The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-09-24
Telegram to National Irrigation
Congress at Ogden, Utah,
Last Year.
GREATEST STEP FORWARD"
SUCH lie the Presidents Opinion of
Grigation-Message Shows Vast Fund
Of Information on Reclamation
OF Arid Lands.

President Roosevelt sent the following
Gsessage to the National Irrigation Con-
gress In session at Ogden, Utah, Sept.
To- 1903. 1t is characteristic of the
man. 1t shows broad, deep, patriotic
interest In both irrigation and forestry.
Il also shows his mastery intellectual
grasp OF any and all topics concerning
thS public welfare:
Oyster Bay, N. =, Sept. IS, 1908.
The passage Of the National Irrigation
law was one Of the greatest steps. not only
"a the forward progress Of the States, but
sothat of all mankind.
90 great that we hesitate to predict the
Sutcome, but It was only the beginning.
Now that the law Is an accomplished fact,
that must be given effect. To that end the
exclamation service organized under the
Hatlonal IRRIGATION Law of June II, 1902,
has been pushing its surveys aud examina
zion OF possible irrigation projects ener
Eetlcally In each OF the thirteen States and
ehree Territories named In the act. Some
OF the projects which promised we'll at first
are found on careful study to be imprac-
0cahle. either because of scanty water sup.
ply or OF great cost Others must await
higher values In land, while still others
construction.
Necessity of National Aid.
The feasible projects are always large
ana costly, because private enterprise has
already seized upon the smaller and less
expensive Ones leaving to the government
She great works which are to be so essen.
Aal part IN bringing the nation to its
est! development. Grent care and the high.
cot. engineering skill required to plan
and build such works, which are among the
most difficult undertakings of mankind. They
aust be built for permanence and safety.
sor they are to last aud spread prosperity
Tor centuries. To design and build such
works body of engineers of the highest
character have been brought together IN
u fnr h1V
partially seie'ted for capacity alone are
capable Of ccenting these great structures.
Merit must govern, not only IN the selec-
sf the projects.
Every reclamation project selected fer
construction must possess the qualities
eng certain to reclaim large tracts of arid
land and to support In we'll being d dense
ehd vigorous population; Vast though the
pc many disappointments which necessarily
await both the advocate Of special projects
aud the men whose desire of accomplished
eesuits outruns the slow aud steady devel-
&pment of these great undertakings. 1t
should be borne In mind that broad sur
Ssy OF al possible projects gives the con.
etptiOR Of their relative value, aud that u
work Of prime Importance 20 one group Of
Aen may seem less desirable In the Light OF
wider knowledge.
caution Urged.
Nor ls It wise In large affairs to begin
sOnBt first, and elaborate details uf.
serwardS. Each important point must be
carefully studied In advance, and the whole
plan tested 4nd approved before work can
begin. Yet II we proceed both cautiously
and peTSIstently under this bruefcent law,
we may confidently expect the largest pos
Si6le development Of our arid lands and
their settlement 10y Industrious, prosperous
self Respecting men aud wOmen who will
exchange the products of irrigated agrlcul
cure for the products Of mills and factories
throughout the United States. Communal
sizes dourlShtng la what Is now the desert
will hnaly take their places among the
strongest pillars OF our Commonwealth.
The irrigation development Of the arid
West cannot stand alone. Forestry Is the
epmganion AND support Of irrigation. With
cut forestry, irrigation must fall. Vermun
cut Irrigation development aud forest dc
6Gructl0n cannUS exist together Never for
Get that the IOrvst-reserre policy Of the
eational government means the Use Of HL
she resources of the forest reserves. There
y little profit Ia destruction compared with
Home" Making Chief Object.
The settlement Of the great arid West by
fhe makers OF homes Is the central object. |
Both of the irrigation and the forest puLcy
ef the United States. In forestry, us liz
Irrigation, the Immediate private Interests
q sunie Individual mist occasionally ylrh
90 their permanent advantage, which Is the
Rublic good. The beneuLS of forestry ar,
Dot only for the future, but for the present
Whe forest rest rVCs are for ul the Peep e.
but first for The people In the immediate
@etghborhuOd, t"r WHOM supplies Of wuud
end water are among the first urcessaries Of
hfe. wi it'll the wiser aud m"rr skllfu
management of the reserve 10y trained men.
ehe greater obviously will their usefulness
Dc TO the public.
Ultim0te Wccest SUres
We must never allow Our chaGTln at TEN
borary defeat aud ,dtthcu.tlvs la the uau
hsemeat of the forest rrscrN es to hInd us
20 the absolute necessity of these reserves
TO the proule of the West.
Support of the forest reserve policy has