The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19

reason that the work is concentrated. the
country picturesque and the people inter-
esting. 1t was years before consent could
be obtained for the construction Of these
Nile waterworks for the reason that the
backing UP Of the water destroyed land
marks and ruins identified with the ancient
history of the country and the religion and
traditions of the people. The new dam at
Aswan foods the ruins of the temple OF
Philae and as a matter of fact the crest
of the dam has been lowered to preserve
the ruins from total submersion. AS IL is,
the principal features now rest upon mod
ern steel beams to prevent their being un-
dermined by the waters Of the artificial
lake.
In different forms popular prejudices have
had to be overcome in every country where
irrigation has been extensively ~inaugurated,
and even the United States has been no
exception to this rule. The Egyptian work
attracts worldwide attention and yet with
all its ancient beginning, vast expenditure
and still vaster results it does not equal the
irrigation work done in the United States
In the past decade, nor do the plans for
the future in Egypt contemplate any such
development as Is guaranteed in the
United States by the irrigation bill Of last
winter.
In all of Egypt to-day there is less land
irrigated than the 1000, 900 acres under wa
ter In the United States. Egypt proposes
to spend $685. 600 per year for thirty years
upon an irrigation project and the world
wonders and sends delegates to the open
ing ceremonies. The United States has
- en- nQ nA a. q D M nm
each year for an indefinite term and 1t Is
looked upon by the old-time statesmen as
merely a sop to a certain element of voters.
The United States leads the world In irri-
CATION now and the development Of the
next few years under the new law VIII
overshadow all the Nile dams which may
be projected when it comes TO a COMPARE
son of results as expressed in new popula-
ton and new wealth, or rather the utiliza-
ton of latent resources.
MORE THAN LOCAL BENEFIT.
The people of the world are eating more
and better food than ever before and
never was the supply less in proportion to
the demand. The country which can best
feed its own people and still have food TO
sell Is the country which will win in the
great race for international trade and in
dustrial and commercial supremacy. Those
who forced their irrigation views upon Con-
gress were building better han many of
them knew. 1t was a local fight for the
majority. 1t was a great piece of national
craftsmanship for the country as a whole.
a fact which will be realized more effective
ly when the wheel of fortune revolves once
more and an ebb tide comes in the prosper
ity of the producers.
England is e~ndeavoring to repair the err
rors of many years of colonial administra-
ton. She has cultivated her markets for
manufactures and neglected her food sup
ply. Now that she Is in a death struggle
comes home. Her people are paying tribute
to foreigners in all domestic concerns and
there Is not the old consolation of DOM
mating the markets Of the world. Eng
land is cultivating better relations with her
food-producing children. She is encourag-
ing the extension of the bread area by irri-
CATION. Much will be accomplished in this
direction. but as she is debarred by the
preponderance of consumers over producers
In little England from protecting the latter
she never can create an adequate base of
food supplies entirely within her own con-
the activities of others in their efforts to
take profitable advantage of the world
wide food shortage which undoubtedly ex-
lists and will long continue.
]. d. WHELPLEY.