The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-07-05

100. 000. 900 acres of arid public and
will relieve the congestion of popula-
ton in our great cities and exert a
profound influence to check the trend
of population to the cities and turn
it back to the land, and thus safeguard
against one of the greatest dangers
that now cOnfrOntS us il the mainte-
nance of the pernanence and stabili-
ty of our social and political institu-
tions.'
These are the words of an enlighten
ed statesman, young in ear but cog
infant of western conditions. In these
days of popular unrest-physical and
mental, with schools in every state
and Territory devoted to the education
and training for agricultural pursuits
with the great advancement hat has
been made il farming machinery, with
high priced lands in the eastern and
middle states. it is but natural that
the enterprise of our people should
have brought about a great trek" to
the arid lands of New Mexico and the
Rocky Mountain region, and, with the
| governments aid. which we see here
before us in this valley, force them to
yield with an abundance which few
can estimate and whose future value
no one can safely approximate. All
this is the result of an evolution that
is still at work, but chief among the
agencies contributing to these condi-
tions is the learning that has come
from our agricultural colleges and ex-
perimental stations, all largely sup
ported and fostered by the general
government. All this, in my Judgment
is due to American spirit, enterprise
and genius. We see it exemplifed all
along the lines of railway which have
lately been built in this Territory.
Those who fifty Or even twenty-five
ear ago came to New Mexico were
not farmers. They were trail blazers
and however angular their character
and rough their habits may have been
they were true evangeliSts of Ameri-
can civilization. They and many who
have come since have declared that
crops could not be grown successful
ly where today and for several years
past substantial rop have been annu-
ally in evidence. These crops are
not the result of an accidental in
crease in the rainfall. They are not
the result of s~pasmodic occurrences.
The climate is not hanging and has
not hanged. They are the inspiration
and f~ruition of cultivated American
genius which cannot be checked and
which needs only a problem for sOlu-
ton and a situS in which to display
its far reaching and conquering power
American genius began the con-
quest of the Great American Desert
When the congress of the United Stat
es gave to the great transcontinental
railroads those millions of acres which
brought he Pacific ocean within fifty
three Our of the Great Lakes and 5
days from the Atlantic. Those mil
ions of acres which the government
CAV to aid American genius were the
agency for wrestling untold millions
of silver. gold and copper from the
Rocky Mountains, which established
great cities and flourishing towns and
brought about a general development
that has resulted in moving the seat
of empire west of the Mississippi. The
amount of cash derived from the sale
of all the lands in the state of Kansas
given in aid of the construction of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail
way, all of which was actually used in
the building of that great highway of
between the Gret Lakes
and the Pacific does not equal the mo-
ney paid to the farmers of Kansas
annually for their wheat and corn
crOps The value of the agricultural
crops Of the state of Colorado annual
ly far exceeds the noun of money |
which was received by that railroad
company and the actual value of the
~ OPOAAS ~ IN O4As Vi - III
greater. There are more people liv-
ing in Kansas City, Missouri today
than could be found in all the western
states and territories, California and
Oregon excepted. than at the time the
first spike was driven in the construc-
ton of the Union Pacific Railway. 1t
was American genius that foresaw the
conditions existing today when the en-
tire manufacturing owe of the Unit
cd STaTnS iC inC1fHninDf To cI1nD1u tho |
locomotive energy for the satisfactory
movement of the commerce adjacent
tributary to New Mexico's rail-
road-The Santa Fe. 1t is American
genius and intelligence that is making
farms of the Llano Estacado. 1t is
genius that is building up
and settling this Valley with a hap
and contented people. 1t will cov-
er these plains and valleys with abun-
dant and profitable crops: it will build
school houses and churches; it brings
peace, plenty and prosperity: it viii
upon this thirsty desert the
SHOWS of the winter and will
bring blessings which transcend all
others that nan can give to a
But there remain many things to
be lone. In my Judgment the crucial
period for the Reclamation Service
and the Reclamation Policy is at hand
The money which the government has
expended has loaned to the people
the construction of these great
works must be repaid to the govern
ment. We must all pull together and
must give our support t every de-
partment of the government closely
Or collaterally identified with the Re
service. We have placed
ourselves in the position of bondsmen
for the success of this movement and
must allow nothing to interfere
with our ability "to deliver the goods"
when called upon under our covenants
It may be possible That sometime, in
furtherance of the reclamation po
icy We may be called upon to ask
Congress for financial aid other than
hat which is given under the provis-
ons of the Reclamation Act. In other
circumstances may damand the ,