The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-14
IRRIGATION A FACT

THE ARID AND THE SEMI-ARID
states of the west win be pardoned
81 they join hands and indulge in lit
tie impromptu celebration this morn
ing. President Roosevelt's signature
is all that is needed to make the ma
tional irrigation bin law. The views
Of the executive on this subject are so
wen known that no friend Of the meas
ure need feel 4 moments ,uneasiness.
lie viii afiix his signature to it as soon
as it reaches him.
To Senators Rawlins and Kearns,
both of whom worked hard TO secure
favorable consideration Of the bin in
the upper house of congress. and to
Congressman Sutherland, whose efforts
were unceasing in the body Of national
lawmakers with which he is affiliated,
the thanks of an the people of Utah
are due. No measure that has passed
congress i'm many a session can result
I'm so much good to so many people.
And this let it be understood, is only
the beginning.
The bin which is soon to become a
law provides that the money derived
from the sale Of public lands i'm the
arid and semi-arid states shall go into
fund for the building and mainten-
ancc Of reservoirs and other irrigation
works. II win also bee used in com
pleting surveys for the purpose of as
certaining the amount and character
of the land which can most easily be
made productive through irrigation.
There is and there must be no hint of
jobbery or corruption about the meas
ure. IL is a simple. business PROPOSE
ton. one that will result in the build
ing Of homes and the tlHing Of farms
in territory which is now barren.
It has been estimated that the public
lands now sold bring in an aggregate
Of about S2.OOO,OoO yearly. Instead of
being placed in the treasury to be used
for an purposes. this money is now to
be devoted solely 10 irrigation under
government supervision. The sum will
not be enough TO carry into effect all
the great plans Of those who are inter-
estcd in irrigation, but it viii furnish
means sufficient to make good begin
ning. Through a iudicious expenditure
Of this amount yearly the feasibility
or national irrigation will he demon
strated so clearly that no further OBJ
lection to it can be offered.
And the best feature Of it all is that
not dollar of public money wiz be
diverted from channels in which it
properly belongs. Every cent win be
returned 20 the treasury with interest
as fast as the land which is brought
under irrigation is sold. The passage
of the act should bring to the west a
new and a lasting prosperity. Rich
mines are great factors in a country's
wealth. but it. must. be remembered
that mines cannot last forever. Every
pound Of ore taken out is a draft OH
the capital; it is as man checking
against his bank deposit without re-
plenishing his balance.
Agricultural prosperity is a different
matter. Once given an impetus. it goes
on and on. increasing yearly and add
ing more and more bounteously to the
wealth and the we'll being Of the world
National irrigation viii make the west
Weaithier. but it will also make the
east and the south and the north
Nealthier because it viii open "a new
market for their products.
Congress hasn't done SO good a days
work at this session as it did yester-
lay. --......-