East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-09-03

Mr. President and Members Of the Ma
tional Irrigtion Congress:
It is impossible to underestimate
tho importance of the work in which |
you are now engaged. The rapid in
crease of our population makes 1t
imperative that we should reclaim the
waste places and make them product
tive. A wise irrigation system In
creases the number Of American
homes. thus augmenting the conserv-
atiye forces which are the safeguard
OF our political institutions.
believe the most conservative ele-
ments will always be found upon the
farm. The real benefactor is the one
who makes two blades Of grass grow
where one grew before. Promoters
of irrigation fall most distinctly with
In this definition. They promote the
interest and welfare of the home
makers. Irrigated lands in the val
leys of the arid states and territories
produce in profusion fruits, vegeta-
bles. grains and grasses from soil
that but a few years ago to the casual
observer seemed beyond hope of cul-
tiyation. The desert is fast disap-
pearing before the magic touch OF
American thrift and pluck.
1t is estiamted that ten millions or
acres are now irrigated and the value
of our agricultural products has beer,
Increased thereby more than $780,
100000 per annum. The government
has not entered upon the problem OF
irrigation without due consideration
The irrigation law is founded upon an
entirely rational and defensable the
orv. II provides that money from the
sale of public lands shall be set apar
for irrigation. Money so expended
becomes a charge upon the land ben
fitted. repayable in annual install
ments and returned to the reclama
ton fund. The fund becomes an end
less chain extending its blessings t
future years.
It is estimated that the amour
credited to the reclamation service a
the close of the fiscal year 1908 wi
be s41.441,57295, and when this eX
penditure is made it will bring unde
irrigation nearly 10000 acres. TIL
cost of the work now authorized
equivalent to the estimated amour
of the reclamation fund in 1908. 7
complete the work so millions of do
lars in addition will be required
When completed the total amount
land irrigated will be 100000 acre
The secretary of the interior has vi
der consideration additional project
II. the arid districts which will co..
about s1O9,OOO,O0O and which, whe
completed, will bring under irrigf
ton 1910, 900 acres. When the govern
ment completes work now undertake
It will render arabic nearly $4,000
acres at a cost of little more tha
200 millions of dollars.
It is the purpose of promoters
irrigation that the proceeds from Il
sale Of the public domain should
appropriated entirely for the benei
of homeseekers. Therefore the la
proyides that the limit Of area per e
try upon irrigable lands shall be T
stricted to what may be reasonab
required for the support of fami
Irrigation is only in its prelimina
stage in the United States. When {
the non-productive, irrigable Ian
TO the extent of from so to 100 milli
acres have been brought under cul
walton. the wealth Of the nation W
be increased five billions Of dollar
one Of the greatest questions in
future viii be how to conserve a
Increase the productive power of c
agricultural regions. Scientific ir
CATION will be a factor Of increas'
importance in most of our states.
are making marvellous progress
every department Of our domes
economy and nowhere is our advan
ment more marked than in the fl
OF agriculture.