The state herald., 1904-09-30

Even the Democrats are beginning to
realize something OF the possibilities for
good which are to come to the whole
United States through the national irri-
cation act passed by Republican Con
Grcss, and signed by President Roosevelt
June Z, 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 and made it
the law of the land with his official sig
nature as President
II is not dream. but fact, that the
present population of the United States
can be duplicated on the arid public do
main in the West This can bc done
without making new competitors for
chose already engaged in agricultural
pursuits in the East and in the South
On the other hand, this wonderful act
Of planting n new nation in what is now
all but an unbrokcn desert will confer
enormous benefits on those sections
which are already covered with farms,
factories and towns.
Big Internal Problems.
In our great West, population of
100000. 900 might live in prosperous con-
teRtmcnt. There is everything to inspire
and reward their induStry-thc charm of
climate and of scenery. the fertility of
soil. the unimaginable wealth of water.
forest and mine, aud. across the Pacific,
new worlds to conquer. Onr biggest in-
ternnl question to-day is the preparation
and colonization of this productive area.
This nation must keep on with its his
An nf Qualification IL
tinue that marvellous reciprocal process
by which it has so rapidly risen to i'm
measurable heights OF economic power
the making of new communities to feed
the Old the enlargement Of old communi-
ties TO feed the new. The longest step
yet taken to this end is adoption Of the
plan of national irrigation
through the instrumcntality of President
Roosevelt. 1t is a new policy. only at
present in its experimental stage, but
those who know most about it believe il
is a measure big with national fate.
Momcntous New Era.
We are entering upon new and mo-
mcutous era that calls for the highest
qualities of constructive craftsmanship.
The movement must he broadly founded
and firmly and intcllgcntly managed We
are planning. not for ourselves hut for
future generations, for we are the fore
fathers of Il mighty future in Il mighty
land. II we are equal to our duty and
our opportunities, we shall make homcs
for a hundred million Of the frcest men
who ever walked the earth.
We are living in an age OF mighty
achievement. Engineering works which
the last generation would have thought
an impossibility will be the completed
task Of this generation. The New York
subway, the great tunnel Of the Penn
syiyania railroad. the lsthmian cnpal and
the Salt River reservoir in Arizona and
other mammoth irrigation projects will
soon stand as completed monuments Ia
the constructive genius Of our people aud
this age. The future Is potent with still
grander undertakings which will, In n
few brief years. also stand as accom-.
piishcd facts. Egypt was for centuries
the Grnnary OF the world. That land of
mystery and romance was the cradle of
cur civilization. For countless ages the
Nile has risen annually, {" fertilizc the
land which has yielded. from year to
year. the sustcnnnce Of tccming millions.
Greatest ouc.tion OF the Age.
The question Of irrigation which now
coufronts the people Of the United States
ss one of the most important Of the age.
u Is Of more Importance than the 18th
snian canal or a deep waterway 10 the
-ea. II involves the solution Of the for
est and flood problem. II embraces the
future internal development Of the Unit
ed States. II will require years OF work
20 perfect the system Of national irriga-
zion. but II will be- the greatest benefit
rrcr conferred un the western people.
Men may he cruel and unfair. but ni-
ture is generous aud utterly impartial
The earth. the suu aud the waters nrc
nj Kind 10 the poor ~ to the rich The
roses do not stop to look mp mans
financial standing before cousrnting "a
bloom for him. They grow wherever
planted, They cover the poor mans cot.
tarc ~ gladly ~ they do the rich mtn's
villa
iiIsbbndry Makes Patriots,
Nations may spring into being. Fcucr.
ntcd by the force 0f Ideas alone. but
the vigorous mnnhnrl, the mature growth
Of State can unly be- nurturod aud
built up upon the abundant aud mani.
fold productions 0f the earth, The very
tkiHlftlF' anu NNNhhlN nl tlNtltfhilnn are
firmly grounded oil material resources.
Nations become great aud independent
aS they develop a grulus for grnsping the
forces aud material, NJ nature within
their reach aud converting them into q
STEADY ilnwins strrnid 6f wealth aud con-.
fort
no hold u people In industrious. pro.
durtirr, rontrntri habits. habits 81 yir,
tur aud Of patriotism, 10 i nrrdnl tn
give them mn Interest In th" cultivation
"f land, This fact l. seen along tbs
chores Of historic timr, Wherever gov,
rrnmrnt has made laws which have giy,
Ell the people ~ the lNnd 10. rrrupnncy
"u fair terms, then content aud plenty
have been on every hand. Wherever II
has brrn hinl for the mlsirs 10 shl ,r
shc usr nf n" land, then d.cUAtsht and
dlnicnltics have been rampant ~ ever,
hand, aud frequently national ruin hn,
been the result, The noblrst use To which
say man or i'eoplc can pnt history l. /,
take u either ~ warning nr wise IN
h,ruetion, In the United States we hny,
In quality. quantity aud vnlicty such sup