The state herald., 1904-09-23
irrigation Will Change Deserts to Gardens and
Provide Lands for Millions of Homes.
ROOSEvELTS STROAG, FRIENDLY HAND
A Policy that Increases the Sum Of Human
Happiness and EnIarges and Strength
ems the Republic.
acres more may possibly be added to the

acres more may possibly be added to the
reclamation area.
Nature Did the Needfui.
Nature seems to have employed every
resource at its command to make the
mountain and plain region the most fav-
orcd portion of the earth's surface for
the habitaton of man. This section will
one day be the seat of empire of the
United States. and, consequently, the
world. For a distance of more than q
thousand miles there are successive
chains OF mountains, in general course
running north aud south and on parallel
lines, with numerous valleys occupying
tho immediate ground.
Each valley. large or small, has its
stream, carrying, with rapid fall, the
melting SHOWS Of the tributary noun
tans. The grades in general favor the
operation of, lrriGating canals which
take the water from streams and carry
1t at moderate fall to lines above
the cultivated land. As the spring sea-
son advances, the rainfall decreases, the
crops need more and more water. which
Is furnished automatically by the gradual
Increase OF the temperature along and
MP the mountain side, reaching the light.
est deposit of snow first, and then. during
the later and hotter months, drawing
upon the reserve Of the deeper and less
easier melted ice at the higher attitudes
Fertility of Arid soil.
Under the rains OF centuries much OF
1 the soluble plant foods in eastern soils
have been washed into the sea. Where
no rainfall exists the plant food remains
/ The government analyses OF soils show
/ that the arid lands average three time,
| as much potash. six times as much mag,
ncsia and fourteen times as much lima
as the humid lands. Any farmer will
tell you that limestone country is a
rich country. To replace the food taken
| by growing plants the eastern farmer
resorts TO fertilizers and manure. Start
Ing with rich soil, the irrigationist also
| finds fertilizing strength in the water he
uses. The mnnurinl value held in solu-
| ton in SO inches OF water-'the amount
applied to one acre in season at the
University of Arizona-amounted TO
Sg.OT. Ten ncres under irrigation aver
age better returns than 40-acre crops, in
the usual way.
Land Very Valuable.
In those communities OF the west
which have been created by irrigation.
the average yield of wheat, potatoes and
small fruits far exceeds that of the best
farming district in Iowa or Missouri
or the best part OF the Mississippi Val
ley. Although comparatively remote
from the worlds markets for products.
an acre of land under water rights in
the very heart OF the arid region. will
command higher price than nn acre In
the humid Mississippi Valley. The farm
/ crs have learned that 40 acres, well till
ed. will yield more profit than 400 acres
fNrmei in the old, haphlzard way. In
tcnsive farming and larger profits from
smaller farms are making closely settled
communities. establishing nearby neigh
bors. schools, churches and libraries. and
the isolation OF old farm life no longer
exists. The farmer makes more money,
and the deadly monotony OF life does
not drive his children from home, or
his wife TO the insane asylum.
Roosevelt lmmorin,iz-d.
The passage OF the National Irriga.
| ton Act Is tintamount to saying that
the west Il already redeemed-it is now
only question OF time. Perhaps no
law has been passed since the founda-
( ton OF this government wu.ch has been
or can be so prolific In great and last.
Ing results 10 the United States. No
law has ever been enacted which will
add so much stability. wealth, happl.
ness and general prosperity TO the peo.
3 pie and the government us the National
| Irrigation Law.
! Here Is new field for the most hope
ful speculation. II cannot be that any
human mind has yet been able TO esti.
mate the far.reachins. the fruitful re.
suits which will follow In the wake OF
this National Act. Lincoln Is immortal.
lied for his Emancipation Proclamation
Roosevelt will be immortnlizcl because
he has done that which will set free
from the thralhnm OF the congested cen.
'ers OF population. millions OF families
who can and will feel grateful to him
aud his memory ns they sit under their
orn ylts and hstree and enjoy all the
comforts and contentment Of their new
and enlarged life OF health. happiness
aud usefulness