The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-11-16

more than three million acres, much of
which is in private ownership and the
balance owned by the States and the
United States. The work entails the
expenditure of vast sums, but the
money involved is a mere bagateIle in
comparison with the benefits received
and to be received in providing homes
for thousands and adding millions to
the wealth of the Nation.
I'm addition to the work now being
done under government supervision,
contracts have been entered into with
private contractors for reclamation of
large tracts of land in all the States
which have accepted the provisions of
the Carey Act. Some of these are
making favorable progress; my expe-
rience has been. however. that whilst
the government moves slowly, the
work done by it is more substantial
and in the end better, and more lasting
results are likely to be attained
Vice president Fairbanks was the
next speaker, and when he arose he
was greeted with a storm of cheers.
Mr.. Fairbanks has always been an
earnest and influential advocate Of all
that the congress stands for. He has
attended several previous sessions and
has always manifested the liveliest in
terest the movement and it's pur-
poses. He spoke in part as follows:
1.-The effect of irrigation in this
Western country can be appreciated
only by those who are familiar with
it from personal observation. The
change made in the conversion of an
arid waste into fruitful fields seems
almost incredible. There is no more
radical transformation to be found
anywhere than in the parched valleys
and plains which have been irrigated,
and which prior thereto produced moth
ing but sage brush. The most unpro-
ductive land has become the most fer
tile. From the worst, it takes rank
with the best. There are promising
fields today where there was no sign
of habitation before we entered upon
the present reclamation policy, and
what has been done is but part of
what we shall accomplish if we faith
fully adhere to the policy upon which
we have entered and carry it out to
the limits of its possibilities.
1--WE have long since passed the ex-
perimental stage, and it only remains
to push the work wherever feasible
with the utmost vigor.
1.-The reclamation of every ten or
twenty acres of land means the crea-
ton of a homestead which will COM
fortably support a family of indus
trious. intelligent and patriotic Ameri-
can citizens.
1.-THE development of irrigation by
the National Government must have
a profound and far-reaching influence
upon the general subject of irrigation
throughout the country. 1t will tend
powerfully to the extension of irriga-
ton into portions of the country which
have hitherto relied largely upon rain
fall in the cultivation and growing of
crops. There is no more important
subject for the consideration of farm
ers in many of the humid and semi
humid regions than that of so-called
supplemental irrigation. We must pre-
pare more and more for the increased
demand upon our food supply which
comes with the multiplying millions of
our population. Therefore, the de-
velopment of the subject of irrigation
is of interest not only to the farmers
of these great Western regions, but
to farmers and consumers everywhere.
1--WE do a substantial and permanent
! service to our country by charging
may come from congested cities and
find occupation for their energies ana
homes for their heads. Let a man
own a piece of ground which he may
cultivate, put him into partnership
with nature. and it will intensity his
love of country and make him more
stable. conservative and patriotic citi-
zen. Increase the home builders and
the home owners of the Republic and
Won augment it's real abiding strength.
1.-The development of the Reclamation
Service in this Western country means
the increase of migration hither or
many desirable citizens.
''Closely related to the subject OF
irrigation is the work of forestry pres
ervation. The two subjects go hand in
hand. We have pursued somewhat
reckless policy with regard to the