Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-01
Shall Arid Western Lands be Used
For Few or Many2
WHAT W. f. SMYTHE SAYS.
Under Present Land Laws millions Of
Acres Are Going 20 Those who Have
No rhought of Breaking the soil.

lively few greedy individuals, or shall
they be used 10 furnish security and
happiness for millions Of men, women
and children?
Uncle Sam is still rich enough 10
give us al a farm. And an irrigated
farm, at that It IL not a dream but
fact that the present population of
The United staes can be duplicated on
the arid public domain in the west
This can be done without making
new competitors for those already en-
gagged IN agricultural pursuits in the
easI and In the south. On the other
hard, this wonderful act Of planting a
new nation in what is now all but an
unbrOken wilderness will confer enOrm-
OUT benefits on those sections which
arc already covered with farms, fac
tories and towns,
The subIugation and settlement OF the
great empire Of public lands means
that every factory wheel In the Unit
ed States must whlrl faster. that eve
ny banking house must handle more
money and that every railroad must
transport more passengers and freight.
This, IN turn, means a larger and bust
er population In every eastern and
southern town, and That, OF course, win
quicken and enlarge the demand for
all the products OF the soil IN the old
er sections OF the country
WESTERN IRRIGATION
In the meantime, that which is grown
from the soil to be conquered by irriga-
ton IN the west will go almost ex-
cluslYoly TO the feeding OF new home
markets 10 be created within the arid
region itself and to the satisfaction OF
unlimited demands in the orient and In
the frozen north.
Congress has decreed that the great
policy OF national irrigation shall be
entered upon without delay. Already
the engineers and surveyors are doing
their work, and five great projects have
been reported fayorably to the interior
department Only about $1,000 00) are
required to carry all five TO compile
tion. and the money Is IN the treasury
awaiting the call But upon the
threshold of the greatest constructive
HIili1 " hAIili AiliN itHAION ever EEl
Its hand, @ new and appalling obstacle
Is encountered
Almost every acre OF these lands
Which the nation Is about 10 prepare
for the swarming ~ home building
population may under existing laws be
stolen and used as the basis of a profit
able speculation. And those who de-
sire to secure these lands for specula-
tive purposes are strong enough to tie
the hands OF Congress 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 inlquitous land laws as some
thing which is vital TO the success OF
the national irrigation policy
FEW OR MANY.
Shall the nations land. then. am the |
nations money be used TO enrich a
few greedy individuals. |
Or shall they be used 10 furnish secure /
~ aud happiness for millions OF men, |
women and children
This Is the question which must be |
when Congress meets again. |
The answer depends absolutely upon
he will OF the people as t shall be /
made known to their representatives at
No power on earth, ex-
'ept the power Of an ar0usd and indig-
lant public opinion can save the arid
'eg'on from falling prey ia the specu-
ators who are alive to their OppOrtuni-
y while the people are asleep
IN his last message. the president re-
the repeal OF the desert land |
aW. Of the Communication clause OF the
lomertead law aud Of the timber and
tone act. These are the provisions OF
Xishng statutes under which absolute
y the most valuable property now
'wned by the American people is being
Systematically absorbed into private
by those who carnot uge Il.
nat who propose to sell IL at enormous
'roht TO real homeyeekers when the ma
ion shall have multiplied It's value an
undredfolc hy means OF irrigation.
The nation has land Tor every man
rhO VIII make his home upon II in
God faith--who viii break the sod.
liant crops, build a house. and settle
own 20 support his family from the
OIL But the nation has no land
[ least, 1t ought 20 have non for the
ran who merely seeks TO foreAall the
ctu1l settler and aol out 20 him at
profit, or become a landlord coll citing
lcome from his tenants
THE ADVENTURER.
Under present land laws millions OF
ores are being taken by those who
ave no thought Of breaking the soil
lantlns crops, or building homes They
re mere adVenturers aud spectators.
The desert land law gives them
nance Go obtain Tor song without
'sldenco ana without cultivation three
lndred and twenty acres OF the richest
'il on earth-enough for sixteen
lmilies The Communication clause OF
ie homestead laws give them a chance
take Up one hundred and sixty acres
TN nut the barcst preteuce OF resi-
'hce, aud that Tor only fourteen
onths The timber ard stone act en-
)les them 20 acquire forests and quar-
es for @ bleatelle and 10 hold them
% speculative advances.
Frank stockton left the hero Of his
nous tale hesitating before TWO doors.
he opened one 70 meant NE and
lpplness; " the other death. And
Ie question was never answered-"the
ldE or the Tiger"
lhct Sam STANDS 90 the door Of the |
id region Ills foot Is on ths
leshold. his hand is az the latch.
shall - De the homemaker or the
'coulator? Shall Il De life and hap
ness for millions or a riot and a
.rnlyal ~ speculation AZ the expense =
The pe0plc2 ,
There Is hul one way 10 answer the ,
iesiicn IN IN interest u the nations
eliare That is % repeal the yicl-
IS provisions 81 the existing land
VS., ln accordance with the presidents
WILLIAM r.. SMYTHE.
=
Ia $50 N.r. q. . tt..s..t.s. - ,