The river press., 1904-10-19
Irrigation Will Change Deserts to Gardens and
Provide Lands for Millions Of Homes.
ROOsEvElT's STRONG, FRIENDLY HAND
A Policy that Increases the Sum Of Human
Happiness and EnIarges and Strength
ems the Republic

country aboullS in mountains, plains
and valleys. 1t is here that the govern-
ment proposes to apply the workings Of
the National Irrigation Act and to re-
claim ill Of the arid land which may
be ascertained to be arabic and which
| IS found to be susceptible of reclana-
ton by the amount OF water available
Government experts estimate that the
present amount Of land which may be
irrigated is about one hundred million
acres. This can be reclaimed by apply
ing the amount Of water now available,
direct. Ii is also estimated that after
irrigation has been applied to the soil
| for three or four years. Il less quantity
or water is necessary and hence an ad
ditional area of perhaps fifty millions
acres more may possibly be added to the
reclamation area.
| Nature Did the NeeJful.
Nature seems to have employed every
resource at it's command to make the
mountain and plain region the most fav-
ored portion of the earth's surface for
the habitation of man. This section will
one day be the seat of empire Of the
United States. and, consequently. the
u
thousand miles there are successive
chains Of mountains, in general course
running north and south aud on parallel
lines, with numerous valleys occupying
the immediate ground.
Each valley, large or small has it's
stream. carrying. with rapid fall. the
melting SHOWS of the tributary noun
tains. The grades in general favor the
~ mt nF ~,
take the water from streams and carry
lit at moderate fall to lines above
the cultivated land. As the spring sea-
son advances. the rainfall decreases, the
crops need more and more water, which
is furnished automatically by the gradual
increase of the temperature along and
mp the mountain side reaching the light
est deposit of snow first. and then. during
the later and hotter months, drawing
upon the reserve of the deeper and less
easier melted ice at the higher attitudes
Fertility Of Arid Soil.
Under the rains Of centuries much OF
the soluble plant foods in eastern soils
have been washed into the sea. Where
| no rainfall exists the plant food remains.
The government analyses of soils show
that the arid lands average three timeS
ns much potash, six times as much mag
| ncsia and fourteen times as much lime
as the humid lands. Amy farmer will
tell you that a limestone country is
rich country. 10 replace the food taken
| by growing plants the eastern farmer
| resorts to fertilizers and manure Start
ing with Il rich soil, the irrgatonist also
finds fertilizing strength, in the water he
uses. The manurial value held in solu-
tion in :ai inches Of water-the amount
applied to one acre in a season at the
University OF Arizona-,mounted to
x9.O7. Ten acres under irrigation aver
age better returns than 4O-acre crops, in
the usual way.
Land Very Valuable.
In those communities Of the west
which have been created by irriga ton,
the average yield of wheat. potatoes and
small fruits far exceeds that of the best
farming district in Iowa or Missouri
or the best part OF the Mississippi Val
ley. Although comparatively remote
from the worlds markets for products,
an acre OF land under water rights in
the very heart OF the arid region, will
command higher price than an acre in
the humid Mississippi Valley. The farm
crs have learned that 40 acres. we'll till
cd, will yield more profit than 400 acres
farmcd in the old. haphazard way. In
tensive farming and larger profits from
smaller farms are making closely settled
communities, establishing nearby neigh.
hors. schools. churches, and libra ries and
the isolation OF old farm life no longer
exists. The farmer makes more money,
and the deAdly nlnnOtOny Of life does
not drive his children from home. or
his wife TO the insane asylum.
Roosevclt tlmmortalized. l
The passage Of the National Irriga
ton Act is talrtamonnt to saving that
the west is already redeemed-it is now
only a question of time. Perhaps no
law has been passed since the founda-
tion OF this government winch has been
or can be so prolific in great and last
ing results to the United States. No
law has ever been enacted which will
add so much stability, wealth. happi-
ness and general prosperity to the peo-
pie and the government as the Nationa!
Irrigation Law.
Here is Il new field for the most hope
full speculation. 1t cannot be that any
human mind has Yet been Il BILE to esti-
mate the far-rcaching. the fruitful re.
suits which will follow in the wake OF
this National Act. Lincoln is immortal
lied for his Emancipation Proclamation.
Roosevelt will be immortalizeh because
he has done that which will set free
from the thraldom Of the congested cen,
ters OF population, millions Of families
who can aud will feel grateful to him
and his memory as they sit under their
own vine and tigtree and enjoy all the
comforts and contentment OF their new
ant. enlarged life of health, happiness
and usefulness.
| Make it easy for the ayrrare citizen