Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1901-03-07
IRRIGhTION IN CONGRESS.

J
were asked TO seriously discuss the
topic: What is the greatest question
in the United States awaiting solu-
men living east OF the Mississippi
would think Of national irrigation"
in this connection. TO most Of such
the subject 10 new and unstudied. 1t
will bear study; it will bear the most
searching scrutiny, and the more
studied the more 1T is seen to be a
question OF exceptional breadth and Of
truly great possibilities and far-reach-
ing Importance TO the nation.
The query that many Eastern people
are now making IL: What is this irri-
CATION problem before congress? IL 1t
a Legitimate one for the government To
consider? II IL one whose Huppo7t
will be a benefit to the country? Along
what lines is it drawn? In short, is it
question Of really national import?
It's Western advocates, regardless
Of political afi iliations, claim that it
il the most important national ques-
tion today. Eastern legislators, regard
less Of party, are inclined to smile
broadly at this assertion.
Ii the internal history OF the Ameri-
can republic is studied carefully, how
ever, the conclusion will be- reached
that national irrigation, properly
wrought, is likely to shortly come to
the front as one OF the most important
national questions OF the day. II en-
bodies, 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. In no country in the world If
the desire for homebuilding so strong.
The wish to own and have and live III
homes has led thousands Of Americans
to endure trials and hardsh ips, and
brave dangers almost beyond concep-
tion. This controlling wish OF the
American people has conquered con-
tinent The hardy pic neer, with his
family and HE earthly belongings
slowed in his wagon looking for a
home, has accomplished this. The
locomotive has only followed the
prairie schooner.
Now, what has this to do partIcu-
larly with irrigation? Simply that the
opportunity for home building under
,
cheap homes, within the means
OF the hardy settler, are. under favor
able conditions, no longer available.
The opening here and there OF strip
Of good land 10 settlement, such as
Oklahoma, and the following rush OF
immigration, attests to this and also
10 the fact that the country is still full
of homeseekers. Where, then, will
they now turn?
The new homes OF the future must be
found on irrigated lands. There are,
according to accepted government re-
ports, some 100000 acres OF rich
Western land capable OF irrigation if
the Western waters are properly con-
served. Irrigation is not an experiment
in the United States, and there is no
question raised as to the feasibility Of
this reclamation, but irrigation de-
yel0pment in private way has reached
its limits. But, since under irriga-
ton, yields are very large, few acres
of this land would generously support
a family, so that with the lands irri-
gated rural homes would be provided
for millions OF citizens, waiting and
anxious to 20 upon them.
The advocates of the national irri-
CATION policy urge that the government
should, where possible, build storage
resery oirs TO catch the flood waters Of
the Western streams and thus provide
tor the reclamation OF these lands. The
Newlands bill, now before the house
irrigation committee, and it's counter
part, the Hansbrough bill on the SEN
ate side, provide for the setting aside
pi the proceeds from the sale OF public
lands IN the arid states and territories
a. an ''arid land reclamation fund, -
to toe used for building such reservoirs,
and that the cost OF such construction
shall be put upon the land reclaimed
bv them, and the land then offered Tor
sale 10y the government in smal
tracts, TO bona fde settlers, upon easy
terms
WIN will come to the support OF such
: policy?
More people and greater diversity
u interests than supported the home
~ act. and such legislation would
>n more popular than the free
No tments. What other propo.
ON IL @~-~e the country upon which
,r and Ma can better unite
which n. ~n support, hand I'M
a without ~h or jealousy
nv labor union ~ >$ United states
ch has discussed >uestlon has
supported ;, .,A&yery com
alton of capital of whsNxr sort,
ch has considered it, hss v\Sen 1t
uaiited endorsement. M
he open iue of the vast ARA Ai
tern laH,!- by irrigation wo4tN
vide cheap homes certain Of re.
ling the ~ ners a comfortable live -NtN y
'ud Il woul} create valuable and t.
Sirg market for every kind and de- tn,
pt.an Of man nfactured uroduct and pr,
ia thus he favored 10y all classes Of ar,
and commercial in tn,
st~ in the country. II would insure no
lper living in the Ncs, which at,
Id result in the opening of number tai
mining properties whose grade OF gr'
is not sufficiently high to warrant civ
under present wage condi- no
IS il would create demand for ter
i~portatIon which would bring to its op
port every railroad interest pc;
m any proposition ever before the Tor
arican people claim the support uf be-
eater diversity uf interests than tcl
irrigation and reclamation oi the ila
and waste areas of arid land A.
rr aa honest policy, which wruld the
IRE their settlement IN small tracts I'm
genuine home builders? tn,
GIN ELLIOTT MITCHELL. mu
ser
IMELY TOFICS OF DISCUSSION.
hat are the American people think TN,
most about Whittier tends the pxt
Sc of opinion What social or l,ar
tica changes are imminent as A re- hal
oi the intellectual activity con- ALI
tly going on about us, for the der
part silent and unohtrusive. hrt pal
ightv power for good or ill in the pjs
II may hc safely said, we think. sha