The Delta independent., 1904-09-23
NATIONAL IRRIGATION.
It Involves No Taxation and Its Bepe'
ffa VIII He Meaaureleaa.

6ts Will BE Measurcless.
The new national irrigation law. In
spired by President Roosevelt, Is des-
tined to reclaim 15O,OOO,0OO acres Of
fertile soil during the next thirty years
These lands are located west Of the
Missouri river and are now barren des-
erts. Cut up into 2Oacre farms, 7,5OO,-
900 families could be accommodated.
With five In family the population
would be 37,5OO,OOO souls. Mining towns.
manufacturing centers and numbering In
terests would spring into life as conse-
quence, and sustain an equal population
perhaps much larger. Thus within one
generation we may possibly see, newly
established in the West, population
fully equal to that Of the entire United
States at present.
The fund already provided for this
talismanic rejuvenation will continue to
revolye in n circle until its blessed work
is completed. Then 1t will be turned
back into Uncle Sans treasury in its
entirety. The government has never be-
fore enacted law freighted with such
possibilities of good to the citizen and
home builder. The Republican home
stead law was the best thing of its kind
up to now; but the irrigated home, turned
over to the occupant at the actual cost
of irrigating 1t, beats the world. No
man can purchase more than 100 acres
of the government irrigated land. He
must reside upon it five years and pay
for the cost of irrigating In ten equal
annual instnllments, without interest.
These moneys come from the sale Of
public lands in the arid States, and no
citizen OF the United States is taxed for
this purpose. Even five per cent of these
funds goes to the States and territories
interested, for educational purposes, less
the cost Of handling the business. 1t
was estimated that 1t would require ten
years to accumulate $25 100000 In the
fund. Only two years have elapsed
since the passage of the law, and there
Is about 5000. 600 already accumulated.
Being ultra conservative, and estimat-
ing only $500O,O0O annual income, II
will be seen that during the first ten
years the gross amount will be eked out
to S5O,OOOOOO. In the second ten-ycnr
period <50.0OO.OOO more would come in
from the same source, and, in addition,
the $50,O0O.OOO invested In the first ten
years would come back for re-invest-
ment This would make total sum
available for investment In new works
in the second ten-year period Of $780,
100000. This whole sum of 1OO.OOO.OO0
would come back again for re-investment
in the thirl ten-year period, and another
$50. 100000 would be added to 1t from
sales OF land during this third ten years.
making n total sum available in the third
ten-year period for investment In new
works. S1JO.UO.OOO. The sum OF $500
100000 would thus have been used in
the construction of reclamation works.
II no other moneys were made available,
within n period Of thirty years.
After all the land which could he re-
claimed by the national government hal
Lcen prepared for reclamation and settle
ment. the whole amount which the gov
ernmcnt had invested In these works of
reclamation would finally come back To
1t. II is In this reinarka BILE fnct-that
every dollar invested by the government
for the reclamation Of the arid public do
main is to be paid back to il by the set
tiers who get tn. iand-that the great
strength and potepcy " the act lies. IL
was chiefly this fcatufc OF the law that
commended II To the conservative judI-
mcnt OF the people Of the country gen
orally.
Only the government is equal to the
hcrculean taS Title to the arid lands
rests In the government II II unsuitable.
The mountains are filled with minerals
OF every description for which man has
ever found n use. Their pre,-ipitou-, un'
tillnble sides are covered with forest
Hrowths that will perp.tunlly serve To
house the nation. Their high attitudes
are natures eternal reservoirs OF mois-
ture. II is here that she ''hcaves hcf
white breasts nearest the sky. and locks
the storm In a cold embrace" Irrixa'
ton is the key that is to unlock this
wealth To teeming millions. Here and
there In favored spots privat. enterprise
has .apped these living streams aud res
rrvoirs. md cities Of wonderful beauty
have sprung up out OF the desert. n- II
Icy mnric. Individual effort has shown
irrigation to 10. feasible. Lands have
been bought from til. government, or en-
tered under the land law. improved. tax
able property created: and national
wealth has followed. The nation could
do even better Ia tb. improvement of II,
own property.
| Measurel.ss are to H. the benefits &c
the Nation from this National Irrigation
movement. From it, economic. from IL,
social. from it's moral side. the problem
il unnssailab.. =" one can gninsny th'
vital need OF its establishment as soot
as possible. On the tillagc Of tho sol
rests the prosperity Of nil other indus
tries. Upon tho nphuilJing "f homet
rests the Independence "f n nation. 1rri
cation compcls small holdings. and in
crcases the number "f those who call n,
man master.
Irrigation is n fruitful theme for study
II has n boundlcss potency for civiliza
tion. On the desert sands Of Egypt J
reared the most mighty empire OF an
cicnt days. In lndin II Is to-day reyivi
flying and m"Icrnizins wasted land. II
America its mission hns but begun, yc
gives promise of untold blessings to man