Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-08-11

]
Senator Warren. before leaving
Washington Tor his home IN Wyoming,
speaking Of the work Of the national
1 Republican convention, said:
! The platform adopted by the con
vention conveys to the people Of my
! state and Of every western state and
| territory the most hopeful tidIngs Civ
en- them for many years. They are in
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, reserYlng control OF the dis
tribution of water for irrigation to the
respective states and territories
''The fact that the Republican party
puts no idle words in its platforms
and redeems every promise it makes
to the fullest degree is appreciated in
the west. and with the positive declara-
ton that the party is committed TO
reclamation Of the arid lands of the
country all doubts that this viii be
done. and done speedily, are removed.
"TIad / had sucha declaration to back
me M at the close of the Fifty-tifth
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
such a declaration now as q plank in
the platform of the Republican party
success is in sight, and | confidently
believe that before the Fifty-fifth con
grpss closes 1t will provide means for
the Inauguration of a system of rec
Iamation of our arid lands which will
do as much for the waterless west as
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
eminent was secured by the Repub-
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 $4,000
was made for the examination of
sites and report upon the practi-
cablIity and desirablity of con-
structing reservoirs and hydraulic
works necessary for the storage
and utilization of water; to prevent
floods and overflows. erosion of river
banks and breaks of levees, and to
REINFORCE the flow of streams during
drought and low water seasons, at
least one site each in the states of
Wyoming and Colorado
"The most practical step in the d.
rection of arid land reclamation was
taken in the Fifty-fifth congress when,
by provisions of the agricultural APP
preparation bill, appropriations of
$4,000 and S35,0o0 were provided to
make series of Investigations by ex-
perts in practical irrigation. These
Investigations were placed in charge
Of Professor Elwood Mead of Wyo-
ming, recognized as the leading author
ity on irrigation problems in America.
The present @congressa has increased
the amount for this gears investiga-
tons under Professor Mead to $4,000,
and the scope of his work las been
enlarged to cover many new irriga-
ton experiments and problems.
I'm addition to these investigations,
congress has encouraged ana sustain
ed by liberal appropriation the work
of stream measurements and investi-
ton of water resources of che country
conducted by the United States geo
priated by the congress just closed
for this work was 100000, an in
crease of $50,000fover that of last year.
The Republican party, as | have
said, never makes promise it does not
fulfn and Confidently anticipate that
at very early day the practical work
of irrigation Investigation under Pre-
fessor Mead. the collection OK data of
water resources by the geological sur
yey and the location and survey of
storage reservoir sites In Wyoming and
Colorado by Captain ChitJenden will
be followed by the erection by the
government on the headwaters of our
principal western rivers or reservoirs
which win serve To reclaim millions Of
acres OF land nov arid and useless and
transform them into productive farms.
The Increase In value of land as soon
as it 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 the
west viii be almost beyond compre-
hension.''
or tho