The Washington times., 1902-06-10
Mr.. Henry |. Wiley Takes
Issue With Mr.. Robin
son of Indiana.
BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED
Says Great West Would Be Even
Greater and Entire Country Would Be
Improved If Congress Would Make
Provision Asked.

In The Times of Saturday. June I,
there appeared 2 signed statement on
Important Questions Involved in the
Irrigation Project" by Hon. James NJ
Robinson, Representative from Indiana.
III which he said:
The objections TO it are so many
and so forceful that one could scarcely
name them within the compass of a
readable article
In speaking of this statement last
night at the Ebbitt House MIR. Henry Ide
Wii.ry. ex-chief engineer OF the State
Geological Survey of California. now
engineer OF mines in New York said:
Mr.. Robinson obviously does not I'M
derstand the irrigation question thor
oughly. lie lives in the wrcng portion
of the United States to have the real
merits OF this all potent question
brought; home to him. Indiana is Tor
tunatc in having hountiful rains during
the growing season TO supply the
needed moisture to insure profitable
production: whereas. nearly all of the
remaining unsola public lands, and i'm
mense areas. which have passed into
pirate ownership throughout the West,
are arid in character. and cultivahle
only as a result OF irrigation.
1T has been truly stated that He who
maketh two blades of grass to grow
where only one grew before. is greater
than he who conquers nations Hence
it follows logically that those who
cause the arid wastes OF the West to
blossom as rose and produce vast
stores of wealth, should be great pub
lie benefactors
1T is no fair argument against this
irrigation to allege that rail ads sub
sidized by land grants will IL. bene-
fit therefrom; that 'officeholders who de-
sire continuance OF their Jobs. etc.
are promoting it. or that those who ex-
pect TO share in the exploitation and jobs
that will be incident to it are advocat-
ing it.
Cruelty Selfish Protest.
THE cry that taxpayers of larger
States will suffer in contributing TO en-
terprises which in no way affect them
a0N - diSO d cruelty SPluSl
protest. Consult the records of Con-
gress for the past fifty years and note
the fabulous amounts OF money appro-
priated for the exclusive benefit of the
Eastern, Southern, Northern. and Middle
States, which could not most remotely
benefit the arid States Of the West.
Note the immense volume Of money
wrung from the toilers and landholders
OF these same arid States, every penny
OF which has heen devoted TO enriching
Indiana and kindred States similarly sit
uated
Suppose there are 300, 600 900 acres of
land TO be reclaimed and rendered pro-
ductive. We of the West are entitled
TO it. by every right divine or human.
It is not true that the larger States
VIII suffer injury from this expenditure, !
al contrario, great and lasting benefits
viii inure TO all OF them. We are rap
idly becoming homogeneous mass, one
great nation. to whom no great blessing
ran come in part. 1t must affect the /
whole.
1T is a notorious fact that one acre
Of irrigated land will yield more than
double the quantity of produce, with .
vastly greater certainty than the best
o. non-irrigated land, and the greater
the volume of our productions the
grander the prosperity as a nation. the
lower the rate of taxation per capita
Dr. per acre.
"As our non-arid public lands are ex-
where are the people OF the
future Those of Indiana as we'll AS
other sections) TO find the blessing
'ouchsafed to the early settlers Of In
Hama ? viz: homesteads.
No Laws Violated.
What if the subsidized land grant
railways are promoting this irrigation
project? is there anv law upon our
statute books being violated thereby? Is
It not good business proposition for
them to do this? Are they not thereby
lending their aid to the consummation
sf great general public benefit? II
Indiana absolutely required irrigation in
order TO render her lands productive.
you'd not Mr.. Robinson now be advo-
,sting this project as vigorously as he
lssails it? | think SO, What more nat
lral than that officeholders should wish
% retain office? Is Mr.. Robinson an ex-
,eption in this? Again what more nat
lral or just than that those who are
the project should desire to
'eneht directly and collaterally there
"! How many measures do our worthy
legislators advocate nowadays from a
purely philanthropic motive?
Permit me TO beg Of you that you
ncourage Mr. Robinson to take the
ime to state all of these objections so
many and so forceful that others not
o well informed as he may be able to
his reasoning, even Though
exceed the compass Of readable ar
icle.' AS 4 native of California, a min
ne engineer. and one who has Travelled ,
Yer large portion OF the irrigable /,
rea of the United States. have had an ,
ppOrtunity TO familiarize myself with !
he subject Of irrigation in all of its
bases, yet ! have no personal. or sell
sh reason for espousing this cause. I |
However, as a patriotic American citi- I
en-, | cannot resist the impulse TO state !
hat few questions can come before Con- =
Tess of greater moment to the people /
{ large than this one. No great prog
ess can be made throughout the arid ]
Vest, unless irrigation is first provid- ,
d. IL is only beginning. however. q
hat is required. once the results are
Dparent. private capital will be forth
Dming 10 provide for the reclamation y
millions Of acres as rapidly as may
e necessary p
Lasting Benefits. K
Instead Of injuries. benefits only
eat and lasting are 70 he anficinatad V