The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1902-01-02
AtW0rk.

The cause OF irrigation for the arid and
semi-arid regions of the West was given
a really big boom on the evening of De-
cember 23rd at Washington. A dispatch
says that Congressman Newlands gave a
dinner to large number OF guests which
included many of the most conspicuous
members Of Congress, as well as several
of the leading officers of the Executive
branch of the Government. Good
speeches were made aud there was great
enthusiasm. Our Congressman opened
the speechmaking by short talk ad-
mirable as tactfal, strong, condensed
atatement OF the Importance of reclaim
ing the arid and semi-arid lands beyond
the Mississippi and OF the good points of
the bill agreed upon by the Congressional
Committee representative of the vast re-
gion most directly concerned. He urged
that scientific conservation of the tor
rental waters Of the snow tracts OF the
Far West would minimize the need of
providing against oyerflows in wet sea
sons and dredging 10 dry times, in the
case Of the Missouri, the Mississippi and
other streams; and that such eonserva
ton need not be at all "a burden to the
East and the South. in that theapproved
bill called for combining irrigation outlay
to the income derived by the Federal
Government from the sales OF its lands
in the States lying within the arid and
semi arid region.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson spoke
for broad, prompt, energetic Cover
mental policy in the interest of such de-
yelopment of the development OF the
West as would increase the greatness of
the nation and extend our home market.
DIR. Chas ID. Wolcott, head Of the Ge-
illogical Survey, spoke ably and strongly
in favor OF national encouragement Of a
systematic irrigation OF the arid and
semi-arid districts affected by the bill
under discussion and gave scientific rea-
sons in support OF his advice.
After him came Clifford Binchot Fol-
ester and Chief Of the Bureau Of Forestry,
in a convincing defense of the prop
osition that forest preservation in the
Far West is a branch Of eifecting irriga-
ton, and in the most earnest plea for
Government action along the lines urged
by our Congressman, the Interior De-
partment and the Secretary of Agricul.
ture.
George Maxwell OF San Francisco. Sec
retary of the National Irrigation Asso-
citation, then addressed the assem- Slage,
making stirring appeal for prompt leg
islatioD.
Mr. Newlands concluded the discussion
by answering a question that perhaps
the proposed legislation would prove to
be unconstitutional.
THE United States owns the great
areas in the States mentioned in our bill, y
said he, "and 10y virtue of that ownership
has an unassailable right to do whatever
addresses itself to Congress as proper to
make that land OF value for settlement.
That the land he made available for act
ual settlement in eighty acre lots by good
faith settlers under homestead regula-
tions is all that is asked
The effect OF the gathering was unde-
niably great. 1t seems unlikely that the
Irrigat on bill will be adopted at this
session Of Congress; but there can be no
doubt that the Newlands dinner has con.
tributed a great deal toward its ultimate
success.