La Junta tribune., 1904-10-01
President RooseveIts National Irrigation Act to
Be Wonder Worker.
MILLIONS OF CHEERFUL, HAPPY HOMES
Avenue of Relief to Congested Cities-Heath,
Prosperity and Patriotism Fostered by
Contact with SoiI-RepubIican
Party Leads the Way.

Even the Democrats are beginning to
realize something OF the possibilities for
eusd which are TO come to the whole
United States through the natjona! irri-
estton act passed by 4 Republican Con
sress, and signed by President Roosevelt
June 7, 1902. The Democrats are now
claiming that they did it" Still, the
facts remain that President Roosevelt,
by the force OF his own identity. put the
measure through Congress aud made IL
the law OF the land with his Official sig
nature a. President.
II Is not dream. but a fact, that the
present population of the United States
oan be duplicated on the arid public do
main in the West This can be done
without making new competitors for
those already engaged in agricultural
pursuits in the East aud In the South.
On the other hand this wonderful act
of planting a new nation In what Is now
ell but an unbroken desert will confer
enormous beaedts on those sections
which are already covered with farms,
factories and towns
Big Internal Probiems-
In our great West, a population OF
10000 OO0 might live In prosperous CON
temtment There Is everything to inspire
and reward their industry-the charm of
climate and of scenery. the fertility OF
soil. the unima ginsble wealth of water,
forest aud mine, and. across the Pacific,
new worlds to conquer. Our biggest IN
tsrnai question to-day Is the preparation
and colonization of this productive area
T1his nation must keep on with its his
tDric work Of civilization. Ii must con
s,aue that marvellous reciprocal process
II 4. l. 4 - t.t t.,,.
measurable heights Of economic power
0,e making OF new communities to feed
sise old. the enlargement OF old communi
tics - feed the new. The longest step
yet taken 10 this end il adoption OF the
plan of national irrigatiun-chiehy
through the instrumentalty OF President
Roosevelt. II is a new policy, only nt
present In its experimental stage. but
those whs know most about II believe II
u . measure big with national fate.
Momentons New Era.
We are entering upon a new and mo-
mentous era that calls for the highest
qualities OF constructive state-manship.
The movement must he broadly founded
aad firmly and intelliyently managed. We
arc planning, not for ourselves but for
future generations, for we are the fore
fathers of a mighty future In n mighty
land. lf we are equal to our duty and
our opportunities, we shall make homes
for hundred million OF the freest men
who ever walked the -arth-
We are living In an age OF mighty
achievement Engineerin; works which
the last generation would have thought
an irnpossibilhy will be the completed
task of this generation. The New York
subway, the great tunnel of the Penn.
aylyania railroad. the Isthmian canal and
che Salt River reservoir in Arizona and
other mammoth irrigation projects viii
acon stand ns completed monuments to
the constructive genius OF our people and
this age. The future is potent with still
grander undertakings which will. In
few brief years. also stand as accom-
piished facts Egypt was for centuries
the granary OF the world. That land OF
mystery and romance was the cradle of
cur civilization. For countless ages the
Nile has risen annually. 60 fertilize the
land which has yielded. from year to
year. the sustennnec Of tecming millions.
Greatest Question OF the Age.
The question Of irri-n ton which now
confronts the people Of the United States
h one of the most important OF the age.
1t Is of more Importance than the 18th
milan canal or = deep waterway to the
eea. IL involves the solution Of the for
est and feod problem. IL embraces the
future Internal development OF the Unit
Cd States. II will require years OF work
60 perfect the system of national irrixi-
zion. bot Il will be the greatest benefit
ever conferred on the western people.
Men may be cruel and unfair. but ns-
tnrr is generous and utterly impartial
The earth, the sun and the waters are
a. Kind to the poor as 10 the rich The
roses do not stop to look up mans
financial standing before consenting to
bloom for him. They grow wherever
planted They cover the poor mans cot
ssEe as gladly a. they do the rich mans
villa.
Hs.bs rdrv N,kes rs.riots-
Nations may spring into being. gener-
afed by the force OF IDEAS alone. but
ahe vigorous manhood. the mature growth
Of q STATE can only be nurture,i and
built up upon the Abundant ani mani
fold productions OF the earth. The very
existence and advance Of civilization are
firmly grouDdci on material resources
Nations become great and Independent
as ther Sevelop genius for grasping the
forces and materials OF nature within
their reach and converting them into
sssaiy towing strea IN Of wealth and com
fort
To hold . people in industrious. pro-
ductive. contented habits. habits Of vir-
ane and Of patriotism 81 is neeisui TO
give them an interest in the cultivation
Of Lana This fact - seen along the
ohore- Of historic time Wherever gov
ernment has made laws which bsve Civ
- the people sf the Land its occupancy
- fair terms then content and plenty
have been every hand Wherever i:
Ass hpen hard for the ms~-s tn obtain
g. - Of the land. then discoasens sui
G3cs;ties hsve be>a rampant On every
SD1- aA frequently nafisaai rais b,s
Apa ne rerait The nosi-.a ~ to which
aaB 0nn - psopie csn pss hiso<y is u
enks Z eitAes - wsrnisR - siss n
ssruse3sA- In ~ Cnirea 0lstss 80 havs
- Va6sg. ssanfisy asa va>ssy ss1A ~