Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-09-23

that such action will be overwhelm-
lngly favored. Other resolutions, out
linine distinct plan of forest prcser-
walton, are expected TO be adopted be-.
fore the sessions of the congress
CLOSE Tomorrow the subject of col
onizatiOn will be taken up and dis
cussed by men prominent in railway
and social work.
President Roosevelt. sent the fol
lowing letter. which was read 20 the
congress;
oyster Bay. y. T., Sept. l5.-The
passage of the National Irrigation
law was one OF the greatest steps not
only in the forward progress of the
states. but that of all mankind. II
was the beginning of an achievement
so great that We hesitate TO predict
the outcome. but IL was only "A begin
ming. Now. that the law is an accom-
plished fact. that law must be given
effect. To that end the reclamation
service organized under the national
irrigation law Of June II, 1892. has
been pushing its surveys and exami-
nation Of possible irrigation projects
energetically in each of the thirteen
states and three territories named In
the act. Some OF the projects which
promised well at first are found on
careful study to he impracticable.
either because of scanty water supply
or OF great costs; others must await
higher values In land. while still 9TH
ers stand the test and are ready for
immediate construction.
Feasible projects are always large
and costly because private enterprise
has already seized upon smaller and
less expensive ones. leaving to the
the great works which Is
to he an essential part In bringing the
nation to its full development Great
care and the highest engineering skill
are required to plan and build such
works, which are among the most diff
ficult undertakings Of mankind. They
must be built for permanence and
safety for tsey are 10 last and spread
for centuries. To design
and build such works a body OF engi-
neers OF the highest character have
been brought together in the rcclama-
tion service. for only men impartially |
elected for capacity alone are capable |
Of creating these great structures. /
Merit must govern, not only in the Sc
lection OF men, but still more in the |
selection of the projects. Every rec /,
lamation project selected for con
struction must possess qualities |
which commend il as a national un- I
dcrtaking certain to reclaim large |
tracts of arid land 10 support in well |
being dense and vigorous popula- !
tion.
Vast though the benefits OF the rec
lamation law. there will be many dis !
appointments which necessarily await |
both the advocate OF special projects 4,
and the men whose desire for accom- /
plshed results outruns the slow and I
steady development OF these great un- /
iertakings. II should be borne in |
mind that a broad survey of all pos
sible projects gives conception Of |
their relative values and that the
work of prime importance to one
group OF men may seem less desirable !
In the light of wider knowledge. For
is II wise in large affairs to begin con-
struction first and elaborate details
Each important point must |
be carefully studied in advance and
the whole plan tested and approved
before work can begin. Yet II We pro- |
ceed both cautiously and persistent. |
~ under this beneficent law we may
expect the largest posi- |
BILE development Of our arid lands
and their settlement by idustrious,
self-respecting Ren and
,,.il h..
ducts Of irrigated agriculture for the
products OF mills and factories all
throughout the United Staes. Com
hourishing in what is now a
desert will finally take their places
among the strongest pillars OF our
Irrigation development of the arid |
west can not stand alone. Forestry |
Is The companion and support OF irri-
CATION. Without forestry irrigation
must tail. Permanent irrigation de-
yelopment and forest destruction can
not exist together. Never forget that
the forest reserve policy OF the nation.
al government means the use Of all
resources sf the forest reserves.
There is little profit in destruction
with use. The settlement
Of the great arid west by makers OF
homes is the central object both OF
the irrigation and forest policy OF the
United States. In forestry, as In irri- |
CATION. the immediate private interest
of individuals must occasionally yield |
to their permanent advantage. which |
is public good. The benefits OF for
estry are not only for the future, but
for the present. Forest reserves are
for all the people. but first for the
people in the immediate neighborhood
for whom supplies Of wood and water
are among the first necessities Of life.
With wiser and more skillful manage |
ment of the reserves by trained men
greater obviously will their usefulness |
be 10 the public. We must never al !
low our ChaRriD at temporary defeat
and difficulties in the management OF
the forest reserves 10 blind us 10 the
a absolute necessity ol these reserves
10 the people OF the west. support OF
the forest reserve policy has grown |
with wonderful rapidity during the
past few years. II will continue 10
grow until the last yestige OF opposi.
ti0n. now almost gone. has wholly dis'
appeared before the true understand |
ing OF the object and effect OF the
forest reservation. Greater support
of the forest reserve by the people
OF the west In greater assurance that
the national irrigation policy will not
fail for preservation OF the forests
Is vital 10 the success Of this policy. |
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
a Remarkable Record.
,.L.,.l.rlafp'c CouUb RauaIV has /