The state herald., 1904-09-09
NATIONAL IRRIGATION.
II Involves No Taxation aiti Its Bens-
Ats viii lie Mensurcicss.


Ats viii lie Mensurcless.
The new national irrigation law. in
spired by President Roosevelt, is des-
tined to reclaim 150.O0O.0O0 acres Of
fertile soil during the ncIt thirty years.
These lands are located west Of the
Missouri river md are now barren des-
crts. Cut up into 20-ncre farms. 7,5OO.-
900 families could be accommodated.
With five in a family the population
would be- 3T,500.NO souls. Mining towns,
manufacturing centers and numbering in
terests would spring into life as n conse-
quence, and sustain an equal population
perhaps much larger. Thus within one
generation we may possibly see, newly
established in the West, n population
fully equal to that Of the entire United
States at present.
The fund already provided for this
tnlismanic rejuvenation will continue to
revolve in circle until its blessed work
IL completed. Then II will be turned
back into Uncle Sans treasury In its
entirety. The government has never be-
fore enacted law freighted with such
possibilities OF good TO the citizen md
home builder. The Republican home
stead law was the best thing OF its kind
up to now; but the irrigated home, turned
over to the occupant nt the actual cost
of irrigating 1t, beats the world. No
man can purchase more than 100 acres
of the government irrigated land. Ue
must reside upon u FIVE years and pay
for the cost OF irrigating In ten equal
annual iustnllmen,s, without interest.
These moneys come from the sale OF
public lands In the arid States, and no
citizen OF the United States Is taxed for
this purpose. Even FIVE per cent of these
funds goes to the States and territories
interested, for educational purposes, less
the cost of handling the business. 1t
was estimated that II would require ten
years to accumulate S25,0O0,0OO In the
fund. Only two years have elapsed
since the passage OF the law, and there
Is about $50. .0OO. 900 already accumulated.
Being ultra conservative. and estimnt-
ing only SJ,00O.OOO annual income, IL
will be seen that during the first ten
years the gross amount will be cked out
TO S5O.0O000O. In the second ten-year
period S5O,OOO.OOO more would come in
from the same source, and, in addition,
the S5O,OOO,0OO invested In the first ten
years would come back for re-invest-
ment. This would make a total sum
available for investment in new works
in the second ten-year period OF $780,,
100000. This whole sum OF 500. 900. 600
would come back again for re-investment
In the third ten-year period. and another
S50000,OO0 would be added to 1t from
sales OF land during this third ten years.,
making total sum available In the third
ten.yenr period for Investment In new
works, Sl5O,0O0.0O0 The sum OF $500
100000 would thus have been used in
the construction OF reclamation works.
IL no other moneys were made available.
within period OF thirty years.
After all the land which could be re-
claimed by the national government had
been prepared for reclamation aud settle
ment the whole amount which the gov
ernment had invested In these works of
reclamation would finally come back to
II. II is In this remarkable fact-that
every dollar invested by the government
for the reclamation Of the arid public do
main is to be paid back to II by the set
tiers who get the lhnd-thht the great
strength and potency OF the act lies. II
was chiefly this feature OF the law that
commended II to the conservative judg-
ment OF the people Of the country gen
orally.
Only the government 10 equal 10 the
hcrculean task. Title 20 the arid lands
rests In the government. II il unstable.
The mountains are hlled with mineral,
OF every description for which man has
ever found use. Their precipitous. un-
tillablc sides are covered with forest
rrowths that will perpctunlly serve to
house the nation. Their high attitudes
are natures eternal reservoirs of mois-
ture. IL Is here that she "hcaves her
white breasts nearest the sky, nnd locks
the storm In cold embrace" Irrign-
tlon Is the key that Is 70 unlock this
wealth 10 teemlng mlllionB. Here and
there In favored spots private enterprise
has capped these living streams and res.
rrroirs, and cities of wonderful beauty
have sprung M out OF the desert, ns II
by magic Individual effort has shown
Irrigation 10 be feasible. Lands have
been bought from the government, or Gu
tered under the land law. improved, tar.
able property created. and national
wealth has followed. The nation could
do even better In the Improvement Of It's
own property.
Measureless are TO be the benefits 10
the Nation from this National Irrigation
movement From ita economic. from its
social, from lts moral side. the problem
ID una.sallable. No one can ERinSay the
Vital need Of It's establishment as soon
rs possible On the tillAge OF the soil
rests the prosperity OF all other indus.
tries. Upon the uphuildlng of homes
rests tho independence of a nation. irri.
CATION eompels small holdings. aud In.
cresses the number Of those who call no
man mnStes.
Irrigation Is fruitful theme for study.
II has a boundlcss potency for riyiliza.
tlon. On the desert sands Of Egypt u
reared the most mighty empire OF an
client days. In India II is to.dsy rsviri-
flying and majrrniTlnF a wasted land. In
America IT, mission has bat begun, yrt
gives promise Of untold blessings TO man.