Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-10-22

uninitiated believe that it is responsible
for all good things. Where it could not
be successfully contradicted within a
given time, it would not hesitate to
claim the credit for the Decalogpe, the
Christian era, the discovery of America,
the Declaration of Independence, the
administrations of Washington and Lin
coin, the construction of the Panama
canal, or, in fact, any old thing.
The democratic press now has the
hardihood to openly assert that the party
of negation and calamity is responsible
for the National Irrigation Act. In
keeping with the traditional revelations
of its notorious "hindsight" it has dis
covered that this same National Irriga-
ton Act of President Roosevelt is cal
culatrd to add a new industrial empire
to the United States. 1t would fain
give this the ''ne-too' accent, but it is
too late. What are the recorded facts?
Let History Speak.
The first move on the part of the Fed
eral Government to reclaim the arid
west began as far back as 1889, under
President Harrison's republican admin
istration, when a bill was passed by
congress authorizing an investigation of
this subject with a view of ascertaining
to what extent the arid regions of the
United States can be benefited by irri-
cation. This bill appropriated 500, ZOO
for Typographical surveys for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1889. The money
was to be used under the direction of
Major Powell, the then head of the geo.
logical survey.
The work was placed under the super
vision of the Secretary of the Interior,
and Major Powell was directed to make
his report as early as possible. Upon
his report and the recommendations OF
the Secretary of the Interior, the $100-
600 was supplemented by an additional
$3.50, 900 by the passage of an. act fol
further investigation Of the arid regions.
A committee of senators was appointed
to visitthe arid regions of the different
western states and territories, during
the summer of 1890. 1t completed its
work of investigation and made It's re-
port after having travelled $4,000 miles
and having been on the road fifty days
Republicans Lead the Way.
The republican national convention
held in Philadelphia in June, 1900, re-
ferred to irrigation in the national plat
form as follows: "'In further pursuance
of the constant policy of the republican
party to provide free homes on the pub
lie domain, we recommend adequate
national legislation to reclaim the ariC
lands of thu United States, preserving
the control of the distribution of water
for irrigation to the respective state!
and territories. " The democrats, o.
course, immitating and following th'
lead of the republican party in all mat
ters of progress, adopted the following
plank in their platform at Kansas City
in July, 1900: 1--WE favor an Intelligent
system of improving the arid lands o.
the west, storing the waters for thu
purpose of irrigation and the holding O.
such lands for actual settlers
Roosevelt Prime Mover.
In his messfge to the ffty-seventl
congress President Roosevelt clearly AM
vigorously urged the enactment of leg
: islation in aid of development by irriga
, ton of the great arid portions of ou
country. Encouraged by the president
earnest and vigorous Recommendation
the members Of both branches of con
gress from the<arid and semi-arid state
met in the early days of the session, ap
pointed a comr1ittee of one from eacl
of the said states and territories, witt
Senator Warren of Wyoming a repub
lican. as chairman, for che purpose o
drafting an irrigation measure.
This committee labored earnestly ant
faithfully, and finally presented to- tn
full representation from the west bill
which was accepted by them, introduces