Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-26
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.

A common impression is that the
United states is becoming over-popu-
lated. The growing scarcity of CHEAP
lands and the paucity of valuable lands
open TO pre-embtion has given many
the wrong idea that our territory is
practically settled. The farmer of 1902
with a half-dozen boys has different
proposition TO consider than the one
which confronted the farmer similarly
circumstanced forty years ago. Then
the boys might and did trek across the
borders of the state to the contiguous
territory, where farm lands We're to be
had for the taking. They solved the
problem of the neighboring farmers
large family of girls by taking them
along in the same wagons to become
the mothers of the new states. There
were millions of acres grooming for th=
plow, and the question of whence the
farm was to come was already solved.
Today the thrush of foreign immigra-
ton, the heavy movement from east to
west and immense purchases of farm
lands by spectators make the farm
question one vastly different There is
no longer any domain of valuable pub
lie lands to be had by presumption.
Nevertheless one third of the entire
territory of the United States is unoc-
cupied. This vacant domain lacks but
one absolute essential to fertility and
productiveness. With water its capa-
bility of production is practically limit
less. Frederick II. Newell writer
who has made most complete study of
the reclamation of the arid sections OF
the United States, places the acreage
that may be made highly valuable by
irrigation at 100,00O,000 acres. At pres
ent private enterprise has succeeded in
irrgating about 100000 acres.
The assertion that 40 per cent of the
area of the United States requires ir-
rigation to successfully produce crops
aids to a partial realization of the pos
sibiities of population and production
contingent upon the successful irriga-
ton of this immense territory.
1t is argued by Mr.. Newell that the
ration alone is in a position to con-
serve the water supply thru forest .'es-
ervoirs on the submits of mountains
and thru the building of great reser-
voirs that are beyond the reach of pri
vate enterprise. The smaller rivers
and streams have been already utilized
thus But while private enterprise has
gene as far as it can in utilizing the
smaller streams, there still remain
great rivers and torrential floods, the
control of which must be assumed by
the government. 1t is urged by Mr..
Newell and other advocates of national
reclamation that the government
should not actually irrigate the dry
lands. but that It should take measures
at once to protect the mountain sources
of these streams and foods to the end
that they may be tapped and the great
reservoirs thus formed be used by in
dividuals and colonies to the conversion
of these arid and untenanted districts
into farms The effect of the reciama-
ton of 1Oo,00O,o01 acres of farm land to
fertility can scarcely be estimated. II
would mean new cities, new markets
and new states. The problem of popu
lation has already begun to trouble US.
Perhaps its present solution is to be
found in some of the plans for the irri-
cation OF public lands.