The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-12
OPENING A DESERT
IRRIGATION MOVEMENT IN WEST
WORTH MILLIONS TO THE
PEOPLE
A HOME BUILDERS MOVEMENT
Secretary Maxwell, of National As
sOciation, Visits ST. Paul
and Tells About His
Work.

George H. Maxwell, of Chicago, execu-
association, was lin the city yesterday.
In the course of an interview on irriga-
ton matters Mr.. Maxwell said:
Experiments have shown to us that
one acre irrigated will produce 10000
pounds of alfalfa; one acre in inclosed
pasture, 500 pounds; one acre of range,
an average of $50 pounds
AT this rate an average population of
over eighty people can be supported to
each square mile. All kinds of grains
and fruits can be grown in the irrigated
sections. 1t is our aim to fit this great
sen1i-arid region Of the United States
for these who are home builders. There
is a great desire on the part of the ma
Jority in this country to own homes of
their own. Think of the recent opening
in Oklahoma! over twelve times as many
registrations as there were locations
upon which to settle. We are at present
pushing for the development of Montana;
but that state is only a small part Of
the territory which we wish to open.
Preliminary Appropriation.
I'VE are working for an appropriation
of $250,G00, which will enable us to make
survey OF the country between the
great bend of the Missouri river and the
Red river valley. This will enable an irri-
settle the~feasability of running an irri-
cation canal through that section We
also want to put down test wells in the
Dakotas, which will outline the artesian
belt. Success in both these surveys will
open those Northwestern states to
great rural population This means an in
crease in development of the cities of
not only those states, but the surround
ing states.
Take Chicago as an example. 1t would
not develop greater wealth and popula.
ton as the immediate result of the
growth in Montana and the Dakotas; but
as the result of the growth of the cities
lying between, which would prosper
through the development Of this tributary
territory west. We are after an appro-
priation, too, with which to build the San
Carlos reservoir and canal, and a res,
ervoir in the Sierra Madre mountains in
California, with canals to bring water to
public lands in Nevada. For these, and
the ST. Mary's lakes division canal N
Montana, we ask an appropriation of
$@,O0J,0 10. This, the secretary of the in
terror has approved; and we have re-
ceived such encoura cement from mem
bers of congress as to make US confident
the amount will be granted.
you might say our motto is Homes for
the Millions We want this great West
developed for the small farmer and home
steader; and not for the benefit of the
SPECTATOR. The members of our asso-
cation are leading business men. A num-
Der of your best men in st. Paul are
with us. Our total membership is now
over 2,O00 and is rapidly Increasing
In answer to an inquiry as to the atti-
tude of the Eastern states toward better
irrigation of the West, Mr.. Maxwell said:
THE East favors the development Of the
public domain for the settlers, that viii
create population and markets for East
ern merchants and manufacturers. The
East opposes federal appropriations for
irrigation for the benefit of spectators"
mo, there is practically no opposition
in the East to our work With the ni,-
lions of increase in population in the
West, producing the grain which Mr. J.
J. Hill, of your city, is even now prepar-
ing to carry to the Orient, the country
will avoid that period of depression and
stagnation which has occurred every ten
or twelve years. This semi-arid region
can find in the Asiatic countries a market
for all products. The Eastern products
naturally go East