The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-18

ably the very first step that was taken
toward an extensive system of irrigation
was through the recommendation of Mr..
Villas during the time he was Secretary
Of the Interior. 4 was thoroughly con-
Yinced. said he that some sort of an
irrigation system. WIS not only advisable,
but possible. ! therefore recommended
that Congress appropriate SlOO.OD to make
Investigations, and my recommendation
was carried out, though perhaps the re-
suits of the money spent were not great
enough to make much of a showing. l
am still in sympathy with the movement
which seems to be so strong among the
arid States. for system of irrigation,
and possibly it would be wise If the Gov
eminent would help a little by appro-
priatug money. There is no doubt that if
such schemes had been started a dozen
years ago they might have been carried
out without an ultimate loss 10 the coun-
try. SO much of the lali1 has been taken
up now that it is not at all certain that
the Government would recover the money
* 1t should build reservoirs and bitches.
The arid land States have claim upon
the appropriations Of Congress equal at
least to the claim OF those States which
are benefited by the River and Harbor
bin
Speaking of zinc mining" said Alfred
Butts. of Joplin, Mo, at the Oxford yes
terday. II know a little about it-but only
so much as a travelling man, living in a
in three weeks would have been likely to
pick up on the wing. In regard to the
international Zinc Company, which seems
to have caught 50 many people. | want to
say that those who went into it ought to
have suffered for investing their money
without looking into the scheme they
were taking their flyer in. People are
exceedingly foolish about mining ven
lures anyway, and they look upon them
rs 'get-rich-quick opportunities always
The International Zinc Company was
founded upon the most transparent pro-
motion principles. The company itself
owned one mine, / believe. and | think
that was the complete total OF its posses
sions. 1t did, however, have leases,
drawn to run certain term, on large
number of properties in the Joplin dis
trict. But it was not able to work them
properly, and the mine owned did not
turn out profitable. so the leases ran out,
and the whole house of cards fell with
crash. as anyone who had taken the trou-
BILE to look into it for a minute could have
easily seen would he the inevitable OUT
come. Zinc is a good investment, If yoI
are acquainted with it. II you are not,
my advice is don't.
The man who always refuses to believe
in signs. when these read Fresh paint,
and in whose opinion all painters are pre-
varicators until he himself has investi-
gated was abroad yesterday. He espied
the broad strealis of blood-red material
daubed between the street railway tracks
to show the busy motorman just where to
stop because of the near side" and fire
run" rule which went into effect early
in the morning. AS of yore. the doubter
succeeded in making a fool of himself,
and might be seen at any corner in large
numbers, scraDing his foot over the car
mine streak on the asphalt to make sure
it was dry.
THAT is the seventh fool in five min
utes," observed the philosophical police
man at the corner of Ninth and d Streets
yesterday afternoon. Il hope this fellow
will find out whether the paint Is dry or
not But the women are just as bad. A
half dozen Of them have asked me today
If anyone had been run over by the cars
and were historical over what they
thought was blood"