The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-09-03

cd 70 the work being done under th
Carey act but said that Il was a gen
etai experience while the government
acts more slowly, that the results OBJ
tained are more substantial than thos,
resulting from private enterprises.
Governor Chamberlain lamented Thu
lack Of care which had existed In dis
posing Of the public domain. While hi
did not want TO be understood on being
In favor Of condscation and equally
opposed to lawlessness, the revelations
OF fraud in securing vast areas WIS in
his opinion sufficient ground for finding
means OF taking radical steps to restore
them to the people.
'Nor should II be forgotten" the
speaker said. "in addition to grants Qiy-
en- them for constituting their roads,
the RAILROADS. have obtained millions Of
acres OF land which are withheld from
sale, sometimes in express violation Of
the terms Of the grants and always to
the retardation Of the commercial and
agricultural development Of the states.
! believe this subject Ii one worthy and
proper for the delegates TO deliberate
upon"
In conclusion, the governor urged uni
formity OF legislation In the different
states on the subject Of irrigation.
Following the governor, was the
speech Of Vice. President Charles w.
Fairbanks. He said:
The suggestion that the government
should participate in the work of irri-
CATION awakened some opposition among
those who had given little thought to
r. and failed TO realize it's tremendous
possibilities. ! look upon no incident
Of my public service with more salts.
faction than the support I gave to the
reclamation act upon the statute books.
The measure now speaks for itself. Its
critics have become its supporters. and
the marvel Of II all Is that its virtues
were not earlier forseen and such a
sooner enacted. The work Of
development under it may sometimes
seem slow. The results, however, are
sure. Those who are familiar with what
has been done by the government win
agree that much progress has been made
md that the faithful execution Of the
aw will result in broinging unde ra high
tate OF cultivation many millions Of |
'cres of land which are now unpro.
luctive.
We have long since passed the exper.
stage and it ouly remains to
'ush the wrok wherever feasible with
he utmost vigor. The reclamation OF
ieans the creation Of home.
tead which viii comfortably sup
ort family Of industrious, intelligent
nd patriotic American citizens. /
"The development Of irrigation by the
ational government must have pro-
md and far-reaching influence upon the
eneral subject of irrigation throughout
ne country. 1t will tend powerfully, to
he extension of irrigation into por.
ons of the country which have hitherto
lied largely upon rainfall in the culti- le
ltion and growing, of crops. There is
more important subject for the con.
derataon Of farmers in many Of the 9
imid and semi-hmii regions than a
at of so'called supplemental irrigation.
must prepare more and more for
e increased demand upon our food c
pply which comes from the multiply =
8 millions Of our population. There. n
re the development of the subject of a
'igation is Of interest, not only to the N
rmers of these great western regions ST
I to the farmers and consumers ey.
rwhee. lp,
Continued nm psnn 81 1VA