The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-04


would otherwise remain sterile and prnc-
tically uninbabtable.
The rapid increase OF population and
the pre- e-emption and settlement OF the
arabic portions OF the public lands has
rendered 4, important that we should re-
claim the waste places and make them
productive through a wise irrigation sys-
tenn which lies beyond the capacity OF
individual effort, This policy is In the
highest degree beneflcent. II not only
enlarees the neld OF wholesome. individz
ual opportunity, but II is in a very es-
pecial degree, of national Significance II
Increases the opportunity for the devel-
opment Of The agricultural regions OF the
Republic, for multiplying the number OF
American farms and American homes
thereby augmentng the great conserva-
Two forces which are the surest reliance
and safeguard OF our political institu-
tions. | firmly believe that the most
conservative elements will always be
found upon the farm. You will generally
ind among the millions throughout the
great agricultural regions less tendency
Than elsewhere TO inconsiderate and hys-
terical judgment.
Are Public Benefactors.
THE general subject which Is under
consideration is one OF those great, prae-
ttcal every day questions which require
the application OF good business sense.
The real benefactor, we understand Is
the one who makes two blades OF grass
grow where one grew before Those who
have been engaged In the promotion of
irrigation fall most distinctly within this
deinition and are beuefactors OF their day
and Kind. They have the satisfaction OF
knowing that they have in a measure
promoted the interest and welfare OF the
home makers The home builders OF
America have been and are as a rule, a
hardy people, In love with nature and
enamored Of their Institutions They
nave mus far overcome many OF the
seemingly impossible obstacles of ma
ture in the gerat arid and ml-arid re-
gions, and have erected their habita-
tion and made prosperous and happy
neighborhoods. They are entitled
to all success in their benehcept
enterprise. Some of our wlsest
statesmen, OF not very re-
mote past, had but little conception OF
the possibilities which many OF YOU have
opened up 10 our country and our clyili-
2aton. We may we'll believe that, with
our larger experience and greater light.
we have as adequate n conception OF the
vast possibilities OF this Western sec
tion OF the country as many of our pre-
decessors had OF the large DEVELOPMENT
which has already been accomplished The
growth OF irrigation thus far Is largely
prise. il has been carried on by our peo-
pie for many years in a more or less sat
isfactory way, but IL has not been until
recently the subject OF national consid-
eration. No one can appreciate the mag
nitude and the possibilities of the recla-
nation service In which the National
Government Is engaged and which you are
met TO encourage, who has not looked
upon what irrigation has already accom-
plished. Go into the valleys OF Arizona.
California, Colorado. Idaho, Montana
New Mexico, Nevada. Oregon, Utah.
Washington. Wyoming, and so on and
some conception can be gained OF the
woudrous possibilities of the future by
what has already been done Fruits, veg
etables. grains and grasses of almost
every variety are produced In profusion
upon lands which but few years ago
seemed 10 the casual observer absolute
ly valueless and beyond the hope OF culti-
walton, l have observed In many places,
10 employ the language of Whittier;
orchards sweep.
Apple and fruit trees fruited deep.
Fair as the garden of the Lord.
Yield of Many Fold
Irrigated lands are made TO yield
MANIFOLD more than the best unirrisated
lands and the certainty OF good crops
seems TO be assured. There is guaranty
n.
and the intelligent husbandman is GER
tain OF a bountiful yield as the fruit of
his Industry. The desert is fast disap-
pcaring before the magic touch OF Ameri-
can genius, thrift and pluck. What a few
years ago seemed 10 be impossible Is now
being accomplished. 1t has been demon
strated that there is no investment
which has yielded better or surer results
than money spent in the construction OF
feasible irrigation works. 1t is esti-
mated that some ten millions OF acres
are now irrigated through individual and
corporate effort and that the value of
our agricultural products has been there
by increased in the sum OF more than an
hundred and nifty millions Of dollars per
annum. It is also estimated that this
annual increase is in excess OF the total
cost of irrigation works through which
1t is made possible.
When we consider. in addition to the
large money value of the increased an
nual yield through irrigation, the many
incidental benefits resulting therefrom.
the magnitude and Importance Of the sub
ject of national irrigation can be more
fully appreciated.
THE Government has not entered upon
the subject OF irrigation hastily and with
out the utmost consideration. The mat
ter has been thoroughly debated and con-
sidered in It's physical and economic
aspects. When it was first suggested it
was regarded by those who had given ii
only superficial consideration as innprac-
tlcable and as involving a tremendous
and unnecessary drain upon the National
treasury. The fact was that individual
and corporate enterprise had carried the
work forward as far as il could reason