Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-07-03
GREAT REPUBLICAN LAND ACTS.


The homestead law of 1859. which
was passed by a Republican congress
and signed by Republican president.
peuplcd ~ large tract aH was oc
cupied by the Americans ut the time
of the recognition of the indepcnd.
oncc ~ the United States by George
III The national irrigation act
which has just passed the Republican
congress viii ndd an empire 10 the
populated nrcn Of the United states as
great ns was held 10y the thirteen col.
pnice at the battle OF Lexington.
Roughly stated The arid lands Of the
United States extend westward from
the tooth meridian 10 the Paclflc-
They includ" n large part Of all the
states and the territories beginning
with the Western ends Of the Two pa
koins. Nehraslsa Kansas. Oklahoma
and Texas, and stretching onward nj
most io the great ocean East of
that line most of the country - chased
| ns humid II has % or more inches
of average annual rainfall West of
that line most OF the region has n rain
fail of lcsH than 20 inches That IL
the region which IL covered by The ir.
rigntlon bill which has Just been On
acted
In the noigbbofhood OF two ffths
Of the entire contiguous part OF the
United States that is to say II class.
ed as arid aud To this vast cNpanRe OF
territory the now act viii apply OF
course. there is considerable territory
In Oregon, Washington and California
which Inns more than the 20 inches
OF rainfall, and belongs to the humid
locality or course. also. large
part OF the arid belt consists OF noun.
tnlnous country. which can no, be
utilized for agricultural purposes by
irrigation or anything else. and no at
tempt viii be made to reclaim H.
Hut the greater part Of the area con
sists ot country which. needing irri
cation. viii be benefited by II. and will
be made attrartiy" to settlers The
hill creates a reclamation fund from
the sale of public lands. which. after
lcduotlng the amount due 10 local
land Offices and the . per cent due to
the states for educational purposes
under the existing laws viii be ap
piled to irrigation Mnnifestly the
states could not do this work aud of
course II was utterly beyond the pow
ors of any of the minor political di-
visions of the states 10 do II The
work had to bo performed by the gen
oral government If It was 10 be per
This II u task of great national pro
portions, and viii prove OF national
benefit II IL safe TO predict that
through the operation OF the law lust
passed, and through the further lcgis-
lation which this viii render neccs,
s0ry, and which all sections OF the
country will favor when the time
COMES for II to be enacted stretch of
country capable OF supporting l5.OO0,-
shut out OF IL under existing condi.
lions will he opened for settlement A
vast empire will be added to the popu-
lated area of the United States This
work. which has been opposed by "A
few congressman from the eastern
states. Is as necessary FOR the well.
being ms were the national roads
opened In the west In the first half OF
the nineteenth century, All the
states, those on the east of the Allie
ghenios, as well as those on the west
of the Missouri Arkansas aud Red
rivers. will be gamers by the irriga-
tion act This was not a partisan
measure, but a Republican president
urged II, aud the party deserves tho
credit which viii come from its enact
ment. Tho national irrigation act Is
a hitting supplement To the Republican
homestead law uf forty years ago
which did much to abolish the wilder
ness and which built up thousands OF
communities and added millions to the
country's population throughout the
grnnl Mnsi q lnha. .Dnmnrrni