The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-18
Problem of Irrigation.

To the Editor of the Globe: The
subject of irrigation has created an
unusual amount of discussion DIR
ing the present session Of congress-
1T has been found that there has been an
organized effort to secure appI OPERATIONS
by the national Legislature for the con-
struction of western irrigation WORKS
ttemptS have been made in every nos
s.Dle way to secure such approximations
If defeated under one heading the es-
tort has been vigorously renewed under
some other measure.
The question before the nuhlic is what
is this irrigation problem? Is it a 1egiti-
mate one for the government to con-
slider? Is it one whose support will be
a benefit to the country? Along what
lines is it drawn? In short. is 1t a cues.
ton of really national import?
It's Western advocates, regardless of
political affiliations, claim that it is the
most important national question TODAY.
Eastern legislators. regardless Of party.
are incliEed to smile broadly at this as
sertion. If the internal history of the
American republic is studied carefully.
however, the conclusion will be reached
that national irrigation, properly wrought
ont, 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-buiId-
ing, and the American people have been
UP to the present time essentially a ma
tlrn OF home builders. IN no country in
the world is the desire for home-buiidtne
so strong. The wish to own and have
and live upon homes has led thousands
of Americans to endure trials and hard
ships and brave dangers almost bevond
conception, This controlling wish of the
American people has conquered a con-
tinent. The hardy rioneer with his
family and his earthly belongings slowed
in his wagon, looking for a home, has &C.
complished this. The locomotive has only
followed the prairie schooner.
Now what has this to do particularly
with irrigation? Simplyothat the oppor-
tunity for home building Under the old
order has disappeared. New, cheap
homes within the means of the hardy set
tier, are, under favorable conditions no
longer available. The opening here and
there of a strip of good land to settle
n1ent, such as Oklahoma, and the fol-
lowing rush Of immigration attests to
this and also to the fact that the coun-
try is still full OF home-seekers Where
then Will they now turn?
The new homes of the future must be
found on irrigated lands There are. &C
Cording to accepted government reports
some l4.0O0,600 acres of rich, western land
capable of irrigation if the Western
waters are properly conserved. Irriga-
ton is not an experiment in the United
States and there is no question raised
as to the feasibility of this reclamation.
but irrigation development in a private
way has reached its limits. But since.
under irrigation yields are ery large a
few acres of this land would generously
support family, so that with the lands
irrigated, rural homes would be provided
mil Ions 1sks
anxious to go upon them
The advocates of the national frriga-
ton policy urge that the. government
should, where possible, build storage res
eryoirS to catch the flood waters of the
western stream and thus provide for the
reclamation of these lands. The New
lands BILL now before the house COM
mittee, and it's counterpart the Hans
brought bill on the senate side, provide
for the setting aside of the proceeds from
the sale Of public lands in the arid states
and territories as an arid land reclaim
alton fund" to be used for building such
reservoirs and that the cost of such
construction shall be put upon the land
reclaimed by them and the land then Of
fered for sale by the government in
small tracts, to bona fide settlers, upon
easy terms.
Who would come to the support OF
such a policy?
More people and a greater diversity
Of interests than supported the home
stead act, and such legislation would be
even more popular than the free home
enactments What other proposition 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 unanimously supported
it. every combination of capital, OF
whatever sort. which has considered it,
has given it unqualified endorsement
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 a valuable and growing
market for every kind and description OF
manufactured product and would thus be
favored by all classes of manufacturing
and commercial interests in the country
It would insure cheaper living in the
West which would result in the Cpaailg ri
numberlesS mining properties whose
grade of ore is not sufficiently high to
warrant development under present con-
ditions 1t would create a demand fol-
transportation which would bring to its
support every railroad interest.
Can any proposition ever before the
American people claim the support of a
great diversity of interests than the irri-
cation and reclamation of the vast and
waste areas of arid land. under an hon
est policy which would insure their set
tlement in small tracts by genuine home
-CIIIv Mitchell