Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-11-05

into the Humboldt Valley and supply
settlers in the vicinity of Reno. This
project is destined 20 reclaim about 20O.-
90 acres. The MIX River project in
northern Montana will reclaim nearly
10000 acres in the vicinity of Malta
aud Glasgow. At Tobto Greek. eighty
miles above Phoenix. Arix-. immense i'm
pounding reservoirs will provide a supply
Of water 20 irrieate about 2pppp acres
in Salt River Valley, which IS already
thiekiy settled.
Irrigation, Mother of Civtiix sston.
There is no one thing that portends
the future greatness Of the present c1vili-
alton more than the efforts now being
put forth In all arid regions Of the earth.
To make the desert and waste places
habitable and productive. Archeologisis
tell ms that where they have found mans
struggle hardest. there they have found
the highest types OF civilization that are
dead and gone. On the high plateaus of
South America and the mesas Of Mexico.
in the desert where flows the Nile. on
the bieachei plains Of Arabia and where
the sacred Ganges courses 10 the sea,
are found traces of feats of irrigating
skill. broken works OF art. ruined tenn
pies and shrines that equal and in some
instances surpaS- the boosted skill OF
modern engineering. art aud architecture.
As q nation. America may be justly
proud of her greatness. but IL we would
continue 10 grow and endure. we must
encourage all moves that seek TO make
Us a nation OF rural homes rather than
a people ot great cities. We should
strive to build up more homes with sur
rounding- OF simplicity and truth. where
coming generations may grow TO matur-
iiy. uncorrupted by the superficial gilt
ter and gilded vice OF the city.
The United States leads all other ooun-
tries os the earth in the production of
wheat. corn. cotton. wool, beef. pork.
mutton and edible fowls. Misions Of
people across the seas are dependent
upon this country for both food and
clothing. !; is our vast agricultural re-
sources that constitute our great national
wealth and economic independence of the
rest Of the world The source and store
house of this great national wealth Is
the land that. through mans industry
and skill. produces all these staples OF
food aud clothing. these necessities for
the life and well being of the people of
the earth. How important 1t is. then,
that this great store-honse Of wealth be
preserved and enlarged by the reelama
ton Of the arid West.
Ideal Irrigated Homes.
A very small farm unit. says W T.
Smythe. makes ii possible for those who
III the soil 20 live in the town. The
farm Village or home center is a well
established feature of life in arid Amer
lea and the feature which i destined to
enjoy wide and rapid extension. Each
four or five thousand acres of cultivated
land will sustain thrifty and beautiful
hamlet where all the people may live
close together and enjoy most Of the So
cial and educational advantages withan
the reach of the best eastern towns.
Their children win have kindergar-
tens as well as schools and public lib
raries. and reading rooms. as well as
churches. The farm village, lighted by
electricity. furnished with domestic water
through pipes. served with free postal
delivery and supplied with its own daily
newspapers at morning and evening has
already been realized in arid America. |
The great cities OF the western valleys
will not be cities in the old sense, but
q long series OF beautiful villages con-
necred by lines OF electric motors. which |
will move their products and people from |
place to place. In this scene OF intense |
ly cultivated land. rich with its bloom |
and fruitage, with its spires and roofs |
and with its carpets of green and gold |
stretching away to the mountains, it will |
be difficult for the beholder to say where |
the town ends and the country begins
III you wish to contribute your part in |
bringing about these and countless other |
blessings, vote for Roosevelt and Fair |
banksi