Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-03-01
DILL f0R IRRIGATION
Before Congress Creates Fund for
Retaining Arid Lands.
1T IS WORTHY OF NATIONAL ATTENTION
History and Objects of the Newlands Bill in
the House and the Hansbroush
Bill In the Senate,
washington Letter,)

Washington. Feb. 26.-Many East
ern people are asking what is this irri-
CATION problem now before con gress?
Is it legitimate one for the govern
ment to consider? Will it benefit the
country?
Its Western advocstes, regardless of
political affiliations, claim that 1t is
the most important national question
today. Eastern legislators, regardless
of party, als inclined to smile broadly
at this assertion.
Home Building
If the internal history of the Ameri.
can republic is studied carefully.
however, the conclusion will be
reached that national irrigation, prop
e1ly wrought out, is likely to shortly
come to the front as one of the most
important national questions of the
day. 1t embodies, in its truest sense.
the question of home building, and the
American people have been, up to the
present time, essentially nation of
home-builders.
Homes for Millions.
The new homes of the future must
be found on irrigated lands. There
are, according to accepted government
reports, some $4,000, 900 acres of rich
Western land capable of irrigation if
the Western waters are properly con-
served. Irrigation is not an expert.
ment in the United States. Under ir-
rigation, yields are very large and a
few acres OF this land would generous.
ly support family, SO that with the
arid lands irrigated rural homes would
be provided for millions of citizens.
waiting and anxious to 60 upon them.
Arid Land Fund.
The Newlands bill in the house and
the Hansbrough bill in the senate, pro.
vide for the setting aside of the pro-
ceeds from the sale of public lands in
the arid states and territories as an
"arid land reclamation fund.-" to be
used for building reservoirs, to catch
the flood waters of Western streams,
and that he cost of such construction
shall be put upon the land reclaimed
and the land then offered for sale by
the government in small tracts, to
bona fde settlers, upon easy terms.
Popular Legislation.
More people and a greater diversity
of interests than supported the home.
stead act will come to the support of
such policy. Such legislation woulu
be even more popular than the free
home enactments. What other propo-
sition is before the country upon which
labor and capital can better unite and
which they can support, hand in hand,
without clash or jealousy. Every labor
union in the United States which has
discussed the question has unanimous
ly supported it; every combination of
capital, of whatever sort. which has
considered it, has given it unqualified
endorsement.
Western Homes; Eastern Markets.
The opening of the vast area of West
ern lands by irrigation would provide
cheap homes, certain of returning the
owners a comfortable livelihood. 1t
would create valuable and growing
market for every kind and desert ption
of manufactured product and would
thus be favored by all classes of manu-.
featuring and commercial interests in
the country. 1t would insure cheaper
living in the West which would result
in the opening of numberless mining
whose grade of ore is not
sufi iciently high to warrant develop
ment under present wage conditions.
1t would create demand for transpor-
tation which would bring to its sup
port every railroad interest.
G. E. MITCHELL,