The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 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 a Republican Con-
gress, 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 and with his official sig
nature as President.
1t is not 4 dream, but a fact, that the
present population of the United States
can be duplicated on the arid public do
main in the West. This can be done
without making new competitors for
those already engaged in agricultural
pursuits in the East and in the South.
On the other hand, this wonderful act
of planting a new nation in what is now
all but an unbroken desert will confer
enormous benefits on those sections
which are already covered with farms,
factories and towns.
Big Internal P%roblems.
in eur great West, a population of
400, OO0, 900 might live in prosperous con-
tentment. There is everything to inspire
and reward their industry-the charm Of
climate and Of scenery, the fertility Of
soil, the unimag inable wealth Of water,
forest and mine, and. across the Pacific,
new worlds to conquer. Our biggest in
ternal question to-day is the preparation
aud, colonization Of this productive area.
This nation must keep on with its his
toric work of civilization. 1t must con
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-chiefy
through the instrumentality Of President
Roosevelt. 1t is a new policy, only at
present in its experimental stage, but
those who know most about it believe it
IL z measure big with national fate.
Momentous New Era.
: We are entering upon IA new and mo-
mentous era that calls for the highest
qualities OF constructive craftsmanship.
The movement must be broadly founded
and firmly and intelligently managed. We
are planning, not for ourselves but for
future generations, for we are the fore
fathers OF a mighty future in a mighty
land. II we are equal to our duty and
or opportunities, we shall make homes
for a hundred million Of the freest men
who ever walked. the earth.
We are living in an age OF mighty
achievement. Engineering works which
the last generation would have thought
m impossibility will be the completed
task OF this generation. The New York
subway, the great tunnel of the Penn
syivania railroad, the Isthmian canal and
the Salt River reservoir in Arizona and
other mammoth irrigation projects will
soon stand as completed monuments to
che constructive genius Of our people and
this age. The future is potent with still
grander undertakings which will, in a
few brief years. also stand as accom-
plished facts. Egypt was for centuries
the granary of the world. That land OF
mystery and romance was the cradle OF
our civilization. For countless ages the
Nile has risen annually, to fertilize the
land which has yielded, from year to
year, the ~sustenance Of teeming millions.
Greatest Qaestion Of the Age.
The question OF irrigation which now
confr0nts, the people Of the United States
is one OF the most important Of the age.
Ut is Of more Importance than the 18th
milan canal or q deep waterway to the
sea. 1t involves the solution OF the for
est and food problem. 1t embraces the
future internal development of the Unit
cd States. 1t will require years of work
to perfect the system of national irriga-
ton. but it will be the greatest benefit
ever conferred on the western people.
Men may be cruel and unfair, but ma
kure is generous and utterly impartial.
The earth, the sun and the waters are
Is kind to the poor as to the rich. The
roses do not stop to look up a mans
financial standing before conserving to
bloom for him. They grow wherever
planted. They cover the poor mans cot
tage aA gladly AZ they do the rich mans
villa.
H~usbandry Makes Patriots.
Nations may spring into being, gener-
ated BY the force of ideas alone, but
Tho vigorous manhood, the mature growth |
Of 4 State can only be nurtured and
built up upon the abundant and mani
fold productions Of the earth. The very
existence and advance Of civilization are
1rmly grounded on material resources.
NATIONS become great and independent
- mey Sdeyelop a genius for grasping the
NVANCc III AAQNClAdlS VI nature within /
their reach and converting them into a
steady howing stream Of wealth and COM
l0rt.
10 hold I people in industrious. pro-
ductive. contented habits, habits Of yir-
tue and OF patriotism, it is needful to
give them an interest in the cultivation
ct land. This fact is seen along the
shores Of historic time. Wherever gov
efnment has made laws which have CIV
- the people Of the land its occupancy
On FAIR terms, then content and plenty
nave been on every hand. Wherever it
aae 'neen hard for the masses to obtain
2 - q thS land. then discomfort and
simcnitifs hays been rampant on every
4 f~rsquently national ruin has
- = sesult. The noblest vse to which
~ msr q people can put history Il to
1ll14 3 either - warning Or wise IN
1s1ettoA IA the United States Ne have
AM11saHt. euanttty ana ye<iety such sup-