Junction City bulletin. [volume] (Junction City, Or.) 189?-1901, 1901-02-28
Before Congress Creates Fund for
Retaining Arid Lands.
IT IS WORTHY or NATIONAL ATTENTION
History and Objects ol the Nswlands Bill In
the House and the iisnsbroush
Blli IN The Senate.


cation problem now before congrvasf
10 II legitimate ons for tho govern.
ment TO consideri Will Il benefit tho
country
les Western adyocstcs, regardless OF
political affiliations. claim that 10 10
tho most important national question
today. Eastern legislators. regardless
Of party, are inclined 20 smile broadly
90 this assertion.
Home Building.
II the Internal history OF the Ameri.
can republic Ia studied carefully.
however, the conclusion will bo
reached that national irrigation, prop.
eily wrought out. 10 likely 70 shortly
come 20 the front as ono OF tho most
important national questions OF tho
day. II embodies. In its trusst sense,
the question OF home. building, aud tho
American people have been. np 20 tho
present timo. essentially nation OF
home. builders.
Homes Tor Millions.
The new homes OF the future must
be found ON irrigated lands. There
are, according 70 accepted government
reports, some "a. 900. 900 acres Of rich
Western land capable OF irrigation II
tho Western waters are properly con.
served. Irrigation Ia not an expert.
ment In the United States. Under ir-
rigation, yields are very large aud
few acres Of this land would generous
ly support a family. 90 that with tho
arid lands irrigated rural homes would
DO provided for millions Of citizens,
waiting and Enxious 10 90 upon them.
Arid Land Fund.
Tho Newlands bill In the honse aud
the Hansbrough bill In the senate. pro-
vide for the setting aside Of this pro.
ceeds from tho sale OF public lands In
the arid states and territories as an
''arid land reclamation fund, = 10 he
used for building reservoirs. TO catch
the flood waters OF Western streams.
and that the cost OF such construction
ahail be pns upon tho land reclaimed
and the land then offered itr saie by
the government In small tracts. TO
bona ilde settlers, upon easy terms.
Popular legislation
More people and greater diversity
OF interests than supported the home-
stead act will come 10 tho support of
such policy. Such legislation would
be even more popular than the FREQ
home enactments. What other propo-
sition Ia bsiors tho country upon which
labor and capital can better unite and
which they can support, hand In hand,
without clash OF jealousy. Every labor
union In tho United States which has
discussed the question has unanimous
ly supported IL: every combination OF
capital. of whatever sort. which has
considered IL. has given 1t unqualified
endorsement.
Western Homes, Eastern Markets.
The opening OF the vast area of Vest
ern lands by irrigation would provide
cheap homes, certain OF returning the
owners comfortable livelihood. It
would create valuable and growing
market for every kind and desert ption
OF manufactured product ana would
thus be favored by ell classes OF manu-
featuring and commercial interests In
the cosntry. II would insure cheaper
living In the West which would result
In the opening OF numbcrless mining
properties whose grade OF ore ia not
sufficiently high TO warrant develop.
ment under present wage conditions.
II would create demand for transport
tation which would bring TO Its sup
port every railroad interest.
q. Il. MITCHELL.
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