The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-14
TO RECLAIM ARID LANDS.
PLANK IN THE REPUBLICAN PLAT
FORM TO BENEFIT THE WEST.
There Is n Pledge of Adequate LeEis-
Iation in RecIaiming Arid Lands
by Means of Irrigation and
the building of Reservoirs.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator War
ren. before leaving for his home in wy
oming speaking OF the work of the ma
tional Republican convention said:
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton conveys to the people OF my state.
and Of every Western state and territory,
the most hopeful tidings given them for
many years. This is contained in the
declaration that In further pursuance
of the constant policy Of the Republican
party to provide free homes on the pub
lie domain, we recommend adequate ma
tional legislation to reclaim the arid
lands to the United States. reserving con-
troll OF the distribution Of water for irri-
cation to the respective states and ter
ritories.'
THE fact that the Republican party puts
no idle words in its platforms, and
deems every promise it makes to the full
est degree, is appreciated in the West, and
with the positive declaration that the
party is committed to reclamation Of the
arid lands Of the country, all doubts that
this will be done and done speedily, are
removed
Had l such a declaration to back me
up at the close OF the Fifty-fifth con-
gress, when ] attempted to secure an ap-
preparation for the building OF storage res
ervoirs in the West. success would have
been assured With such a declaration
now a plank in the platform of the Re-
publican party. success is in sight, anc
i confidently believe that before the Fiji
ty-sixth congress closes il will provide
means for the Inauguration of a system
of reclamation of our arid lands which
will do as much for the arid West as the
adoption of the homestead law did for the
great Middle West country.
The Republican party has already
taken the preliminary steps in the work
of retaining the arid lands OF the West.
and what II has done Is of such a prac-
teal and useful nature that a substantial
foundation is already established upon
which the work of reclamation can be con-
tinued and be made of lasting material
benefit to the West. The first definite ac-
ton taken towards reclamation of arid
lands by the government was secured by
the Republican party in 1896 when. by
the provisions OF the river and harbor act,
under a section which | had the honor
to present. an appropriation of 5000 was
made for the examination OF sites and
report upon the practicability and desir-
ability of constructing reservoirs and
other hydraulic works necessary for the
storage and utilization Of water, to pre-
vent floods and overilows 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
'''rhe examination thus provided for was
made by Capt y. H. Chittenden, corps OF
engineers and the report made by him
showed most convincingly the practical
blity. utility and economy OF land rec
to be built at government expense. The
report of Capt Chttenden is regarded
the most valuable contribution of infor-
nation ohtainahle upon this subject, and
IS In so great demand that the Fifty-sixth
congress has directed that 5000 additional
copies be printed.
THE next practical step in the direc
tion of arid lands reclamation was taken
in the Fifty-fifth congress, when. bv pro-
visions of the agricultural appropriation
bill. appropriations If $1,000 and s25 OpO
W. Lad n 20 If
legations by experts in practical irrigation.
These Investigations We're placed In charge
OF Prot Elwood Meade. of Wyoming, rec
ognized as the leading authority on trri-
cation problems In America. The present
congress has increased the amount for this
years investigations under Prof. Meade
to S0.0o0 and the scope of his work has
been enlarged to cover many new irriga-
tion experiments and problems.
I'm addition TO these investigations. con-
gress has encouraged and sustained by ltb-
eral appropriations the work Of stream
measurements and Investigation OF water
resources of the country, conducted by the
United states geological survey.
THE Republican party. q. have said,
never makes a promise It does not fulfill
and | confidently anticipate that at very
tai,y say ''- '' Wy ~ Mead ihe col
lection Of data OF water resources by IT,,
SEQ. .,i,,-, -o,,ts, anu the location and
survey of storage reservoir sites in wy
oming and Colorado by capt. Chittenden
will he followed hy The erection hy the
government on the headwaters Of our
principal Western rivers Of storage res
ervoirS. which viii serve to reclaim mill
lions Of acres Of land now arid and use
loss. and transform them into productive
farms and homes. The Increase In value
~ land as soon as It is reclaimed and Is
insured "a permanent water supply Is enor-
nous. and with the waters 90. our Western
rivers now running TO waste. fully util-
ICED the growth that viii come TO the
West viii be almost beyond comprehen-
sion
The Chinese rcsidents e the recently Guaranteed
DISTRICT az san Frtneisgo preparing 90 demand
compensation for lesr7 alleged 90 have been sus.