Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-06-13
SEW LA>DS on IHHIGATIOS

On the lith uIt' sir. Newlqnds deliver
al III the house of representatives, thr
most elaborate and comprehensive
speech upon the subi CT ~ irrigation
HAT has ever been presented III either
branch ~ congress. or any Dtlcr assem-.
llagc having that subject uudcr con.
sideratiuu. l. fills over ten uages @. Nm,
/ Congress ,Onal Record Hlt 40, oniy
touches upon every argument. pro and
c"n. hrr"'"forc nGdurc,I, but embraces a
multitude .! points never bcfOr present.
ed 10y ANY al .ucHtc of the national watcr
storage system. IT'S length precludes
our pr"scutnG even such nm outline OF
! the rPcdkcr'r remarks as will rive the
reader an idea uf their co:upreh hcnsiv,.
Gcopr or of the time and Labor expended
| 10y our representative in investigation Of
the sui l"ci of such imrortanc. to the
r'sider's ~ the arid and semi arid
s"cuOns.
~ the bill WAS expected I" come up
within few weeks, and ms thc limited
time allowed for its disscdssi III wouid
not permit extended debate. Mr.. New
| .nds took time 10y the fOrclnck. aud by
| pcrHIssiOn, al irrssed the house uppu
the subject a. rhc date above mention.
/ ed
lu the commencement, tho speaker
! corrected th" somewhat prevalent
, impression that irrigation WA a new
thing. ana explained that il WAS ~ old as
time, giving IL history Of its oriliu, pro-
gr"ss. ami Il II lt.~tIrai 1t ,trulcut II the
acreage II r"ub"fs productive Ut the
present time IN the different quarters Of
the globe. ~" gave 'hu brnu,nIri,a of
the arid Land raj N III thc United states
which contains aunut Gao u.unJ acres
Of vacant land ~ winch GO.OUU. coo maybe
Irrl gated Il the water supply Is cunsrrv.
al and distributed. MIR. New lands AK.
planned claiur Iiely, where and how
irrigation IL prartired; it, sue 80 IA H.
rmnll scope ...-.ltrug from private
enterprise, i!.i II. p"7sibilitira ui.!,
lnr largcr @c,'" ~ p. .IonHl uld .u.I :,
that mi ,r . pr,..l.I'..s:
Tor mtrruns cup. .ncr ar r..r... o..
the re- iruatiun uul. | ud ...; It
~ H. ''. '"u r. f. III. ., Il.
ir..n.TI., ''r' .hr,rt or H. @ .-
'"u. ! b" .'t.~d l., '... srv,-,..ri. "a
49, tie eos, '..tld go mt"n sp' D@ ton
~ the treasury,
The otj-c,InD. tlrn, Luni values ~ the
"ast wuuli he less ned ~ opening up
30 large an area To cultivation was met. -.
! by II stniistira! statement ~ the increas.
| inR purulnriou ~ the country, and
| siowing that the population nf thr
! county, and the g. ssrhrliiy Of this
| increase Of the acreage Of cultivuiHbIc
was not proper i"unt' Ia the lnctcas ii
! demand there woUlI he for sud tur
| agricultural purposes. There ace ulsu
/ Immense areas Of pubic Land tilted for
/ graz ng purposes. nos useless to the
/ stock rns"rq. from their remoteneSs
! from water, which would lind purchns-
! rrs when shat objection wus removed
| Immediate action, by lie government
wnb urged. Ws every year, increased
vested ri.hls. whi'h wDuiI clog more
and moro tho p,oGrrt- II 0a.iuual
enterprise.
Mr.. Nrwlnnds quoted freely from that
part Of Prcsi lent ioO'cvclt's message
which related to the irrigation question
showing That favorable legislative uC.
ton would hc approved by the executive
head of government. lie showed tirnt
tho system of storage OF eupeTiiuu !
water would lessen the torrentill und
dnuugrng flow in inrgc rivers at certain
scm on ~ tie year The constitutional
objection wns met 10y pointing ont uu.
mcrous things that had been done 10y
the government. not expressly authoriz.
al by tho constitution but hich came
within 'ho power Ia prOiuutc tho public
welfare, The constitutional question
the speaker argued a; considerable
length, Hnd ia our lay mnn'a opinion.
placed beyond pOssibIc qucs'iuu tho
irrigation mo ,srIrc witbin ilic iiuits ~
tho Fundamental law.
Referring to the alleged danger OF in.
| jurlUus competition with existing farms
III the cnst unl weh, tho speaker, said
IL might M we'll Uc cuu,cudcd ihnt tie
people ~ the thirteen origin Il States
suffered from western Development, M
TINT tho SO,O0O,OnO people now suffer
trom the development Of tho arid region
Since the beginning of tIic ninctccutl
century the government haa disposed OF
over l00O, ,0OOuUO acres uf public mnds
nnd thus dcvclo Sod the grcnt Stnios ol
tho south aud wcst. lhO area proposed
To he developed in nuly rgual Ia that OF
tho two States of Iowa md ILLINOIS
The problem Of deunnud and eupyly wnf