Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-10-21
Dreamed They Fathered National Irrigation, but
Facts Show It Was Only Dream.
TRUE HISTORY OF REPUBLICAN MEASURE
Federal Aid to Irrigation Originated with a
Republican Administration Fifteen
Years Ago-RooseveIt's Per.
sona Triumph.

The Democratic party would have the |
uEirltlatrI believe that II IL responsible |
fer nil good things. Where IL could not
be successfully eontrailctai within n
gwen time. II would not hesitate TO
claim the credit for the Decalosue. the |
Christian era. the discovery OF America. |
the Declaration OF independence. the nd'
ministTyitions OF Washington and Ian
cola. tue construction OF the Panama
eansl, or. In fact. any old thing.
The Democratic press now has the
hard.hopi Ia op-nly assert that the party
Of ne.ition and calamity Is responsible
for the National Irrigation Act. In
keeping with the traditional revelations
o: Its notorious "hiRtlslsht' II has dis
covered that thls same National lrE!sa-
ton Act Of President Ho-,sc,elt's IL cal.
erlar,i Ia nii new Industrial empire
TO th- EuIt-i States. II would fain give
this tho me ,oo" accent. but IL IL too
Lat-. What arc the recorded factl7
Let History spest.
The first move on the part of the fed.
srai government to reclaim tho arid West
besun as far hack as 1850. under Pre.i.
dent Uarr!ssn's Republican adniinls'ra.
ton. when I'LL was passed by Congress
authorizing an inScsusation Of this sub
3ect with a view Of a.c-Ftainlns TO what
er;.at the arid regions OF the United
States can he hcncht-i by irrigation.
This blli appropriated 100000 for topo-
rrsphles! surveys fos the hscai year end.
tnE June ~. 1870. Tn, money was To
be used uudcr tho dir-c,Isu Of Major
Powell. the then head Of the geological
survey.
The work wss placed under the snrer-
vision q. the Secretary OF the tnterier.
aud Nsier Powell was directed TO make
his report as early a. possible. Upon
hIs report and the recommendations OF
the Secretary Of the iHts..er. the $780,.
coo was supplemented by an additional,
appropriation .f s:.,n.nno by the passage
OF an act for the further Investigation
of che ard r.s,sns. a csmml;tes OF
Seaz;Srs was appaatci 80 rlsi; the arid
regions OF the direEsa; w~.;-ru States
asj territories. during the summer ss
isso. Il completed its work OF ias-sii.
cation and made lea report after having
travelled 1000 miles ani having bsca on |
the nssi aty days.
Nspabiiesas Lead the WAY.
The itrpubilcan nstisnai coatrniioa
hell In Philadelphia In June. 1000. ~. 4
ferr~i to Irrigation 10 the national plat.
farm ss follows; ''tn further pursuance
OF she constant policy OF the Republican
party To provide free hosass on the pub.
lie domain .wc rvcomneni adequate Ma
IAhhah N~ANAAtNtu FrSANAuA Far 6VaAN d
issJs Of the United States. preserving
the eoBtEal Of the iis,ribuiioa OF water
fos irrigation TO ,he &esPyctiSc s;ai.
sni ;eEsiisries.- TIN Democrats faf
cours-. Iusiis;inr and fsi Avi1= ;hs I'D
Of the i.spueiican psI,i sll y,
ipcoi 'w. favor an l.s ,s-s, ,.n
OF improving ll- srii ia1t of the wAs,.
s,sriaz slrs waters feS(,hs parPos-Nfl
trrissti,.a aud the haliiu= ot saca Lana |
for actual settlers
Roosevelt Prime Mover.
In his message 10 the Fisiy-seven,h |
CauFTcs. rrcsil.nt Roosevelt eicaEly and |
vigorously uFE-i the sHsCtmsn; Of ieri.. |
is;ian Ia all uf Development by irrigation
Of the great arid p,rtipns Of our com.
uy. Eucouraeci ~ the rsesi,ieut's |
esTrsst and vigorous Recommendation. |
the nlsnib.rs OF hs;h branches cf Con. |
rtess from tho arid aui ssmisarii States |
met IN the early days Of the session. ar. |
rniutc,i = committee Of ono fr,am each Of /
she saii States and territories. with Sen.
stsr wsrrer Of wyominE. a Republican.
es Chairman. for tap purpose Of drafting
an Irrigation meisure.
This csamittsc iilsgFcd earnestly and /
faithfully. and finally presented To the
foil representation from the West a hill
which was accepted By them. introduced
9 Ecpnbleln. ani IN the House hy Rcp.
ressa;surs NCviands. which hill. with
subsequent amendments. was the fouaia.
ton for the prcseHt national irrigation
act.
oa May u. 1000. In presenting the hill
60 the House Congressman Sswiauds re-
ferrcl to President Essseveii's message
on irrigation ani qup.eSl the same ia its
entirety. thus aiiaiitius tha, the rresi.
dents influence for the MEASURE was the |
strongest at that time.
.rre.,dsut Alter. Piit.
This measure was known az the Hans.
hEOuEh. Nevlanis ill. anJ became the
basis upou which the committee work i
was done. bnt az drafted IL never became
q law. IL was discussed hy n sclf-cOn.
siitutcd committee OF Representatives
frOm all the States concerned. which met
nearly every day during December aud
on Dee. - agreed upon the form Of the
revised l5li. which. after stiil further
changes by the Senate committee. passed
thr Senate vitheu; revision on March ..
IpO2.
Bn; in the form in which Il was rec.
onmende,l by the general Committee Of
which MIR. Newlauis was secretary. anil
10 which II passed the Senate. the hill
was unacceptable 60 President Roosevelt
as aTorline spcculaiprs aud large land
awncrS oPTnrtuuity tn muuupnlize the
bcredts uf the acf. Mr.. Roosevelt there.
fore sent for Senator Ifaus',rpueh: auI
Representatives Mctcaif. Moody and
EeedeT. all Republicans who wpuh have
charge Of the iili IL the House. and warn.
ei them that unless changed IN certain
respects he should je compelled to veto
u.