Arizona republican., 1901-01-04
NEWELL ON RESOURCES

THE resources of the west have Of
ten been dilated upon. but the fact ha,
not been clearly recognized that tn
full utilization OF these Is dependen
upon wise treatment by congress. Tht
questions still unsettled concerning
the public lands are so far-reaching a.
to rise to national Importance.
ut Is impossible to conceive ,withor
some form cf graphic presentation, the
great areas OF unoccupied land, mucf
OF II capable under buslnesslike treat
merr, CT supporting a great population
Such a treatment can only come wher
the mcn of affairs Of the country ap.
preciate not only these possibilities. but
realize that they have duties as par,
owners of the great national domain
The greatest enemy to progress in this
direction lies not in opposition, but in
ignorance or Indifference.
zone Third of the whole country. ex.
elusive Of Alaska and outlying posses.
sions. Is vacant and at the disposal yi
congress. For the most part It Is oper
to homestead entry and settlern mt and
much Of 1t consists OF land of grrat fer
tility except for the lack OF water. Al
intervals are to be found mountain
masses from which come perennial
streams whose waters are now used
to small extent TO molsten the parch-
ed lands. On thr plains occasionally
there occurs local storms, or floods in
undating large tracts.
( ''There Is ample water for the recla-
nation Of a considerable portion of this
arid land, IL It could all be saved and
put NO use. Attempts have been made
by individuals and by corporations to
construct ditcies. canals and ruser-
voirs to supply the lack Of moisture.
As a rule the smaller works taking
water from the perennial streams have
not only been successful, but sources
OF greai. profit to the owners: the larg-
err works, however, almost equally
without exception. have proven finan-
cial failures, and their owners have be-
come bankrupt. The great works of
reclamation built In the hope of secur-
ing certain and permanent revenue
drawn from the farmer. have fmpov-
ershed the investors. and the latter,
unwillingly. have become bene factors
Of the public.
"The lesson Is being slowly but GER
tainly taught that reclamation on a
large scale cannot be made source OF
speculation except under an extraor-
binary combination of circumstances.
The great storage reservoirs and canals
are comparable, In onn sense to light
houses and Sharbor improvements: they
are necessary and worth far more than
they cost but under the existing sta 70
of civilization they cannot be made to
contribute exclusively TO the welfare
OF the builders. The indirect gain, or
unearned increment of value is so
widely diffused that the general public
reaps the largest reward.
We are thus confronted with a sit
uation where there Is practically an I'M
limited amount OF fertile land to be r.-
claimed and considerable bodies of wa
ter to be conserved and brought to tn 8
hand. BY such action millions OF homes
can be created and thu commonwealth
enormously strengthened. by the adji-
ton Of producing population. where
each head Of family owns and lives
upon his farm. To bring about this
happy result 1t is impossible tn trust to
speculative enterprises. becausr OF tie
fac. that profits cannot be male In the
construction OF work unless the pop
uiatlon becomes tenants OF a great
land owning monopoly.
ut is necessary that public funds be
wisely used In the construction OF