The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-24

ippi Commercial congress,
AD which was in session re-
Gently at Cripple Creek,
Col, Robert Weems Tansill, Of Carls-
bad. n. NJ, presented the subiec: of
irrigaton--so vital theme to the in
habitants of the arid west--in light
somewhat novel. lie said
"If you should read in the morning
papers that during the year 1898 an
epidemic had carried off 2029jS of the
population of tho United states you
would he appalled,, yet that is an un-
dercstmatc of the annual sacrifice de-
manded by that most insidious, relent-
less and deadly foe known to man.
consumption. OF that number. the
state of New York contributed li,Sji;
Pennsylvania, 7,6S9 Ohio. 6.S93; Mas
sachusetts, 5,9sl Illinois. 569s; and
other Eastern and Central states in
proportion. These are certainly
startling facts made all the more glar-
ing when compared with the insignifi-
cant death rate from this scourge in
Arid America. as shown by the death
lowing states and territories: Arizona,
IS: Idaho So; Montana. 90; Nevada. 3j;
oklahoma. 81: Utah. 81; Wyoming, Is,
while New Mexico, with a population
of over $50 1000, contributed only %,
less than .63 per 1000 population, as
District of Columbia; 2.67 for Massa-
chusetts. aud 2.47 for New York. Sig
niticant as are these comparisons they
fall far short of showing the actual
conditions for | am sure that inves-
tigation will prove that a very large
percentage of those who died from
consumption in the arid regions. con-
tracted the disease in the humid or
Eastern, states and postponed maxi
ing "A change until too late.
These figures and comparisons
demonstrate that in Arid America the
nation possesses. In its very heart,
the graudest natural sanitarium in
the world for those afflicted with lung
or kindred troubles. That being true,
| ask from either an economic, bus-
ness or humanitarian standpoint. in
what manner can the national gov
ernment render more valuable and
profitable service to its citizens than
by making reasonable, if not liberal,
appropriations for improvements that
will confer such incstimahlc benefits to
the entire people.as would the con-
struCtion of national reservoirs for
storing the waters that would run
to waste? This would make IL possible
we'll as others, to come to Arid Amer
lea and pursue pleasant and profitable
outdoor occupations, so essential to re-
gaining health"
Fedora aid is demanded because
private enterprise has well-niGh ex-
hausteG itself. and also because inter
nal Improvement is legitimately a gov
ernment function. AS showing the aC-
ricultural possibilities in irrigation.
Mr., Tansill Citcd the development that
it had accomplished in the Pecos val
ley of New Mexico. Twelve years
ago" he said, "all of that region save
a small area was a part of the Great
.hlll'i ltdll lJtStll' ne dlltllllDll OF III
valids was. in 1883. directed to the
great possibilities of that valley under
irrigation. lnvalids raised and ex-
pended there $500, 900 upon one of the
grandest and most complete irrigation
systems in America. Since that time
prosperous and populOus cities have
beer built and more than ten millions
of dollars have been invested in trans
forming the desert into one of the most
hoalthful, productive and beautiful
spots in the arid regions, thereby af-
fording the invalid an opportunity to
acquire a home where life can he pro-
longed and enjoyed, made possible by
irrigation"
The sanitary argument for irrigation
is broader than the immediate relief
held out to victims of tuberculosis.
For that relief it is not necessary to
go West. outdoor exercise Is Just as
beneficial here AS there. But irrigation
means re-forestration and rc-forestra-
tion means aids to health for all classes
of mankind. Hence irrigation will pay
doubly--Grst as an Investment, pro-
ducing immediate profits; and secondly
as a benefaction, helpful to humanity
unto the rcmotest time.