Gilpin observer., 1904-10-06
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.

RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
A vast expense OF country in the
West, portions of which are to be
found in each of the sixteen States
and Territories. mentioned in the law,
is directly affected by the National
statute-the outcome OF Intelligent and
persistent efforts Of ,tading citizens,
providing for the reclamation OF the
arid lands for the benefit of lionleseek-
ers. During the years of trs develop
ment of the measure which finally re-
| ceived the vote Of every member OF
the upper house of Congress, 1t eu-
eountered opposition. based to II large
extent uron the view that the aim Of
its promters was to secure the benefits
of irrigation to private owners at Gov
ernment expense. Tile aim OF the stat-
ute Is, however, to enable this vast ter
| ritory to reclaim its arid iands without
calling upon the taxpayers OF the cotin-
try at large to pay for it. Whether the
purposes of the bill will be fully ac-
oomplished must depend In .arge meas
IRE upon the ability, sobriety OF judg-
| ment, independence and honesty of the
officers OF the Interior Department
having this great work N charge.
In 1902 the main c,tnais and ditcIes
In tile region affected aggregated more
than $4,000 miles and the work of re-
cha nation Is but In its Infancy. The
total cost of construction Of the neces-
sary head-gates, dams, main canals,
bitches, reservoirs and pun ping sta
tions at that time was little over
$93 100000, which of itself suggests
the hundreds ofa millions that may
eventually be invested In the territory
covered by the statute. The magnitude
OF the conception, End the enormous ex-
pense its carrying out n"Olves, make
us realize the Overwhelming imIlor-
tance of Il broad. capable aud honest
administration of the work authorized
by the statute, IL effect IL to be given
to that part of the plan that relieves
the country at large froL: ultimate iiu-
bility.
NATIONAL FAITH BROKEN.
An fsthmian canal lis loEg been the
hope of our statesmen, and tire ayowed
aim of the two t-eat Parties, as their
Platforms In the past show. Inc Pan.
anna route having been selected, fhe
building of the coiial should I've pressed
to completion with al. reasonable ex-
pedition.
/. The methods by which the Execu-
tive acquired the Panama Canal route
and rights are source Of regret to
many. To them the statement that
thereby great public work wss as
sured to the profit of our people is not
a sufficient answer to the charge Of
violation Of National good faith. They
appreciate that the principles and
healthy convictions which In theF
working out have made US free and
great stand firmly against the argu-
ment or suggest stiou that we shall be
blind to the nature of the means em-
ployed to promote our welfare. They
hold that adherence to principle.
whether it works for our good or i'll.
will have more benefcent influence
on our future destiny than all our ma
terial upbuilding. and that we should
ever remember that the idea of doing
wrong to a smaller, weaker nation
than we, or even all mankind. may
have a resultant good Is repugnant to
the principles upon which our govern.
ment was founded.
Under the laws Of the United States
the duty is imposed on the Executive
to proceed with due diligence in tbs
work of constructing the Canal That
duty should be promptly performed.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Our commerce In American bottoms
amounts to but nine per cent Of our
total exports and imports. For forty
years prior to 1861, when the Republi-
can party came into power. our mer-
chant marine carried an average Of
eighty per cent. of our foreign com.
merce. By 1877 it. had dwind!ed to
twenty-seven per cent. Now we carry
but contemptibly small fraction OF
our exports and Imports.
American shipping in the foreign trade
far hv n Inn
thousand tons in 1SlO-nearly hundred
years ago-than 1t was last year. In
the face Of the continuous decline in
the record of American shipping dur
ing the last forty-three years. the
promise OF the Republican party to re-
store 1t Is without encouragement.
The record of the Democratic party
gives assurance that the task can be
more wisely entrusted to it.
1t is an arduous task to undo the ef-
feet OF forty years Of decadpnce, and
requires the study and investigation
Of those best fitted by experience 10
find the remedy-which surely does not
lie in the granting of subsidies, wrung
from the pockets of all the taxpayers.
Recent disclosures, cou .,led with the
rapid augmentation of government ex-
penditures, show need Of an investI-
CATION of every department OF the
government. The Democrats In Con-
gress demanded 1t. The Republican
majority refused the demand. The
people can determine by their vote In
November whether they wish an hon.
est and thorough investigation. A
Democratic Congress and Executive
will assure II.
ARMY AND NAVY.
We are Justly proud of the officers
and men Of our Army and Navy. Roth.
however, have suffered from the per-
sistent injection of personal and poilti.
cal influence. Promotions and appoint-
ments have been frequently based on