Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1901-08-09

results OF this act, and the rush for
homes on the Kiowa. (,omanche, and
Apache reservations has been so
great as to compel the Government
to resort to u lottery drawing to APP
portion the available lands among the
thousands who are seeking homes
there; and
Whereas, Two-thirds OF the whole
Western half of the United States, a
vast area Of over 62O,O 900 acree. is
still public land. and belongs to the
whole people Of the country, and
lW,OOO.OO acres OF it can be reclaim.
ell b. irrigation, and the water which
would irrigste it runs annually to
waste; and
Whereas, II the National Govern
ment wonld build the great reser.
voirs and main line canals necessary
to bring the water within reach Of
settlers on the public lands. 50 that
:he settlers could build their own
distributing systems, as the early set.
tiers in Utah, California. Montana.
Arizona. aud other sections OF the
West have done, these public lands
which are now arid and uninhabit-
able would be reclaimed and settled
up by actual settlers and home
builders just as fast as the great
reservoirs and main limo canals could
be built; aud
Whereas, The settlement Of these
arid lands would create new popula.
ton in the West, and new home mar.
kets for our American manufacturers
and merchants with marvellous rapid
ity, and %ould stimulate prosperity
i'll every section of the country, and
among all classes OF the American
people; and
Whereas. The development Of
agriculture TN the irrigable lnnds OF
the West wouid greatly stimulate
mining and the construction OF new
transportation facilities, and increase
the hcme demands for the products
OF the Western farmers in the mining
regions OF the West; and
Whereas, The countless millions
Of Asia would absorb all OF the sur.
plus OF the ordinary farm products of
the irrigated lands OF the West. so
that any competition between the
farmers Of the West and the farmers
OF the East would be absolutely i'm
possible; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we urge upon the
American people and the Congress
OF the United States the overshadow.
ing Importance and necessity OF the
adoption Of the national irrigation
policy. as advocated by the National
Irrigation Association Tor the Rccla.
nation and Settlement of the Arid
Region OF the United States by (a)
the preservation OF the forests as
sources OF water supply, and (b) the
buii'ing OF reservoirs by the national
govern nent for storing the food
waters Of the West, as recommended
in the Chittenden report, and also (cJ
the construction OF great reservoirs
and main line canals by the National
Cover nmeut, wherever necessary 10
furnish water for the reclamation and
settlement Of the arid public lands,
no rs I" bring the water within reach
OF settlers. and the holding OF such
lands for actual settlers only. under
the homestead act. who will go upon
the land and build their homes there,
thus opening up opportunities for
millions now homeless, and giving to
everyone who wants it a chance to
get a home on the land. thereby
creating a dense population in the
arid region, which will enormously
increase the home markets to1 the
products OF all Eastern factoriee,
and contribute to the general pros.
perity OF the entire country.