Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1902-06-07
The MORNING APPEAL
Carson City. Nevada.
NeWlands on Irrigation

the most elaborate and comprehensive /
speech upon the subject of irrigation |
that has ever been presented in either |
branch OF congress. or any other as |,
semblage having that subject under |
consideration. 1t fits over ten pagas !
OF the Congressional Record ard no;
only touches upon every argument
pro and con, heretofore adGuced, but
embraces a multitude OF points never
before presented by any advocate Oh
the national water storage system.
It's length precludes our presenting
even such an outline OF the speakers
remarks as will give the reader an
idea of their comprehensive scope CT
of the time and labor expended by o,u
representative in investigation u tae
subject Of such Importance to the
residents OF the arid and senli-arid
sections.
AS the bill was expected to come up
within a few weeks and as the limit
ed time allowed iCr its discussion
would net permit extended depate,
Mr. Newlanfs took tine BY the fore
. lock. and by permission, addressed the
house upon the subject at The date
above mentioned.
In the commencement. the speaker
corrected the somewhat prevalent or
inicn that irrigation was d new thing
and explained that it was as old as
time, giving I; history OF its origin,
progress, and a statistical statement
Of the acreage it renders productive
at the present time in the diifercn,
productive quarters OF the globe. lie
gave the boundaries OF the arid land
region in the United States. which
contains about 500 ,000,0oG acres OF
vacant public land CT which &C 0n0 zoe
may be irrigated if the water supply
is conserved and distributed. Nj
Newlands explained deliberately how
and where irrigation is prac.iced; its
success in its small scope resulting
from private enterprise. and the pos
sibilities under the larger scale OF
national aid and development He
ct appropriations for internal improve
ment. the money for the reclamation
of public lands. instead OF being DO
nation iron. the public treasury. tha;
no direct or indirect loss would be
sustained by the government as the
cost would be covered BY the sale OF
the pihfic lands, ,ne proceeds O.;
which would 90 into I, special iun.i
IN the treasury.
The objection that land values IN
the East would be lessened by open
ing up so large an area to cultivation
wat met by a Statistical! statement ol
the increasing population OF The Coun
try, ana showing that the pCpuiatlcr
Of the country and the possibility o
the increase OF the acreage CT cn;ti
vatab!e land by irrigation OF any Ctn
er means. was not prOportionate t,
the increased demand there would be
for iaa3 Tor agricultural purposes
There are also immense areas OF pub
tic land fitted for grazing purposes
ncw useless to the stock raisers. from
their roT4oteness from water, VII. -
woul:i .ili purchasers when that Oh
lection vas removed. immediate &C
ton By the government was URGED a:
every year, increased vested rights
which would clog more and more I'll,
progress Of national enterprise
Mr. New.ands quoted freely from
that part of President Roosevelt:
message Whici, related &c the ifri.a
tion questien. showing ih2t favurs d
legislative action wou.G be approve,
by the executive head of the govern
men;. He showed tnat the system O
sapeiiiuOuS water wouI lessen IL.
tc,reIia! and damaging flow III !arg
rivers a: certain seasons Ct the yeaI
The constitutional objection was Eae
by pointing out nuriercus things tia
had been done by the government no
expressly authorized by the consti
ton but which came within the se.
erai power .. that instrument, esEe,
tally the power tC promote the publ:
welfare. The constitutional quystio
the speaker argued .: conside:ab:
lengtL an. n CIR .avG.ln'5 n:..ni; y Il
placed beyond possible question =.
irrigation measure within the lirni.
ct ire fundamental lew.
Referring 10 the alleged DANCE.
injurious competition with cxis;ii.
farms in the east ami west the speai
er said i; rlig;,f as v. 81: -,e con enie
that the people 81 The thirteen org
nal states sliha-e,. rom western !
yq.opm3,t. as that lie SG.U0C GnG pet
pie now OF yt'is country VIII sufe
from the devclnp1reI- Of the arid L
gion. Since TIE BEGINNING OF Il
nineteenth contnrs The goYarn,na1