The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-10-14
R0OSEvE(T'S INSPIRING AMER|CAN|SM
While Creating New Agricultural and Horti.
cultural World at Home, He Would
Establish Commercial Pres.
IA ~ tige in the Orient.

Y I'VE friendship Of President Roosevelt
Y had begun, but only partially, to fee
~ great need; when this strong, idea
American stepped up to it and handed
! the golden key which is to unlock its
hmitless, latent wealth-greater than the
combined mineral deposits OF all the
wprlf.
zone stroke Of his pen he gave the
United States a new empire greater in
\ possibilities, for good to the human race,
IMAM all that other great section situat-
q between the Atlantic Ocean and the
mississippi River. The National lrri-
cation Act will transform l25,OOO,OOO
acres of land from desert to garden. 1t
Wall create the greatest home market this
country has ever known. 1t will make
happy homes for millions Of free Ameri-
0ns. 1t will establish forever the pres
ugc OF our commerce in the Orient. 1t
VIII cause President Roosevet's name
and his official acts to be gratefully re-
0ambered for all time to come.
All the People Interested.
$sAll American citizens are essentially
6terested=th\ the operations of the Ma
60nal Irrigation Act for the reason that
~ flfuence on domestic trade aud for
dgn commerce Is destined to he simply
hcalculable. The reclamation of arid
America along the lines OF the National
&rrigation Act means "a home for every
man who wants one" 1t means that
when a settler gets ready to obtain his
share of the National heritage lie will
obtain not only fertile soil, but the water
necessary to make it a self-sustaining
home and that the water right Is guar
anteed by the government of the United
OtateS. This Is, beyond all compa rson,
one Of the greatest things ever ATTEMPT
ID BY tue American people.
Pregnant with great possibilities Is
mis- proposed irrigation of l25,OOO,OOO
acres Of the peoples domain, an area
ehat now supports but meager popu-
acton. Under irrigation farms are small
Because the yield Of the land is very
much greater in proportion to cost and
operating expenses than it Is where the
clouds are the first and sole reliance for
. waSf supply. 1t follows that there
VIII be dense population on our irri-
gated area and a greatly increased mar
80 for the Manufactured products of the
rcst Of the country. The railroads and
an other industries will profit by the
reclamation OF region, so vast in ex-
cent, aad<its settlement by a prosperous
population.
@ Wealth Beyond Compare.
According to the National census of
a9OO the tota improved farm area of the
United States was 4l4,SOO,OO0 acres. 1t
y conservaively estimated that the re.
cl6Amable land is not less than 125, OOO.-
BOO acres. Its reclamation, therefore,
VII add much more than one-fourth to
tht actual crop-producing area Of the |
country and will exceed by liberal mar
gfp, the tiIiable land OF all the States
y the At antic Coast from Maine to
Iorida-except modest portion Of New |
kerk. Allowing twenty acres as the |
avSrage size of irrigated farms, this area
Will make 6,2500OO farms or more than
d number in the United States In 1900. |
Eh, total value Of all farms in 1900, in
huding all improvements except build |
ngs, was SIS, 100000. At $3.50 per |
lcrs. the average value Of irrigated land,
No 126,0O0.O00 acres to be reclaimed
Will add to the value of the farm land
II buildings are includ- !
q the value will be increased by s.
ono; while the augmented wealth
through railroads, cities. mills and fac.
lOries 10 beyond estimation. The an
aual value Of all the farm products in
l2oo was $4.370,00O,OO0. The average
Ber acre OF products of irrigated land
Vas S14.81. At this rate, the area to
Ie reclaimed will add products worth
ll.851, 250. 900. an addition Of nearly
Aalf Of the life sustaining power Of the ,
!, 't,''t IT,,
National irrigation will amount to a
Deries Of loans by tho government and
the supervision Of the construction work
IN water distribution. As to the ques-
lion whether the products of the irri-
rated west will compete with eastern
tarm products, it Is only necessary to
.ravel through the West and see what
( raises under irrigation to understand
hat there will never be any such COM
petitlon. Irrigated farms are small and
90 valuab bic to grow the staple products.
they are devoted to fruit culture or to
alfalfa raising. In California, for in
stance. where irrigation is Oldest and
wh it, highest types are found, the
lar unit, instead of being 100 or 200
lcres as In the East, Is 40, 20 and 8
lcres. Fine fruits. wines and dairy pro.
lucts are raised and cattle are fattened.
L ID difficult to name a California farm
product which comes East and actually
with Eastern products.
We get from California, oranges, lem.
ms, pruneA raisins, figs, olives, wines,
Tried fruits, etc.-luxuries; on the other
snnd, the Eastern farmers derive dis
anct benefit from irrigation in Califor.
aia, for It makes California, and she fur
dishes q greedy market for every sort of
Nastsrn manufactured product, sending
Asr money back to New England and
the East and thereby stimu-
adm manufacturing. Busy factories
lad yell paid, steadily employed factory
" +hclxean good Eastern markets for
I desel farm products.
.IS Ant PRECEDENT Cited.
~OAf friends the farmers Of the East
vsss somewhat alarmed as to what the
esuit mlgth be when the tide was west
vard and settling up the eastern por-