Arizona republican., 1902-12-25

MIR. GALLINGER: I am greatly in terested in the discussion, especially In the school question. l have noticed that a Mexican is the superintendent of public schools in New Mexico. The census reports show and I commend 1t to the attention of the senator, that from 1880 to 1890 there was a decrease of 7.3S per cent in the public school en- rollment of the state Of Maine; there was a decrease of S.51 per cent in my own state, (New Hampshirel l am sorry to say; a decrease of 10.42 in Yer mont: there was a gain of 1.3S in New York, of 1.59 in Pennsylvania. and oc 2S3.07 in the territory of New Mexico These figures have been supplied to me from the census reports, and, If theN are correct, they show that while man> of these people are ignorant they are making marvellous progress in the mat ter of education.
 MIR. DILLINGHAM;: That is true. and I am coming to speak of It more fully.
 MIR. GALLINGER: have examined the advance sheets of the report of tine governor for 1902, and I have been astonished to see what beautiful build ings they have for school purposes in some portions of the territory. 1t struck me very forcibly that the pres ent superintendent-and I think he has been long superintendent of public in struction-a Mexican, seems to be d thoroughly qualified man for his posi- tion. l think they are doing pretty we'll. all things considered.
 Senator Dillingham's inadequate con ception of the possibilities in the way of irrigation appears from the follow ing dialogue:
 MIR. DILLINGHAM;: I have already referred to the very fine system of irri- gation in and about Phoenix. But even at Phoenix they are now suffering severely for water. They have an area which has been properly ditched, and which at some time has been fully irrl- gated, which they cannot avail them selves of because of the lack Of water particularly In the last two or three years, since the streams have been unusually low. I do not make these references for the purpose of casting any discredit upon Phoenix, but simply to call attention to the fact that in the natural flow of the rivers in that ter ritory, in my judgment, there cannot be any better or further results hoped for than have already been accom- plished. l am glad to say for Phoenix. and for what l believe to be her future. that the coHmittee on territories of this body have already recommended favorably the passage of a measure asked for by the citizens of that city, authorizing the county of Maricopa. in which that city is situated, to bond iself to the extent of perhaps two mill lions or two millions and a half of dol lars for the purpose of going 25 mile> into the mountains and there con structing a dam and creating a grea, reservoir for the storage or water. which, if done, will. in my opinion and l think in the opinion of the commit tee, furnish an ample supply for the plain about Phoenix, not only for the area now under irrigation and which is properly ditched, but, as Governor Brodle suggested, to very nearly double that amount.
 There is also another scheme, which | the people there hope to induce the gov ernment to adopt under the law which l was passed last winter, for the storage of large quantities of water for use in ! that valley; and l expect to see those |
 
 schemes carried out.
 Other sections of Arizona are irrl- | gated, particularly in the valley of the | Gila and the land near Yuma in the | valley of the Colorado; but the amount of land irrigated in Arizona compare.: | with the whole is almost inflnItesimany small.
 If the senators who are interested fin | this question will take the trOubIe f., turn to the map of Arizona, which is | bound with the testimony reported oy | the committee, they will notice th,. black spots which indicate the area that is really irrigated. and they will ! see how utterly impossible it is. wit: | the water already used up, to leave tine | valleys where irrigation now exists ana | to spread over any very considerable portion of the territory beyond
 MIR. BURTON: Do you mean that if [ they had the water there is no land | there to put it on?
 MIR. DILLINGHAM;: I mean if they had water enough for that vast terri tory that it would be utterly impossiblS to carry it over the uneven surface. un- less it was carried in pipes under a very system, such as has nor been adopted in any part of this coun- try But l mean, further, that tha testimony of all persons appearing be- fore the committee indicated that irri gation cannot be extended any consid era ble distance from the streams of the territory, water having to be carried by gravity fin ditches.
 
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