The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-10
WHAT TO DO NEXT
The Question That Is Interesting
Members of National Irri-
cation Congress.
A. L. Crocker, Just Back From Colo
RADIO Springs Convention, Tells
of It's Work. \.

A. l.. Croker, back to-day from the ir
rigation congress, Colorado Springs, says:
Minneapolis and st. Paul, as a center
of great and growing manufacturing,
distributing and financial business, should
take a deep interest in business oppor
tunities opened by the national irrigati
law just passed Not only in the terri
tory made tributary by the northern rail
ways but also. along the southwestern
lines now built, and Others that will be
built, there are. sections that will grow
rapidly under the workings of this new
law. Both in this development and in
the subsequent trade, these cities have
a large interest. If the facts were known,
and they will be before long, our par
ticipation ain this developmen t should be-
come a powerful factor. ."'> go"
Under a commission from the gov
ernor of Minnesota, I attended the ma :
tional irrigation convention at Colorado
Springs. From Minneapolis there were
present Messrs. w. H. Dunwoody, e. j.
Phelps and Charles Heffelf1nger and Con-
gressmen Stevens, Morris, Heatwole and
Tawney were also present. St. Paul and
Duluth We're also we'll represented, and
L. G.. Powers, formerly of Minneapolis.
now of the census bureau In Washington,
| read a paper. Professor Thomas Shaw
of the state agricultural college also read
| a valuable paper.
THE convention partook largely of the
nature of a jubilee over the grand sue
cess embodied in the passage of the irrt-
cation law.
1.-The agricultural interests Of the United
States quietly, and without the knOWl-
edge Of the general public, have arrived
at the end of one era and stand at the
opening Of another very important one.
Our cheap lands, as we have known them,
are gone, and with shock we; are awak-
ening to new state of things. The great
mr. fo he 1ia II
called attention to the facts
The Real Fight Begun.
Heretofore the east has known the
word irrigation, but it meant nothing. Not
until fifteen states banded together, with
out regard to party, and demanded recog-
milton on this vital question, and with
their combined power centered on the SEN
ate, threatened to block legisla tion was
serious attention given it. Passing the
opposition in the house. But with the
enthusiastic support Of President Roose-
| welt it was passed.
1.-THE bill Is crude and will need much
amending to polish it into working shape,
but it's fundamental structure is good ana
efficient. 1t provides that in the arid
states the proceeds from the sale of pub
lie lands of all kinds shall go into. a fund;
each state ,. wing the benefit of It's own
fund. Thu moneys are directly under
the contrc the department of the inte-
rior, with 20 intervention by congress or
the treasury. In connection with for
| estry, this gives the interior department
a mighty power.
by the workings of this law there are
to-day nearly IS, 900, 900 for this work, and
this will increase about $4,000, 900 year
With this fund, every possible 1nVestlga-
ton and development of irrigation farming
will be taken up. Statistics OF prec1p1ta-
ton will be compiled, water sheds inves-
tigated and reservoirs built, whereby arid
government lands can be made more fer
tile and sold to farmers at a. small price,
| to be repaid in ten years In annual pay
ments, with no interest, thus replen1sh-
| ing the working fund. $50
| Some Amazing Figures. ,z =
| when it Is considered that more thar
one half the farming of the world to-day
is carried on by irrigation, and further
l that it is estimated that under the work
i ings of this law land will be reclaimed
that will support perhaps $4,000, ooO o.
u people in comfort, if not in comparative
wealth, living so close together that they
can enjoy the advantages of village II no
town life, with great wealth. producing
CAPACITY and consumption capacity tina
will feed tremendously all the manufac
turing states of the east, and this at NJ
cost to the public at large, it will be seer
at once now great duu IlOW 6OOd CAAAo AtS'
irrigation law is. ~.,-.... -.
1.-The future of the irrigation congress
has become a main question. After tel
years of work and waiting, there @ha
come the flush and exultation of. victory
50 great and unlocked for, so fraugh
. with good to the west and to the who'll
United States, so devoid of evil, tina
workers are almost taken off their fee
> by the mighty and beneficent results
their work. There is a manifest desire t
unite all the various western congresses
forestry, irrigation, etc.-into the Trans
Mississippi congress-, which has becom
a. power. In this as unit, the undevel
oped states and territories of the west
rich in raw products and needing devel
opnent, can get the recognition the
merit before congress and the east.
"A timely word was spoken by Pres1
dent Slocum Of Colorado college, when
J said the colleges of the United State
should now enter vigorously on this ne'
campaign of scientific work. He pre-
idiots that the drainage and irrigation en-
gineers will rank in numbers and 1mpo1
lance with the mining and mechanics
engineers."
Knox Hats-hanan Shoes.
4 C1othn1 HO11SA