New-York tribune., 1902-12-29
IRRIGATION OF ARID LANDS.
Need of Further Legislation to Guard
Against Fraudulent Operations
of Spectators.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The great work which the national govern
ment is just embarking upon, of the suo1uealion
of the American desert. IS being discussed py the
entire Western half Of the United States, ana was
brought into particular prominence p' the ie'
National Irrigation Congress. held at Coloraoo
Springs.
The West has so long striven for some assistance
from, the government that its people can hardy
realize that Congress actually did make an appro-
priation of about s5.0000GO for constructing
ton reservoirs and provided, further that Ine pi
ceeds from the sales of all Western pucnc lanus
as received year by year shall be used 1or suci
DEVELOPMENT Even Western Senators ana Ooii-
gressmen who, it might be thought. would nave
known the temper of Congress on this supJect'
have expressed the greatest aston1shment Iha' Suo
a bill should have really received the votes ol
majority of Congress. They had not reckoneo'
boxever ,,non the change of sentiment in the
East as the question became better unoerstoou'
and the support which Eastern men nave ~ peel
giving the irrigation movement the last ie" yea'
since the captains of the great manufacturing CeN
tres have considered the possibilities OF ara amer
lea and have actively forwarded the proposed pidh
TO reclaim the Western deserts, and thus create
new home markets for the sale of their gooos'
The Eastern agricultural opposition, too IL
seems has largely disappeared since IL was seen
that irrigated products will not come East 10
co,nneta with Eastern farm products, but will hnd
a market in the Orient, and that when the hastein
manufacturer sells additional goods IN tn9 S and
he wi have employ more IdclOiS
that Eastern agriculture will be stlnludleu ~ ~
feed them. TRADE is the life OF the lahu. dHu , e7
motto suggested by speakers at the recent
tion Congress. that trade follows tne lrisali'I
flag" is appropriate and aXiomatlc ,,.,h,a
Now the great question is to save tneSe liis -
lands from SPECTATORS. While the people OF tLe e
country are conlpacenty sitting BACK Waiuus Lo5
the national irrigation act TO go into operdsloL
pcpuate the deserts, the land grabbers ana specu
iators are absorbing by fair means or to9i ,d ana
as rapidly possible, every acre, Oh eoou io4i0
which there is any possibility of trrigating.
The national irrigation act Is as Wen sudIueu
against speculation it was possible 10 frame d
law under the existing conditions; put the men
who have had the interests of the west an9 t tile
nation at heart pointed out, at the uHie VI tiie
passage of the act that to safeguard tne pupItc
domain and insure its reservation for actual SCI
tiers the Desert Land law and the conlInutdIIloIH
clause Of the Homestead law must be repeaIeu.
The activities of the land sharks since the passage
of the irrigation laws show the necessity IoF tAel
repeal forthwith Under these laws nllnonS ol
acres of the nations best remaining lanaS naEe
been during the last year. absorbed by Dig stoch
concerns, and frauduently acquired at tnat-
A strong effort will be made at the present ses-
sion Congress secure the repeal or these laws
Several bills looking to such an end nave been IN
troduced and they will be urged. Needless 10 say
too they will be urgently opposed by those inter
ests which wish interference with their scnernes
for gaining control of much land and water In
the West as possible. GUY z. MITCHELL.
Corresponding Secretary Of the National irrigation
Association.
Washington Dec 2s 1902.