricultural Appro-
printion Bill. appropriations Of $4,000
and $4,000 were provided to mako .
series Of Investigations BY experts II
practical irrigation. These investisa-
tions were placed In charge OF Prof.
Eiwood Mead Of Wyoming. recognised
as the leading authority on irrigation
problems in America. The present
Congress has Increased the amount
for this years Investigations under
Prof. Mead to s50.000. and the scope
Of his work has been enlarged TO
cover many new irrigation expsri-
ments and problems-
In addition to these Investigations,
Congress has encouraged and sus-
tained by liberal appropriation the
work of stream measurements and In
vestigation of water resources OF the
country. conducted by the United
States Geological Survey.
THE Republican party. as have
said. never makes promise 1t does
not fulfill. and confidently anticipate
that at a very early day. the practical
work OF irrigation Investigations un-
der Prof. Mead. the collection OF data
OF water resources by the Geological
Survey. and the location and survey
Of storage reservoir sites In Wyoming
and Colorado by Capt. Chittenden,
will be followed by the erection by
the government. on the headwaters Of
our principal Western rivers. OF stor-
age reservoirs which will serve to re-
claim millions of acres Of land now
arid and useless. and transform them
into productive farms and homes. The
Increase In value of land as soon ~
Il Is reclaimed and is insured q perma-
nent water supply is enormous; and
with the waters OF our Western riv-
crs, now running 10 waste. fully util-
issd. the growth that will come to the
West will be almost beyond comprs-
hension."