Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-13


land and furnishing of water supply.
The land under the bill would be op-
ened to homestead settlers and the
secretary would have the right, where
the land is fruit land, to reduce the
size of the homestead under the ordi-
nary 100 acre limit.
Should this district be in Arizona
probably ten acres of fruit land would
make an ample homestead. Should
1t be in Montana, where the settler
would have to depend upon grain, $50
acres would not be too large The
secretary is also authorized by the bill
to lease the water power created by
the irrigating plant.
Ii national irrigation shiuld prove
success, as it's friends claim, that
fact would be established by this pro-
posed experiment. If we are to make
mistakes in handling the question in
a national way it is better to make
them in an experimental, single pro-
Ject that to make a multitude of such
mistakes. If the system should be
found to be success congress could
treat it as it did in the rural free de-
livery bill, by afterwards increasing
the number of these national projects.
The opponents of irrigation then
would also have an opportunity to see
whether their objections were we'll
founded
OF course, irrigation is no expert
ment, but an attempt to irrigate on a
great national scale in the United
states is new thing and good pr,l-
Idence would dictate national expert
ment first before involving the coun-
try to any comprehensive system of
national works.
Congressman Lacey is of the opin-
ion that a plan of this kind would
probably go through the house He
does not believe any definite general
system of irrigation could be adopted
IN the present congress. His bill is
being very generally discussed and is
popular because easily understood and
presents the common sense view The
wide discretion to be given the secre-
tary in carrying out the provisions of
the Dill Is the best safeguard against
any error that can promptly be cor
rected when the error is discovered.
! Cases Where 1t Might Be Tried.
There are number of localities
where this experiment might be tried
Some cases where the water is in an
other state could be tried. OF course
a proposition of an interstate charac-
ter could not be successfully executed
by the states for want of the neces-
sary power. 1t is understood that a
selected committee from the arid
states will press the Hansbrough-New-
lands bill. Should that bill come ov-
er to the house from the senate it is
altogether likely that Congressman
Lacey's bill would be substituted
therefor or some other bill framed
along the same line.
i There are many strong men in the
mouse who are opposed to any kind of
irrigation legislation, but some of
these men would be willing to try an
experiment. Both political parties in
their platforms declared in favor of ir-
rigation. President Roosevelt in his
message has made similar declara-
ton. Mr.. Lacey's bill would redeem
the pledges of both parties and meet
the recommendation of the President
without involving engagements that
might be found embarrassing after it
would be too late to readily recede.
All legislation is an evolution from
some preceding legislative condition.
The aim in any new proposition should
be to endeavor to avoid errors at the
start. Congressman Lacey's bill will
prevent any costly mistakes that
would surely occur were any general
irrigation legislation enacted into law.
1t will be many years, however, be-
fore any considerable area in the now
arid regions will be sufficiently water
ed to induce anything like large ex,
odus from any section.
A Gear Anecdote.
A good story was told at hotel a
day or so ago, in which the late Sena-
tor John H. Gear played an important
part. The incident is said to have &C.
Cured while Senator Gear was COVER
nor of Iowa. A heavy blizzard struck
the northeastern part of Iowa and for
half day not wheel moved A train
on the Northwestern railroad was
stalled between two stations in a big
snow drift and by the end of the first
day the passengers began to get wild
for food Finally brakeman volun.
teered to burow his way out and get
to the nearest station, five miles dis
tant, if possible. After great effort he
reached the station, and appealed to
the agent for help. The agent. how
ever, could do nothing He was final>
ly induced to telegraph to the general
offices of the company giving the
facts. Back came the reply: "All men
available now shoveling out trains;
can do nothing" The brakeman real
izing the serious condition of affairs
and the dire consequences if help was
not at once secured. wired Governor
Gear. The governor wired the COM
pany officials and got the same reply:
Can do nothing"
BY this time Governor Gear had his
war paint on and sent back this hot
reply: Unless that train is free in
/ twelve hours, the state of Iowa will
shoyeli out 1t is not known exact
ly what the governor meant or what
he proposed to do, but the company
shoveled the train out. According to
the story this incident earned Cover
nor Gear the title of ''Snow-shoveling
Gear"
The story is given for what it is
worth. The title "Snow-shoveling
Gear" is new one to us, although ev-
erybody knew the late Senator as "Old
Business" cognomen that fitted him