The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-04-04
IRRIGATION IN THE WEST.
Eastern People are Being Educated
on this Great Question.

u6 lOllOWiuk 10 lEOtu UuC tDdn EAdh-
cisco Call.
Representative Newlands of Nevada
has contributed to the New York Times
an instructive article on Irrigation in
the West" which will doubtless have
good effect in educating Eastern pub
lie opinion on the subject Mr. New
lands, from his long service in Wash
ington, il familiar with objections
made by Eastern Representatives to
the policy of irrigation, and he is there
fore able to direct his argument espec-
tally to the points on which the East
needs enlightenment. In that respect
his article is valuable contribution to
the discussion of the subject and may
prove even more effective than speech
in the House itself.
The first issue with which the writer
deals is that raised by the question.
"What right has the West to demand
Government aid in this matter?" He
answers simply that the Government
is the owner of almost all the arid lands,
having in its possession of arid and
semi-arid lands upward of 900, 900, 900
acres: that it is the duty of the Gov
eminent to fit this land for settlement
and cultivation by conserving the snow
and flood waters and constructing
such bitches and canals as are neces-
sary to bring water within reach of
settlers. In making such improve
ments the Government will not be
wasting money, nor giving it away,
for the lands when improved will be
more valuable than in their present
condition. Moreover, the work cannot
be effectively or economically done by
private parties. 1t is therefore strictly
a governmental task, one which is in
the truest sense national, since it will
benefit the East as we'll as the West.
Noting the Eastern objection to vot-
ing money out of the national treasury
for the enterprise, Mr.. Newlands says
the bill now pending before Congress
provides for establishing an arid land
reclamation fund out of the receipts
from sales of lands in the arid region,
and adds: 'Tn this way revolving
fund is created out of the sale of the
lands reclaimed, which is applied to
new work, and thus, In the end, the
West will reclaim itself. The Secre-
tary of the Interior can make no con
tract for irrigation works unless the
moneys therefore are in the fund
Thus the arid region will be reclaimed
without taxation ofthe general public"
One of the points upon which the
Eastern people most need enlighten-
ment is that relating to the effect the
opening up of the new area for home.
seekers will have upon Eastern farm
ers. Over and over again it has been
said hat the irrigation of arid lands
will serve no other purpose than that
of encouraging competition to the East
and injuring Eastern landed interests
Upon that issue Mr.. Newlands says:
at might as well be contended that
the people of the original thirteen
States suffered from Western develop
ment as that the eight millions of peo-
pie now occupying this country will
suffer from the development of the
arid region The arid region will
simply furnish market for Eastern
manufacturers and Eastern products
1t will not compete with the Eastern
or Middle Western farms, because in
the northern part of the arid region
cultivation will be confined almost en-
tirely to alfalfa, which is very useful
to the fattening of cattle, and in the
southern region cultivation will be
confined largely to the citrus fruits and
other products of semi-tropical char
acter. 1t has only to be borne in
mind that the entire area capable of
reclamation does not exceed 60, 100000
acres, and that this area will only