The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-09
HOhEhAKER Or
THE SPEGULAIOR!
Most important Problem to Be
Solved in Irrigation.
CONGRESS MUST SETTLE 1T
William {. Smythe Presents
1t in a Clear Manner.
CONGRESS MUST SETTLE 1T

Shall the nations great domain Of west
ern arid lands and the nations money
be used to enrich a comparatively few
greedy individuals. or shall they be used
to furnish security and happiness for
millions of men, women and children?
Uncle Sam is still rich enough to give
US all farm. And an irrigated farm, at
that 1t is not a dream but a fact that
the present population OF the United
States can be duplicated on the arid pub
lie domain in the west.
This can be done without making new
competitors for those already engaged in
agricultural pursuits in the east and in
the south. On the other hand, this won
derful act of planting a new nation in
what is now all but an unbroken wilder
ness will confer enormous benefits on
those sections which are already covered
with farms, factories and towns.
The subjugation and settlement OF the
great empire of public lands means that
every factory wheel in the United States
must whirl faster that every banking
house must handle more money. and that
every railroad must transport more pas
sengers and freight. This. in turn, means
a larger business population in every
eastern and southern town. and that, OF
course. will quicken and enlarge the de-
mand for all the products of the soil in
the older sections Of the country.
In the meantime. that which is grown
from the soil to be conquered by irriga-
ton in the W st will go almost exclusive
ly TO the feeding Of the new home-mar-
kets to be created within the arid region
itself and to the satisfaction Of unlimited
demands in the Orient and the frozen
north.
Congress has decreed that the great pol
icy Of national irrigation shall be entered
upon without delay. Already the engin-
GERS and surveyors are doing their work
and five great projects have been report
ed favorably to the Interior Department.
Only about 5000. 900 are required TO carry
all five to completion and the money is
in the treasury awaiting the call. But
upon the threshold OF the greatest con-
structive policy to which this nation ever
set its hand new and appalling obstacle
is encountered.
Almost every acre OF these lands which
the nation is about TO prepare for the
swarming OF a home-building population
may, under existing laws, be stolen and
used as the basis of a profitable specula-
ton. And those who desire to secure
these lands for speculative purposes are
strong enough TO tie the hands of con-
gress until the deed shall have been done.
This. too. in spite of the fact that the
President Of the United States has urged
the repeal Of these Ubiquitous land laws
as something which is vital 20 the sue
cess of the national irrigation policy.
Shall the nations land then. and the
nations money be used 10 enrich a com
paratively few greedy individuals, or
shall they be used to furnish security
and happiness for millions OF men. wom-
en- and children?
This is the question which must be an
swered when congress meets again. The
answer depends absolutely upon the will
of the people as 1t shall be made known
TO their representatives at Washington
No power on earth, except the power OF
an enroused and indignant publid opin-
ion. can save the arid region from falling
prey 10 the spectators who are alive 20
their opportunity while the people are
asleep.
In his last message, the President rec
commended the repeal Of the Desert Land
Law, and the Communication clause OF the
Homestead Law. and Of the Timber and
Stone Act. These are the provisions Of
existing statutes under which absolutely
the most valuable property now owned
by the American people is being syste-
maticaily absorbed into private ownership
by those who cannot use II, but who pro
pose to sell II at enormous proat 10 real
bonsseekers when the nation shall have
multiplied its value a hundred-foid By
means OF irrigation
The nation has land for every man who
will make his home upon II in good faith
who will break the sod. plant crops
build a house. and settle down TO sup
mort his family from the soil But he
nation has no iand-at least. Il ought 70
have none-for the man who merely seeks
IN forestau the actual settler and sell
out to him at a profit, or become land
lord collecting income from hts tenants.
Under present land laws millions of
acres are being taken b. those who have
10 thought OF breaking the soil. planting
crops OF building homes. They are mere
adventures and spectators
The Desert Land Law gives them a
chance 70 obtain for song. without resi-
dsnce and without cultivation. three hun
dred and twenty acres CT the richest sol
on earth-enough for sixteen families.
The Communication clause Of the Homestead
law gives them q chance % take - one
hundred ard sixty acres. but the bsrest
pretence % residence. and mat ioT CRY
fourteen months The Timber and stone
Act enables them 70 acquire forests ard