The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-04-05
TERMS FOR WEEKLY SENTINEL.
IRRIGATION IN THE WEST.
Eastern People Are Being Edu-
Gated on This Question.
The following is from the San Francisco

The following is from the San Francisco
Call:
Representative Newlands OF Nevada
has contributed to the New York Times
an Instructive article on Irrigation In
the West" which will doubtless have q
good effect in educating Eastern public
opinion on the subject. Mr.. Newlands.
from his long service in Washington, is
familiar with the objections made by
Eastern Representatives to the policy Of
irrigation. and he 10 therefore able to d.
rect his argument especially TO the points
on which the East needs enlightment. In
that respect this article is valuable con-
tribution to the discussion Of the subject.
and may prove even more effective than
. speech in the House itself.
The first issue with which the writer
deals is that raised by the question,
"What right has the West to demand
Government aid in this mstter?" He an
swers simply that the Government is the
owner oil almost all the arid lands. having
In It's possession Of arid and semi-arid
lands upward of 6OO, ,OOO, 900 acres that it
10 the duty OF the Government to fit this
land for settlement and cultivation by
conserving the snow and food waters and
constructing such bitches and canals as
are necessary to bring water within reach
Of settlers. In making such improve
ments the Government will not be vast
ing money. nor giving it away. for the
lands when improved will be more valu-
able than in their present condition.
Moreover, the work cannot be effectively
OF economically done by private parties.
1t 10 therefore strictly governmental
task, one which is in the truest sense ma
tional. since it will benefit the East as we'll
a. the West.
Noting the Eastern objection to voting
money out OF the national treasury for the
enterprise, Mr.. Newlanjs says the bill
now pending before Congress provides
for establishing an arid land reclamation
fund out OF the receipts from sales Of
lands in the arid region, and adds: "In
this way revolving fund is created out OF
the sale OF the lands reclaimed. which is
applied to new work. and thus, in the
end, the West will reclaim itself. The
Secretary OF the Interior can make no con-
tract for irrigation works unless the
moneys therefor are In the fund. Thus
the arid region will be reclaimed without
taxation OF the general public"
One Of the points upon which the East
srn people most need enlightenment is
that relating to the effect the opening up
OF the new era for home seekers will have
upon Eastern farmers. Over and over
again it has been said that the irrigation
Of arid land will serve no other purpose
than that Of encouraging competition to
the East and iniuring Eastern landed in
terests. Upon that issue Mr.. Newlands
says: "It might as we'll be contended
that the people Of the original thirteen
States suffered from Western develop
ment - that the eighty millions OF peo-
pie now occupying this country will sui-
fer from the development Of the arid re.
gion. The arid region will simply furnish
. market for Eastern products. 1t will
not compete with the Eastern or Middle
Western farms, because in the northern
part Of the arid region cultivation will be
confined almost entirely to alfalfa. which
10 very useful in the fattening of cattle,
and in the southern region cultivation
will be confined largely TO the citrus
fruits and other products of q semi-tropi-
cal character. 1t has only to be borne in
mind that the entire area capable OF re-
clamation does not exceed 10000, 900
acres. and that this area will only equal
the area OF the two States OF Iowa and
Illinois. If nation of few millions OF
people did not suffer from the develop
ment OF Iowa and Illinois. how can it be
contended for q moment that country
with 80, ZOO, 900 OF people can suffer from
the development Of the arid region2"
To Cslifornisns it may seem strange
that issues Of this kind have to be argued
over time after time. 1t is, however,
not easy to educate public opinion on a
subject to which it is comparatively in
different. Campaigns of popular educa-
tion are always long and sometimes tire
some. This one, however, is going for
ward at last with gratifying speed. In
deed 1t is not improbable that the irriga-
tlon bill may be passed by the present
Congress.