Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1901-07-27
BtNffITS or NATIONAL IRRIGATION TO THt
HEALTH OF THE NATION.

hvered on July 18th before the
Trans-Mississippi Commercial Con
gress, at Cripple Greek, Colorado, by
Robert w. Tansill, OF New Mexico:
The medical fraternity of the
world, cities. and nations are to a
greater degree than ever, now wag-
ing an unequal warfare against the
most insidious, relentless, and dead
ly foe known to man, foe that
attacks onc-sixth and destroys one
seventh of the human race, foe so
deadly, that the death rate from the
wars OF the world, yellow fever,
smallpox, the plague, and other
scourges, are insignificant in COM
parison; refer to consumption.
If you should read in the morning
papers that during the year 1898 an
epidemic had carried off 1913 of
the population Of the United States
you would be appalled,, yet that is
an underestimate. OF that number
the State OF New York contributed
I4,S54; Pennsylvania, 1853; Ohio,
6,3o3; Massachusetts,, 5,98I; Illinois,
5.69S; and other Eastern and Central
States in proportion. These are
certainly startling facts, made all
the more glaring when compared
with the insignificant death rate
from this scourgc in Arid America,
as shown by the death rate from
consumption in the following States
and Territories: Arizona, 6S Idaho,
50; Montana, So Nevada, IS; Okla
homa, 81; Utah, 62; Wyoming, I8;
while New Mexico with population
of over 10000 contributed only e7,
less than 90 per 1000 population, as
compared with 500 per 1000 for the
District of Columbia; 2.67 for Massa-
chusctts, and 2.47 for New York.
Significant as are these comparisons
they fall far short of showing the
actual conditions, for | am sure that
investigation will prove that a very
large percentage of those who died
lpAfA SOilobll N'biSli III AIN al ~ lC-
gions, contracted the disease in the
humid of Eastern States and post
poned making change until too
late.
These figures and comparisons de-
monstrate that in Arid-America the
nation possesses, in its very heart,
the grandest natural sanitarium in
the world for those afflicted with
lung or kindred troubles. That be-
ing true, | ask from either an eco
nomic, business, or humanitarian
standpoint, in what manner can the
National Government render more
valuable and profitable service to its
citizens than by making reasonable,
if not liberal, appropriations for i'm
provements that will confer such
inestimable benefits to the entire
people, as would the construction of
national reservoirs for storing the
waters that now run to wastep
This would make it possible for
those afflicted with lung trouble, as
well as others, to come to Arid
America and pursue pleasant and
profitable outdoor occupations, so
essential to regaining health.
Experience has proven that the de-
velopment OF the arid regions
through irrigation by private capital
has about reached its limit, for the
simple reason that when private
capital engages in irrigation, al
though it transforms land that is
practically worthless into land that
will yield returns upon values often
running into hundreds of dollars per
acre, the benefit does not accrue to
those who have created it, but to the
owner Of the land and to the State
and nation. through increased tax
able values. For this reason it will
be at once seen that irrigation in
America, as in other countries must
in the future be largely cond ucted
by the National Government, at least |
to the extent OF construction and |
maintenance OF storage reservoirs.
The State OF Colorado, with its
light, bracing air, has for years been
recognized as the Mecca for invalids.
To them, believe, more than to any |
other one agency, it is indebted tor
the rapid development of its wonder
full resources, This is unquestion-
ably true of the beautiful and pro
grcssive young giant on the other |
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