The state herald., 1904-10-14
flow Irrigation Will Develop the One and Ccr-
tainy Secure the Other.
ROOSEvELT'S INSPIRING AMERICANISM
While Creating a New Agricultural and Horti.
cultural World at Home, He Would
Establish Commercial Pres
tige in the Orient.

The heart of the great West has been
touched by the sincere, persistent, effec-
tive friendship of President Roosevelt.
1t had begun, but only partially. to feel
its great need; when this strong, ideal
American stepped mp to it and handed
it the golden key which is to unlock its
limitlcss, latent wcalth-greater than the
combined mineral deposits of all the
world
By one stroke of his pen he gave the
United States n new empire greater i'll
possibilities, for good to the human race.
than all that other great section situat-
ed between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Mississippi River. The National lrri-
cation Act will transform 125,O0O,OOO
acres Of land from desert to garden. 1t
will create the greatest home market this
country has ever known. II will make
happy homes for millions of free Ameri-
cans. II will establish forever the pres
Gge of our commerce in the Orient. 1t
will cause President Roosevelts name
and his official acts to be gratefully re-
membered for all time to come.
All the People Interested.
All American citizens are essentially
interested in the operations of the Ma
tional Irrigation Act for the reason that
its influence on domestic trade and for
eign commerce j. destined to be simply
incalculablc. The reclamation of arid
America along the lines of the National
Irrigation Act means II home for every
man who wants one" 1t means that
when a settler gets ready to obtain his
share Of the National heritage he will
obtain not only fertile soil, but the water
necessary to make II self-suStlining
home and that the water right fs guar
antecd by the government of the United
States. This il, beyond all comparison,
one of the greatest things ever attempt
ed by the American people
Pregnant with great possibilities Is
this proposed irrigation of l25,oOO,Ooo
acres OF the peoples domain, an area
that now supports but a meager popu-
iation. Under irrigation fa-ms are small
because the yield of the land is very
much greater in proportion to cost and
operating expenses than II is where the
clouds are the first and sole reliance for
a water supply. II follows that there
will he dense population on our irri.
gated area and n greatly increased mar
ket for the manufactured products OF the
rest OF the country. The railroads and
all other industries will profit by the
reclamation OF region. so vast in ex-
tent, and its settlement by prosperous
population.
Wealth Reyond Compare,
According to the National census of
1900 the total improved farm area of the
United States was iii.SOO.OoO acres. IL
is conservatiyely estimated that the re.
land is not less than l25. 900
oVo acres. It's reclamation, therefore.
VIII add much more than onc.fourth 10
the actual crop-prclucing area OF the
country and will exceed by a liberal mar.
gin, the tillnble land OF all the States
on the Atlantic Coast from Maine To
Florida-except a modest portion of New
York. Allowing twenty acres as the
average size OF irrigated farms, this area
will make G,25O.po0 farms or more than
the number In the United States In 1900.
The total value of all farms In 1900, In.
Guiding all improvements except build.
inss. was Sl3, i5.OOOOOO. At s42. 80 per
acre, the average value OF irrigated land.
che l25OpD,OpD acres u be- reclaimed
viii add to, the value Of the farm land
S5,3l2,5OnOOO. II buildings are inrlud.
ed, the value will be increased by 81
a5O,OO,OOD. while the augmented wealth
through railroads. cities. mills and fac.
tories Is beyond estimation. The nm
nunl value Of all the farm product. In
1900 was Si.3T9ODO.ODO. The average
per acre OF products OF irrigated land
was slA,sl. AT this rate, the area %
be reclaimed will add products worth
sl,Sl.25O,ODD. an addition of nearly
hni OF the life sustaining power OF the
country.
VIII Not Compete with Ens,.
National Irrigation will amount TO
series Of loans 10y the government and
the supervision OF the construction work
aud water distribution. As To the aucs.
tion whether the products OF the irrI.
gated west will compete with eastern
farm products. II l. only necessary 10
travel through the West aud see what
II raises undrr irrigation 10 underst and
that there will never be any such com
petition. Irrigated farms are small and
COO valuable Ia grow the staple products
They are devoted Co fruit culture or tn
alfalfa fais.ag. In California, for IN.
stance, where irrigation Is oldest aud
where It. highest types ARE found. the
farm unit, Instead " being 100 or 200
acres a. In the East il 10. 20 aud .
acres. Fine fruits. wines and dairy pro.
duets hre raised nnd cattle are fat,rnrd
IL IL diiiicult 10 name California farm
product which comes East aud actually
completes with Eastern products.
We get from California. oranges. lem.
ons, prunes, rhlslns. hgs, olives. wines.
dried fruits. rtr.-luNurirs, on the other
hand, the Eastern farmers derive a dis.
tnct benefit from Irrigation In cilifor.
MIA. for u makes California. and she fur.
nlHhrs greedy market Tor every sort NJ
Eastern manufactured product sending
her money back u New England aud
throughout the East aud thereby stImn,
lntinE manufacturing Husy factories
ond well paid, steadily employed factor,
bands mean good Eistprn markets far
Eastern farm products.
Precedent cited.
Our friends thr farmers ~ the Ens,
were somewhat alarmed ~ ~ what III,
result mlgih be- whcn the tide W. west
ward aud settling NJ thr eastern ppr
,lon of the Missi-tlppl Valley, but tll.
Course Of Gulf Stream.
A. the international hydrosfAphieal