Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-10-01


gat,on act passed by Republican Con
Frrss. aud signed by President Roosevelt
June 7. 1902 The Democrats are now
claiming that they did IL Sill the
fact. remain that Presidenr Roosevelt.
by the forrr Of his own identity put the
rneasure through Congress and made it
the law Of the laBd with bis Official sig
nature az FFesideat.
IL 4 not 3 dream. bat 4 fact. that the
present population of the United States
can be duplicated on the arid public do
main IN the West Ihis can be dele
without making new competitors for
thase already engaged ia agricultural
pursuits IN the East and To the South
GA the other hani. this wonderful act
Of planting a uew nation in what u now
eli but an unbroken desert will confer
enormous benefits on those sectleus
which are already covered vita farms.
factories and towns.
Big Internal Problems.
In our great West, a population OF
100000 might live in prosperous con-
tentment. There Is everything to Inspire
and reward their indusfry-the charm OF
climate and Of scenery. the fertility OF
soil. the unirna sinable wealth Of water.
nex worlds to conquer. Our biggest in
ternsi question to-day is the preparation
ard colonization Of this productive area.
This nation must keep on with its his
toric work Of civilization. IL must con-
time that marvellous reciprocal process
by which IL has 50 rapidly risea TO i'm
measurable heights OF economic power
the making Of new Communities 10 feed
che old. the enlargement Of old communi-
dies 70 feed the new. The longest step
Jet taken to this end i adoption OF the
plan Of national riEation-chiefiy
through the instFamentality Of President
Roosevelt. Il Is a new policy. only AZ
present Ia its experimental stage. but
those whs know most about II believe il
10 measure big with national fate.
Momeutous New Fra.
We are entering upon a new aud mo-
mentoas era that calls fer the higbes;
qualities OF constructive statesmanship.
The movement must be broadly founded
and firmly and intslllsently managed. We
are planning. not for ourselves but for
future generations. for we are the fore
fathers of mighty future In a mighty
land. II We are equal to our duty aud
our opportunities, we shall make hsmes
who ever walked the -arth.
We are living Ia an age % mighty
achievement. Engineering works which
the last generation would have thought
an impnssibiiity WiN be the eomplsted
task Of this generation. The New York
subway the great tunnel OF the Penn
eylvania railroad the Isthmian canal and
the Salt River reservoir ia Arizona and
other mammoth irrigation projects will
soon stand as completed monuments O.
the constructive genius ot our people and
this nKs. The future Is potent with still
granier undertakings which will. In a
few brief years also stand as accom-
piished 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. % fertilize the
land which has yielded. from year ia
year, the sHSienaaee ef teeTning millions.
Grestest Qae-tiou Of the Age
The question Of irrigation which now
eonfrpnts the people Of the United States
Is one Of the most important Of the age.
IL Is of more importance than the 18th
mian canal or deep waterway to the
sea IL Involves the solution Of the for.
est and leod problem. II embraces the
future internal development OF the Unit.
ei States. Il will require years of work
Go perfect the system OF national irri.a.
ton. but IL will be the greatest benefit
ever conferred on the western people.
Men may be cruel and unfair. but ma
tnre Is generous and utterly impartial
The earth. the sun and the waters are
as Kind to the poor as to the rich. This
roses do not stop to look up a man.
financial standing before consenting tt
bloom for him They grow wherevei
planted. They cover the poor mans cot
tage as gladly as they do the rich man.
villa.
Husba ndry Makes Patriots.
Nations may spring into being. gener
ated by the force OF ideas alone, but
the vigorous manhood. the mature growti
Of State can only be nurtured ana
bhiit up upon the abundant and mani
fold productions of the earth. The very
existence and advance OF civilization ars
firmly grounded on material resources
Nations become great and independent
as they develop a genius for era sping the
forces and materials of nature within
their reach and converting them into a
STEADY flowing stream OF wealth aud com.
fort
To hold a people in Industrious. pro
ductiye, conteated habits, habits of vir-
the and of patriotism. 1t is needful &c
give them an interest In the cultivation
of land. This Fact Is seen along the
shores OF historic time. Wherever GOV.
ernment has msde laws which have Civ.
en- the people of the land Its occupaacy
on fair terms, then content and plenty
have been on every hand. Wherever i,
has been hard for the masses TO obtain
the use OF the land then discomfort and
difficulties have been rampant on every
Aand. and frequently national ruin has
been the result The nobiest use to which
any man or people can put history is to
take 1t either as warning or wise in
struction- In the United States We have
m quality. quantity and vassety such sup