Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-08-28
GHSEnAL MILES IN TME WEST.

As a Presidential candidate among
western people Mr.. Roose welt will be es.
pecially strong by virtue OF the public
support he has given to the policy OF
natioual irrigation. There is one other
mum in the United States. who not only
rivals tho President in this particular,
but who antedates and ma, thus surpass
him,
More than ID years ago, or in March
1890, General Nelson 4. Miles contrib.
uted to the North American Review an
article on Our Unwatered Empire in
which he laid the claims Of the national
policy Of irrigation strongly before the
country. lie called attention to the
vast nrid acres OF the west which might
be given to agriculture by a comphre.
nsiye system Of impoundinG the waters
OF the upper country and letting them
flow out as needed for agriculture. His
tory has taught us, he said that irriga-
ton lis the oldest and surest method Of
intelligent agriculture aud he proceeded
to urge a national system of irrigation
as follows:
The government Of our country has
an important mission to perform, now
that it has nee taken charge OF the
work, and it is presumed that it will
continue until Il time when the whole
irrigation system will be under it's con-
troll, with II simple law governing it
alike in all States and territories. Other.
wise there is danger NJ confusion and
clashing OF interests. AS to whether it
will be taken charge OF by the federal
government remains to be seen. The
enormous amount Of money required to
place the desert lands i'll Il productive
state wonld have to he furnished by the
government, as 1t would he impossible
for theSiates and ter ritnries to cumrIrte
such Il system rs is III contemplation ;
and the funds expended should. by Il
well ma,ured and comprehensive rlan
revert again tO the treasury OF the fed
eral government from the sale Of its
lands thus improved.
What WIS her urged by General
fN''NS u SliiC pCtu hNlDIttN III ictteTHI
law by the last Congress, and the arti
Gle III question was made particular use
OF i'll getting the present law through
Congress Thus i'll "A speech ON the bill
i'll the National House one OF the lead.
ers Of the irrigation forces, Mr.. New.
lands, Of Nevada. made the following
reference to it:
Tins article, broad comprehensive,
and statesmanlike covers all the phases
OF the irrigation question. and presents
every consideration that should appeal
to II cnlighten legislation. No speech in
the senate or in the house could present
the question in II more intelligent and at
tractive wy, and | shall republish this,
hot only because it presents the views
OF IA man Of distinction, who, not con.
tent with prominence i'll the art OF war.
has also trained himself in the art Of
OF peace aud III those great constructive
policies winch means the upbuilding OF
IA nation but also because this article,
printed in 1890 indicates that the pues.
ton was thoroughly understood twel se
years ago; that us nothing can now be
added to the argument then presented,
SD nothing can can be added twelve or
twenty years heEce and that "a great
question which has received the care.
ful consideration Of able minds for 50
long Il period, has received the sanction
Of the Board OF Trade and Chambers Of
Commerce throughout the land, and the
approval OF the three great political
parties in the last campaign can no long
or wait for action. Tho time is
now.
Miles the soldier is no stranger in the
West. But great us are his claims to-
consile ration there is this particular.
far exceeding those Of my other man
now living, that section also has reason
tn remember hIm ~ tho civilian early
presenting md strongly advocating a
great policy related tn the arts OF peace
which has now become embodied in ma
tional aw.-Sdringiield, Mass Repub.
lican,