The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-07-05
FLOOD AND irrigation.
These two Problems are Identical,
Says Mr.. COwherd.
HIS SPEECH ON THE SUBJECT.
irrigation Would Help Missouri and
Other Western States.

During the discussion OF the irriga-
tion bill in the house of representatives
Mr.. Cowherd made some brief remarks
showing the importanc of the problem
to the people Of Missouri, and drawing
attention to the close connection be-
tween the irrigation and the aood
problems. He said.
Mr.. Chairman, feel 10 this matter
very much like the gentleman from
Indiana, that this bill is going to pass,
and that want to get on record in
regard to it before it does pass. But
differing from him, wish to be
recorded IN its favor; and it IS so very
seldom that we on this side Of the
house have an opportunity to speak IN
favor OF measure which passes that
do not want to lose this rare oppor-
tunity,
have been very much interested in
the pleading Of the distinguished farmer
from Ohio [Mr. Grosvenor1 and the
distinguished farmer from New York
Mr.. PaYne] that we should not bring
more land into competition Win the
londa of Tho tar,,.,., =, tho;, d;.t-;ot,
Why, Mr.. Chairman, how long has
1t been since the cry was made for the
farmers up in New England that they
would be ruined by competition with
the rich agricultural lands Of the wests
Yet the New England farmer, iavipg
been brought into competition with
the farmer Of the west, promptly
abandoned those rocky hilIsides upon
which you had to shoot the corn into
the crevices with Gatling gun and
cultivate it with a diamond drill
[laughterl, and went into other bus
mess; and he has been lending money
to the farmer Of the west ever since.
Laughter and applause.l He went
into the business of passing tariff bills
and legislating for the New England
farmer; and while in New England the
hours Of labor are limited to eight, aud
he needs only half that time to make a
living, out west we have to work
fourteen hours every day in order to
get enough to eat and to pay our
interest to the New England farmer
who has been lending US money.
[Laughter.l
These gentlemen need not be solicit
tous in regard to the farmers Of their
own country. l have no doubt that
should the farming Of their region
prove Improbable (Which it will nO)
the distinguished farmer from New
York can pass the bill Of which he IS
the author and which is now pending
before the committee Of which the
farmer from Ohio is chairman, which
will take about $3.50, 900, 1000 out ef
the pockets of the people of this coun-
Try tor the benefit Of an industry OF the
east. Yet these gentlemen rise aud
tell as what heInous offense il Is if
the people of the country are taxed
and, mind you, the bill does not pro-
pose thst-some four OF five million
dollars tor the purpose OF reclaiming
6O,O0o,OUO acres Of land out west aud
benefitting untold millions Of settlers.
PROSPERITY FOR ALL.
Now, Mr. Chairman, l have no sym
pathy with the narrow views OF those
who hold that any part OF this country
can be greatly benefited without that
benefit inuring to every acre Of every
state ia the union. We are not forty
five warning principalities, with adverse
interest, striving TO build up this
industry and to tear down that. But
whenever you bring prosperIty--how
many times have those gentlemen on
the other side Of the chamber hammered
this doctrine into us-w whenever Won
oring prosperity to any section Of the
coeutrY sou bring It to every other
section. You ca6not produce tree
full Of blushlug peaches yonder in
Wyoming Or plan, with piueapples IN
acre Of The everglades Of Florida but
that the farmers and merchants Of my
section Will both DIVIDE the fruit aud
divide The prosperity. But Mr..
Chairman, stand here. not 10 repre-
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