The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-09-16
Telegram to National Irrigation
Congress At Ogden, Utah,
Last Year.
GREATEST STEP FORWARD"
Sach b the Presidents Opinion Of
lrrigation-Message Shows Vast Fund
of Information on Reclamation
Of Arid Lands.

President Roosevelt sent the following
message to the National Irrigation Con-
sgress in session at Ogden, Utah, Sept.
Is. 1903. 1t is characteristic Of the
man. 1t shows a broad, deep, patriotic
interest in both irrigation and forestry.
1t also shows his mastery intellectual
grasp of any and all topics concerning
the public welfare:
Oyster Bay. ". Y. Sept. Is. 1903
The passage of the National Irrigation
Lew was one OF the greatest steps, not nily
IN the forward progress Of the states. but
to that OF all mankind.
1t WINS the beginning of an achievement
10 great that we hesitate to predict the
outcome, but It was only the beginning
Now that the law IL an accomplished fact,
that must be given effect, To that end the
reclamation service organized under the
National IRRIGATION Law Of June II. 1902,
has been pushing its surveys aud examina
tion Of possible irrigation projects ener-
setically In each Of the thirteen States and
three Territories named In the act. Some
Of the projects which promised well at first
are found on careful study to be imprac-
ficable, either because OF scanty water sup
ply or OF great cost. Others must await
higher values in land, while still Others
stand the test and are ready for immediate
construction.
Necessity Of National Aid.
The feasible projects are always large
and costly, because private enterprise has
ALREADY SelzeQ upon the smaller ana less
expensive ones, leaving to the government
the great works which are to be 50 essen
tiaI 4 part In bringing the nation to It's
full development. Great care and the high
est engineering skill are required to plan
and build such works. which are among the
most dificult undertakings of mankind. They
must be built for permanence and safety,
Tor they are to last and spread prosperity.
Tor centuries. To design and build such
works a body of engineers OF the highest
character have been brought together in
the service, for only men ini-
partially selected for capacity alone are
capable Of creating these great structures.
Merit must govern. not only III the selec-
ton Of men, but still more In the Sclectioa
-Of the projects.
Every reclamation project selected for
construction must possess the qualities
ling, certain to reclaim large tracts OF arid
~iand and to support In well being a dense
land vigorous population. Vast though the
dement's of the reclamation law, there will.
be many disappOfntmelts, which necessarily
await both the advocate of special projects
and the men whose desire Of accomplished
results %outruns the slow and steady deyel
sopment Of these great undertakings. 1t
should be borne In mind that a broad sur
svey OF all possible projects gives the con
ception. Of their relative value, and that a
work or prime Importance to one group of
men may seem less desirable ia the light OF
wider knowledge.
Caution Urged.
Nor Ii 1t wise In large affairs to begin
construction first, and elaborate details ar
1 forwards. Each Important point must be
carefully studied in advance. and the. whole
plan tested and approved before work can
begin. Yet II we proceed both cautiously
and persistently under this beneficent law,
we may confidently expect the largest pos
sibIe development of our arid lands and
their settlement by Industrious, prosperous.
s1eif-respecting men and women, who will
exchange the products Of irrigated agricul-
ture for the products Of mills aud factories
Hhronghout the United States. Communi-
ties dourishing In what is now the desert
viii finally take their places among the
strongest pillars Of our Commonwealth.
TIL irrigation development Of the arid
West cannot stand alone; Forestry Is ni the
out forestry. irrigation must fall. Perman
emit irrigation development and forest de
struction cannot exist together Never for
ret that the forest reserve policy Of the
national government means the use OF all
the resources Of the forest reserves. There
q little profit IN destruction compared with
80.
None-Makinx Chief object.
The settlement Of the great arid West by
the makers OF homes Is the central object,
10th ok the irrigation aud the forest policy
e the United State: Ia forestry. AZ ~
Ak Dome individual must occasionally yield
70 their permanent advantage. which IL the
public good. The benefits Of forestry are
1Aot emily for the future. but for the present.
1he forest reserves are for all the people,
Int 6rDt for the people In the immediate
~.nolghborho0d. FOR whom supplies Of wood
life. With the wiser and more skillful
sS s's sreatss obviously / viii their usefulness,
~ TO the public. t
Uitinats succsss Sure.
W must never allow our chagrin 1t tenn
0oyary defeat aud dificulties In the man-
1gement Of the forest reserves to blind US
70 the absolute pecessity Of these reserves
g TIE people e e me fere Mes s...erve motley has