Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-03
Redeemed Land is to Be Kept for the Use
Of the Actual Settlers
YES ROOSEVELT PRINCIPAL CREDIT
Considers Irrigation Bill the Drowning
Glory of His First Term.
WAS HARD WORK TO CONVINCE THE EAST
People who tive In that Section
VIII Ultimately he the Greatest
BenedcIaries of the
Work.
(From a Stan Correspondent }

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2--Spectal)--
! Thomas F. Walsh. the Colorado million
sire who presided over the sessions Of the
irrigation congress, recently held in Den
yer, expressed himself today as being we'll
satisfied with the results accomplished at
the convention. Mr.. Walsh said the ideas
carefully outlined by his association will
work In perfect harmony with the rlAns
OF the Geological survey, in whose hands
the administration of the irrigation bill
rests.
You must understand" said Mr.. Walsh,
that the National Irrigation association
expects to accomplish it's greatest work in
the moral influence with which II will en-
deavor to surround the settlers who shall
make homes for themselves in tho hitherto
great arid west. Working in hearty coop
Grafton with the government the sssocla-
tion will endeavor to afford settlers the
benefit of all the scientific knowledge II
possesses, in relieving them so far as II
is possible of the obstacles which will
| confront them at every hand.
Presidents Hest work.
Mr.. Walsh explained that II will be the
aim of the association to arrange the
settlements in small towns and villages
and prevent IL possible the isolation Of
! farm life as IL is usually found in the
west.
with the settlers gathered together in
communities" he continued at neces-
sarily follows that they will enjoy the
benefits OF social intercourse. good roads,
schools, sanitation and many OF the ad-
vantages OF city life added TO the healthful
| freedom Of the country"
| In discussing the passage of the irrigation
bill Mr. Walsh said that while IL was the
cutgrowth of widespread public senti-
| rient. its passage was primarily due to
two men, President Roosevelt and Repre-
sentative Francis G. Newlapds OF Nevada.
with all due regard to his other
achievements and 10 the Importance OF
other objects of both foreign and domestic
! concern, | do not hesitate to say that In
| my opinion when the history OF President
Roosevelt's first administration shall he
written, the passage OF the national irrisa-
! tion act will be found to be the glory Of
his craftsmanship, and indeed the president
regards the irrigation bill as one Of the
best measures which his signature has
! made law
"As for Mr.. Newlsnds he gave his time
money and his most arduous efforts IN
| championing the measure which in its in
fancy was bitterly opposed by some Of the
most prominent men in politics, and II was
a hard fight he had to wage against preju-
dices born OF an Ignorance OF what irriga-
tion really means to the west, al we'll as
to the whole country. II was a little thing
In itself" continued Mr.. Walsh, ''but II
produced the greatest results when Repre-
sentative Newlands used to give what we
call magic lantern parties at his house,
showing with stereopticon displays Of the
arid region and the change that had been
wrought in 1t by irrigation and reclama-
tion. At these gatherings addresses on
! irrigation were delivered by Secretary Will
son, who is an enthusiastic irrigationist.
and the movement was started which finally
resulted in the passage OF the bill"
Prejudice of the East.
Mr.. Walsh remarked that one OF the
prejudices they had to combat was the OBJ
! tections OF great many people IN the east
toward being taxed for a measure which
they claimed would only beneit the west
ION this point" he argued, at must be
borne in mind that the benefits to come
from the opening OF this arid land to home
seekers are not so much for the people OF
| the west as to those Of the east The great
multitude who will seize the opportunity
| will come from the east. They are now
working in the congested cities and want
the chance to get a home OF their own,
where they can be Independent, or they
are farmer boys growing into manhood who
want the same chance farther west that
their fathers had in the earlier days when
land was easy to get in the great Mis-
sissippi valley. II is these men from the
east who will make the new homes Of the
west and get the frst Peneft. The next
benefit will go to the eastern manufacturer,
who will furnish all that IL needed In order
to establish those homes"
Mr.. Walsh said that In framing the irri-
cation law every effort was made TO guard
against land monopolies and to reserve the
| reclaimed lands for actual residents The
| reservoirs will be on government lands
! and their water will be restricted TO the
| use OF the men who have settled on the
land and no sale OF land will be made
except TO actual residents. Eight hours
will constitute days labor in constructing
reservoirs and canals and a provision OF
the act shuts out cheap Chinese labor
Water Works wonders.
1T is something to stir a mans heart"
| continued Mr.. Walsh, when he contem-
plates this change from the gloom OF the
gray. dry forbiddlng desert to the sweet.
green paradise Of irrigated lands, and all
this change the result Of water, and a very
little. too, considering what a difference
il makes from desolation TO teeming Abun-
dance.
Outside of those interested in the ques.
tion, very few people are able TO grasp
the colossal significance OF what irrigs-
tion means TO the arid lands OF the west.
Think OF it," said Mr.. Walsh there
are over 1000 900 acres Of arid land
in the United States OF this 10000, 900
acres or a territory equal to all Of New
England, with New York. Pennsylvania and
West Virginia thrown in. will ultimately
be successfully irrigated by the use Of all
sources Of water. It is not the dream Of
empire which may come TO a great ma
tion when the conquest OF such a territory
Is contemplated where 10000 900 peopis
viii sometimes dwell, but II is the dream
Of independence which will come 10 many
a struggling family with the announcement
that one more fair valley OF arid America
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