Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-07-04
IRRIGATION ADDS
A HUGE DOMAIN.
New Law Will Increase National
Territory Available BY to,tss,Vte
Acres.
lrru .ae paLl.aelpa!a lpaairer.l

tucu Z measure, a Inv providing Tor the
irrigation 81 arid lands has been placed
or the statute books Of the United
States.
lu tIst so.called arid region lie wholly
or in part thirteen States and three
territories, excluding Alaska, they con.
sist nearly one.half Of the superficial
area OF the Republic. 1t is estimated
that they oontau 100000 acres which
may lie irrigated il tue water supply is
properly conserved aud distributed.
On first Consideration it would seem,
tina: TIE irrigation bill possessed only
sectional advantages to tbs West. but
it really means much to the eastern mar.
kcts Of this country. Speaking on this
subject today Secretary Wilson. OF the
Department, Of Agriculture. says:
I'm developing these arid lands the
product OF the western country will
simply increase the great aggregate OF
wealth which the American farmer IA
bringing back to this county for our
agricultural exports. Irrigation creates
| h''iN 'A''' hiiN IL VIII dtNelpp "a
market for onr products in Asia which
will absorb the whole surplus Of farm
! products IN the Vest. no matter hoS
many reclaim and cultivate.
=! will Ilayra material i~hfluenc. ON
MANY Of 0U farmers who are now iiock
ing across the line into Canada in the
vicinity % AssinIboine, and they com.
pose IN element We should keep here.
Tor the! represent the best class OF set.
tiers the United States possese. Thess
arid lands tan he so enriched by irrica.
ton that !On can grow anything on
them tim; yon plant.
-:n" man who is largely responsible
for the passage OF uIis bill is Rapre.
sentative Francis q N"wlands, Of
NcVada, who has fought for it's pass.
K Tor many years, and too much can.
not bc said in praise u his. Efforts, Tor
irrigation solves the great
problem Of making hitherto desert lands
blossom like the rosc.
Secretary Of he Interior Hitchcock,
when interview on the subject this
morning, wGs very enthusiastic:
i am very proud that this bin has
become IL laS,' lac said. in the first
place it Is admirably constructed and
surrounded with safeguards from cor.
ruption aud land momrply; it opens 4
wide field TO settlers and u the m
the creation OF prosperous homes, and
know ot no function in the power Of
government higher than that. Mr.. Roose.
welt IN lhS -Decrh at Minneapolis struck
the keynote in this matter when he aaid:
Throughout our history the success Of
the hoIncmater has been but anothe r
uiune Tor tie upbuildiuR OF the Nation. :
-lhesr public llnds," continued the
Secretary, are the heritage Of the Na,
ron and should be held for homep, be
ing reserved tnr actual settlers under
the homestead act. The area TO be
taken by any n man SHOULD he
reduced so that when water has been
conserved by the government the
homestead shall in certain parts oi
the country he limited to eighty ol
even forty acres"
Secretary Hitchcock IN discussing The
long delay IN pRssnR an irrigation bill
said that it's final passage was gresti,
duo TO the perslstent efforts OF Repre-
sentative Newlands, OF Nevada, whom
he said, could not be too highly praised
for the campaign no had carried on il
its favor and the time he had epent il
influencing iis c0Dsideration by Con
grcss.
"Mr. Ncwlands,' said the secretary
"dcscrves great praise for his Grduous
efforts in iurthering one Of the most
m"eritorions executive acts that has eve
been placed on The statute broks Of tli,
country
ID men who will be gccatiy alIected
by the Irrigation liill are the owners @
cattle herds and the controllers Of the
great cni'l" rung"a, FOR the reason tina.
hy Tie prrvcrsi"n Of the land LAWS Tn,
sonrc"" # wnfrr supply have hrcl
gradually mnnopli2cd by thrm in M
effort H. nhiHiu u tile iu the wafer, nnt
10y this mrans la control the land, IRE
vent settlement mud rcrpetuatc Ia,
monopoly which they now hold.
When President Roosevelt euccocded
to the Presidency Mr.. Nawlands found
his s%trongast ally. Tor on6>of the Prcsi.
dents lirst actI was t0 place himself in
line with the best irrigation sentiment oil