The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-17
COMMANDER

n HERE arc probably few more import
ant questions now occupying the at
tention of this country. nay, Of the
world. than that which is the occasion
Tor the gathering OF this national con-
gress- TO render habitable and TO popu-
late millions Of acres of rich land which
has hitherto been labeled desert" and
arid owing TO the lack Of water, IS
magnificent undertaking. worthy OF the
combined genius Of the national solous
and magi-the wise men of the west-whO
have here gathered 10 exchange views
and lay plans for the future. If Abraham
was known as a friend of God and Ia
Their of nations, we may regard this per-
haps as a congress Of observation-disclosures
OF man and fathers of nations, who shall,
with Gods blessing, fulfill the ancient
prophecy and literally make the deserts
OF America, nav, of the world, blossom
as a rose" thus providing an ample home
and harbor for its teeming millions.
In September, 1884, the sixth Nauoaat
Irrigation congress passed the following
resolution:
Resolved. That we have heard with
great interest and great pleasure Mrs
ton Of the purposes Of the Salvation
Army in organizing colonies of the worthy
poor Ia our great cities 20 settle and build
homes upon the rich irrigated lands Of
the west This is grand, noble and pa
triotic work. and deserves the earnest
commentator and support OF every clJl-
zen of our country. The west extends
hearty welcome 20 these people, and we
pledge our sympathy and support in aid
ing these people to make happy homes
upon our rich and productive land
Expectations FULFILLED.
That was looking forward before
single colony had been started or a spade
turned. The hearty ring of that genuine
western welcome has echoed in our ears
fnn md hu hQI oh e, H. MIL %,
the subsequent success Of our plans. On
the present occasion instead of looking
forward to what might appear an Opti-
mlsuc view OF the prospects in favor of
colonization, we are able to 'loOk back
ward" and to say that our most Sangulne
expectations have been fulfilled, and TO
thank this national congress for the early
and intelligent interest II manifested in
our effort TO solve the important question
Of systematic colonization Our meth DDS
ana plans have since received the end Orse-
ment Of the most eminent sociOIOgists
and statesmen of this country, and while
the extent Of our enterprise has been nee
essarily limited by the amount of capital
at our disposal, the fact that with sucn
limited resources God has enabled us to
accomplish so much has made these re-
suits appear the more remarkable.
Personally 7 feel the deepest interest in
the question of irrigation. Having spent
some twenty years in India, part of the
time as a government official responsible
t0r the welfare OF tee people, and part gG
the time as Salvation Army missionary
wearing the HipdoO gaTb. dwelling IN
their houses and intimately acquainted
with their daily life, 7 have had perhaps
exceptional opportunities for witnessing
me immense advantages that lie within
the reach of systematic irrigation. In IN
dia some of the largest rivers are cap
tured and guided from their mountain
sources to their ocean outlet, retaining
millions Of acres that would otherwise be
mere desert and returning in some cases
as much as Is and 20 per cent interest
on the capital invested. Not only SO. but
the Hindoo farmer also utilizes to the ut
most Ii,6si. the ,, underflow by means Of wells
wheels and bullock power
Success in India.
one main reason, however. why I'm In
ora irrigation has met with sucn remark
able success has been the fact that on
the borderland and often in the very
midst of these irrigated areas dvyelIs an
enormous and purely agricultural com
munlty consisting of small farmers ma
uon or market gardeners one might al
most call them-who are ready to occupy
every acre Of land as fast as it is irri-
gated, and who have been trained in am
the advantages OF irrigation from child
IlOou- u ne movement Of population has
mere been automatic, and has required
but little guidance or announcements on
the part of the government.
Our case is somewhat different and the
lacL that this congress iS bestOwing care
tul consideration upon the kindred sub
Ject OF colonization, is to me fun of en-
To irrigate is to populate. to populate is
10 COLOMBO. This congress cannot / be-
neNe- TOO strongly emphasize the fact that
irrigation is dependent for its s,,c,cass-
upon population Colonization may he
defined as the pOpulating of hitherto un-
occupied tracts Of land. Systematic. sci
enutic colonization is to haphazard COL
onlzation what the railroad Is TO tile prai-
re schooner or what irrigation is to the
mountain torrent or what the red Indian
tepee 3 to the modern city hall. or what
{he galley Of Columbus is to the Atlantic
Lack Of System.
The lack Of systematic colonization has
caused the failure of not few excellent
and thoroughly practicable Irrigation
schemes. The reason for this is not far
20 seek. A canal which will irrigate saw
lVeVb acres of land is necessarily a
costly enterprise. The interest and up-
Keep can easily be met If the whole tract
be quickly occupied But If a small por-
ton only be settled, either the colOnists
Will be dishesrtCned and driven away by
the heavy charges made in the effort 10
meet expenses and pay dividends. or the
investors viii become discouraged at the
lorg delay and nOn-receipt of a fair re-
turn FOR their investment. Ina either elise
The enterprise will be killed in It's initial
Scientific colonization can secure the
rapid and Immediate enjoyment Of the
fruits or irrigation. Each is a necessity
70 the Other An lh-diEestod and hap
hazarI scheme OF irrigation will iniure
ir not ruin, colonization. Similarly an un-
systematic plan Of colonization will &c
QuentlY ruin the best laid and most fea-
siblc plans for irrigation.
Scientific colonization will not wait for
tie farmer with capital, any more than
manufacture will wait for the labOrer
With capital Imagine the captain of in
dustry who would employ no labOrcr who
did not POSSESS q few thousand dollars
And vet this IL the course which ColOni-
ZdtiOn has pursued.
The most that the capitalist. or land
owner, or irrigatiOnist, has been willing
To 10 in the past has been 10 bring the
water o. the land and accept time pay
ments for the latter from the settler.