The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-19

"IIERE Is no question before
the American people the
IL successful solution of which
| promises greater rewards
| and is laden with such momentous
bearings upon the present and the fu-
! ture of our country as the reclamation
of our arid lands by irrigation.
Through the building of national reser-
voirs and the storage of the waters in
the flooded season. a large part of the
now unproductive lands can be brought
| under the highest form of cultivation.
| thereby adding an immense area to the
productive lands of our country, eX
tending from the semi-tropical climate
of southern Arizona to the boundary
line Of British Columbia, and from the
Missouri river to the Pacific ocean.
This area possesses every variety of
climate and the richest of soil which,
when watered. is capable of producing
every fruit, cereal and plant grown or
needed by man. This vast arid terri
tory is equal in area to one-third of
that Of our entire country. and if only
irrigation, what Il magnificent new
country and what new markets it will
open up and provide for our people!
One of the great advantages of the
irrigation system in addition to the
certainty of raising crops which it
gives, is the great variety of fruits.
vegetables. and other products which
can be grown upon a small farm, COM
prising every necessary of life. The
visitors to the irrigated valleys of the
West during the summer months will
find alfalfa growing so luXuriantly that
it taxes the farmers to keep it cut and
stacked. On every farm they will see
fields of the finest of small grain and
vegetables: fat. glossy cattle browsing
in rich pastures of clover and timothy;
orchards bearing the most luscious of
peaches. pears. apples. plums. and
apricOts, besides the smaller fruits
well-designed modern houses, their
front yards beautiful with evergreens.
the air perfumed with the fragrance
of roses and other flowers; and swceter.
and better than all. they will hear the
merry laughter and see the sunny,
bright-cyed faces OF happy children re-
Yelling in the pure air and wholesome
surroundings of their country home
Less than twenty years ago these val
leys We're q desert waste. The diversion
by inexpensive bitches of the running
waters has converted them into ideally
perfect farm houses.
The great beneficial changes brought
about by private capital can be dupli-
Gated on a prOpOrtionate scale by the
construction of storage reservoirs and
the storage of the flooded torrents that
now not only run to waste but carry
destruction to the lower countries
every spring Private effort has made
homes for thousands. This new field
would make homes for millions. and
would cover region vaster and larger
than shelters Il dozen European ma
tiOns. Congress should take up the
work of building these reservoirs be-
cause it is wise and just from every
ing by leaps md bounds; the desirable
public lands are nearly all gone. See
what Il rush there Wns TO secure farms
at the Oklahoma reservation opening Il
short Time ago. If all the water in this
arid region which, in flooded season,
goes to waste, can be stored ana util-
ized, Il productive territory capable Of
supporting o0,000,0O0 people will be
added to the United States.
From II business point of view, the |
settling of what is now Il worthless de-
Sert will add enormously to the wealth !
of the country; it will open up new !
for every manufactured arti- |
Gle; il will benefit every workshop |
loom, ana foundry between Maine and |
Allbama and ii will furnish homes for |
the over-crowded population of our
cities. Every portion of the
United states will feel the stimulus |
Of the increased wealth created and of |
the new markets formed right i'm the |
midst of oar country with our own pco-
Pile For this reason every portion of |
our land Is equally interested in hav- |
ing the work started and pushed to Il |
successful conclusion.