The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-06-20

life. He considered the railroad question,
its ownership and management very ex-
business interests and trusts. The speech
is very lengthy, but below will be found
its most important features:
&,ss and zee Is ter rne ., exenange OF c9mmo
TO include the buying and selling between
individuals, and, in wider sense, be-
tween communities and nations. Behind
civilization and Christianity to the re-
anotest parts Of the world. The CONNER
cial nations Of the world have, at all
times, exercised the strongest influence
for good among the nations Of the earth.
The development of commerce is the eff
fort by a country to find a market for its
own productions, or to supply itself with
material for its necessities, or to further
increase Its means Of commercial ex-
pansion:: The commercial expansion of a
Commercial growth is both domestic and
foreign. Following the Civil war came a
period of the history of our country of
Wonder Of the World. Since the the close 'o of
the war in 1865, the enormous territory
west of the Mississippi has grown from
and wealthy states. The population Of
the United States in 1865 was about thir-
ty-fouf millions. The succeeding thirty
ye endng in 1922 carried it to
increasing at the rate of a million and a
half a year. The various census reports
show that the population of the United
SO that by 1880 We would, at this ratio,
have a population of one hundred and
fifty millions Of people.
cultivation Of the soil: producing. every
multiplying population. To-day we have
main which can DC made to furnish
homes for an intelligent and enterprising
population tItlE In many of the Western
land which, with irrigation, can be made
Productive in the Highest Degree.
One hundred and sixty acres of land,
with certain supply of water, which
will insure, to the husbandman a bounti
where the land is subject to the. natural
conditions of either too much or too lit
tie rainfall. One-half of the population
or indirectly in the cultivation e1 u Of the
land, and 1 think fully one-half Of the
entire capital of the country is invested
IN farms and an t,t their belongings and when
patriotism and good citizenship, the agri-
cultural population stands out to-day as
1t has In the past, as the great
Sheet Anchor of the Nation.
The wealth of the world comes from the
farm. the forest, the mine and the sea.
While our country has been blest with
wonderful mines of coal. iron, gold, silver
a AND all the e,.S other valuable mineral pro
full timber, still the farm has. from the
beginning. been the, foundation of our
growing wealth and greatness. During
trade with other nations. that is, the
amount we have sold in excess of what
we have bought, has averaged about
nually, and two-thirds of this has come
to us through the export of the produce
Of the soil. do not wish in any manner
manufactures, or their relative value in
the commerce Of the country. The Sc
curity of their foundations has always
continue to rest there. Every manufacs
turer, every merchant. every business
interested in maintaining the growth and
development of our agricultural re-
sources.
of feeling that Uncle Sam was rich
enough to give US all farm" but to-
Gay, h as I said before. the arabic land
tificial supply Of moisture, is practically
all occupied.
In a few limited communities of the
Wbat irrigation til n. has been by
OWing TO diverse laws, made to suit par
ticular interests, the irrigation of large
areas areas IS attended by greater difficulties
dlyldual effort. The policy of broad,
comprehensive, national plan of irriga-
lion t,ol mas mas been urged upon congress with
out little success in the past. However
an enterprise of such magnitude and inn.
portance to the nation as a whole, which
importance viii grow as our, population
grows, cannot be turned aside or lost
sight of, for the reason that every citizen
or every state in the Union is
Deeply and vitality Interested
IN the question. President Roosevelt, who
mas aid spent rssitn some Of his time In the semi
active interest in this subject, and II his
enorts. and of others who are working
f ffr .ne same end result in success
memory Of this work, while they build
1or themselves comfortable homes in the
t INC al valleys covering that portion Of
grazing ranches for cattle and sheep.
WITH proper irrigation these valleys will
peope f and tnbtegent aaa IN
crease many fold. - T.
For the first time in the history Of this
states like Iowa. Kansas, Missouri. Mich
!gan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are seek
ing ing homes IN the Canadian Northwest.
country. and to the diaicuity Of securing riins
such lands in the United States. A wise
system OF irrigation. by the genral gov
tanning but source OF income. Lands.
that without irrigation are given away or
e s at e nominal price. can be sold as
ten dollars an acre or upwards, and the
cost would be little, II anything, more
than half that sum.
I cannot urge too strongly on the part
OF every man who wishes his country
well, and who desires that all shall be
prosperous, In order that he himself NAV
pc prosperous with Them the Importance
ana the growing necessity OF taking care
OF our public domain in such way as to
preserve It for generations now unborn.
l feel sure that no one here Tonight
ever expected to see the time when farm
fs and tarmers' sons from the best
states Of the West would be forced to
cave their country and their flag to seek
MONIES II foreign country. b :,
Ihe United States has many social
questions to settle in the near future. and
nothing in this connection will take the
place of It's ability to provide good homes
for those who desire to sit under their
own vine and flg tree. n
Land without population Is 9 wilderness
and population without land is q mob.
Railway Importance.
Considering the question from a broad
national standpoint, the next interest in !
Importance to agriculture Is the railway
interest OF the country. The entire rail-
way growth Is within the memory of |
men living. twenty-five years ago 1t was |
not supposed possible, that railways |
would ever be able to carry heavy and |
cheap commodities, which were up to |
that time almost exclusively shipped by
or al n, II