River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-07-24

| (Sfmple Device Which supports one ram
lily in Comfort)
feet upon the humidity of the con,
tiguous country, and also add to the
wealth of the entire country by sus-
tanning artisans and other producers
of labor's valuables.
In 1900 the national platforms of
the three political parties declared
in favor of irrigation by national di-
rection. Referring to this fact, the
committees report says: with con-
fdence in the desire of members of
all parties to fulfill the pledges of
their national platforms, greatly en-
couraged by the earnest and vigor-
Gus recommendation of the presi-
dent, the members of both branches
of congress from the arid and semi
arid states met in the early days of
the present congress, appointed a
committee of one from each state
and territory, with Senator Warren
as chairman, and proceeded to for
mulate a suitable bill. This work
having been accomplished, the bill
| was introduced in the senate by Mr..
Hansborough, and in the house of
Representatives by Mr.. Newlands. No
| legislation presented to an American
congress has had all of it's pro-
visions more carefully and thorough
| ly considered in all their bearings"
The special committee mentioned
in the report did diligent work. Each
member of the senate and of the house
of representatives kept the matter be-
fore the legislators, SO that when the
time came for voting everyone knew
the provisions of the measure and it's
ultimate object. Where all did well,
it is almost invidious to make any
distinctions; but it is generally admit
ted that Congressman Reeder, of Kan
sas, was exceptionally hard at work
all winter and spring in this behalf.
He talked irrigation to everybody and
all the time, in season and often out of
season.
Senator Warren, the chairman, in
fused his energy and earnestness into
the senate, until every senator real
lied that Warren was after water,
more water, and keeping them all in
hot water, on account of his irriga-
ton bill. The North Dakota senator,
Hansbrough, was like unto him. Mr..
Newlands, of Nevada, told everybody
that with irrigation Nevada would
support population of 6O,GOO,O0O as
easily as now she supports a popula-
ton of only 10000. Senator Clark, of
Montana, the richest man in the
world, and Senator Dubois, of Idaho,
one of the poorest men in public
life, We'd with each other in praying
for the irrigation of the arid lands
of their states.
And yet, with all this missionary
work done before the bill came up
for discussion in the house of repre-
sentatives, there were members ac-
lively opposed to it on various
grounds A score of amendments
were offered, all of them designed to
defeat the object of the bill. One
after another they were voted down,
and the bill was finally passed by
vote of LAG yeas to IS nays.
1t is expected that upwards of 200,-
600 acres of land will be annually re-
cIalHeu uHueI Chc PROVISIONS Oh Cn1S
law, until all of the millions of acres
of the desert shall have been re-
claimed and peopled with home own
ers. Irrigation is not an experiment.
1t was practiced before the dawn of
recorded history. Man attained his
first high degree of civilization I'm
der it's practice. Through its eff
cheney the great nations of antiquity
established and maintained their
might and glory. Egypt, Assyria, In,
dia, China are irrigated models for
us. We are taking a new departure
by following in the footsteps of the
wisest ancients. SMITH d. FRY.