Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-05
IRRIGATION GAINS FAVOR.

Washington Correspondence
In the matter of irrigation it looks as
IL the government is at last about to
embark on a new and stupendous I'M
dertaking. AT nearly every session of
congress for the last seventy-five years
there have been bills for the building OF
dams and reservoirs, and efforts have
been made to secure their passage: but
up to the present time these bills have
all died. and the government has con-
sistently refused to appropriate the
public revenues for this purpose. The
objections have been manifold; some
times the cry Of paternalism would be
raised again 1T would be urged that
the schemes were impracticable, or
that they were fostered by spectators
and real estate sharks. Again 1T was
argued that this would be u diversion of
the public moneys to private use un-
authorized by the constitution.
But the chief reason the bills have
died a fairly easy death has been the
predominating influence in congress of
the sections of the country which were
not interested in irrigation. Naturally
fertile eastern and middle eastern
states had no desire to be taxed to build
works which would be of no local bene-
fit to them and might bring into compe-
tition with them new arabic lands.
Then 1t was not until comparatively re-
cent years that the fertile watered
lands of the public domain were all Ia
ken up under the homestead lows.
But during the past decade the popu-
lation of the arid and semi arid states
has been growing: the pressure for
more land tributary to the centers of
population and on the lines of transport
tation has been increasing. The rail-
roads have begun reaching out for more
territory to exploit, and the influence in
congress of the senators and represent
tatives' from the arid and semi arid
states has been on the increase. Seeing
the ease with which huge appropria-
tons are secured every year for I'm
proyements" of rivers which are such
only in name, and harbors which have
no right to the name, the people from
these states have demanded that they
come in for their share of the govern
ment's munificence. The people of Da-
kota object to being taxed for improve
ments of the Caloosahatchee creek in
Florida All they get from the publiv
shape of public building: in the
ays-notorously public steals-go on
growing greater every year.
So the subject of irrigation has been
pressing on the attention of congress,
each year with greater insistence, until
at this session 1t begins to look as If the
national legislature would no longer be
able to stand against it. There are
thirteen states and three territories In
terested in irrigation. and this time, in
stead of dividing and frittering away
their strength in attempts to secure
certain local appropriations in their re-
spective districts, they have united In
demand for legislation which will In
augurate the irrigation policy in all of
them and commit the government to
the project. They do not ask for any
immediate appropriation. All they want
is that the money from public lands
disposed of in these states, to the
amount of a couple of millions year,
be sequestered. set aside. for the build
Ing of irrigation works The manner of
disposing of the lands, controlling the
works and making the plan practicable
Hansbrough has fathered in the senate,
and on which the friends of irrigation
have all agreed. This bill will pass the
senate. This prediction can be made
with reasonable amount of assurance.
1t is regarded as certainty by those
who have been following the subject.
The only doubt as to It's fate is in the
house of representatives. 1t would seem
to have very good chance of passing
there. too: and even should 1t fall at
this session 1t viii very likely pass at the
short session next winter 1t Is said by
friends of irrigation that President
Roosevelt will send special message to
congress urging action in case there is
protracted delay. This is quite possible.
The president is quite familiar with the
subject and is heartily in favor of 1t. as
is evidenced by the recommendations in
his message.
Working Overtime.