St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-08-23

(S1mple Device Which Supports One Fam
lily in Comfort.)
feet upon the humidity of the con
tlguous country, and also add to the
wealth of the entire country by sus,
tanning artisans and other producers
of labor's valuables.
In 1900 the national platforms OF
the three political parties declared
in favor of irrigation by national di-
rection. Referring to this fact, the
committees report says: with con-
fidence in the desire of members of
all parties to fulfill the pledges of
their national platforms, greatly en-
couraged by the earnest and vigor-
GUS recommendations of the presi-
dent, the members of both branches
of congress from the arid and semi
arid states met in the early days of
the present congress, appointed a
committee of one from each state
and territory, with Senator Warren
as chairman, and proceeded to for
mulate a suitable bill. This work
having been accomplished, the bill
was introduced in the senate by Mr.
Hansborough, and in the house of
representatives by Mr.. Newlands. No
legislation presented to an American
congress has had all of it's pro.
visions more carefully and thorough.
ly considered in all their bearings"
The special committee mentioned
in the report did diligent work Each
member OF the senate and of the house
of representatives kept the matter be.
fore the legislators, SO that when the
time came for voting everyone knew
the provisions of the measure and its
ultimate object. Where all did well
it is almost invidious to make any
distinctions; but it is generally admit.
ted that Congressman Reeder, of Kan.
sas, was exceptionally hard at work
all winter and spring in this behalf.
He talked irrigation to every body and
all the time, in season and often out OF
season.
Senator Warren, the chairman, in.
fused his energy and earnestness into
the senate, until every senator real.
lied that Warren was after water,
more water, and keeping them all in
hot water, on account of his irriga.
ton bill. The North Dakota senator,
was like unto him. Mr..
of Nevada, told everybody
that with irrigation Nevada would |
support population of 60,OOo,00O as
easily as now she supports popula-
ton of only 10000. Senator Clark, of
the richest man in the
world, and Senator Dubois, of Idaho,
one of the poorest men in public
life, We'd with each other in praying
FOR the irrigation of the arid lands
Of their states.
And yet, with all this missionary
work done before he bill came up
Tor discussion in the house of repre-
,entatives, there were members ac-
lively opposed to it on various
grounds. A score of amendments
we're offered, all of them designed to
lefeat the object of the bill. One
lfter another they were voted down,
md the bill was finally passed by
vote of JAG yeas to IS nays.
1t is expected that upwards of 2OO,-
100 acres of land will be annually re-
laimed under the provisions of this
aw, until all of the millions of acres
# the desert shall have been re-
laimed and peopled with home own
RS. Irrigation is not an experiment.
t was practiced before the dawn of
ecorded history. Man attained his
lrst high degree of civilization I'm
er it's practice. Through it's eff
iency the great nations of antiquity
established and maintained their
night and glory. Egypt, Assyria, In
ia, China are irrigated models for
s. We are taking new departure
y following in the footsteps of the
5isest ancients. SMITH D. FRY,