Arizona republican., 1908-02-10
COLONIzING
 ARID WEST
Paper of C. |. SeagrdveS Read Before Conference
of Interest to Southwest ern Communities Seeking More Capital.

for which place he left here Friday evening. He had been invited to read q paper before the conference of rec lamation and irrigation engineers. that has been in session there during the past week and went to Yuma to re- spond to the invitation Saturday. As he passed through Phoenix. copy of his paper was secured for use after it's reading in Yuma and is herewith published as being a document well worthy perusal by all Republican readers.
 The latter part of the paper makes use of the Salt River valley as an object lesson and attention is called to the fact that when 1t was written MT Seagraves had no idea of stopping here except to change cars and did not expect to meet the Phoenix peo- pie in a public assemblage. His ex- temporaneous remarks before the board of trade the other day were along the lines of this paper, 50 that any seeming repetition will thus be accounted for. However. it is a mat ter that can not be too greatly em- phasized. or too oft repeated. Follow ing is the paper:
 Set speeches and flights of Oratory, with a grand stand play to the press. do not settle up a country with home seekers. Our experience has been. and continues to be, that this desirable end is accomplished most effectually by persistent publication of plain, practical business methods.
 Therefore the purpose of my paper is the discussion of ways and means of obtaining greater results in the colonization of the irrigated sections of the southwest, and to offer such suggestions as practical experience will admit for attracting hOmeseekers 10 those portions of the southwest where L. $. reclamation projects are either completed. or being worked out. and where irrigation under private en- terprise is making wonderful strides.
 For some years the Santa Fe has conducted a campaign of education extending over the entire country In the past three years the persistent ef- forts have bean redoubled and its en- orgies increased manyfold in the en- deavors to enlighten the people regard ing the numerous and great adyan- tages to be derived from farming by irrigation.
 Tt was slow, uphill work. Less than a decade ago the people whom we tried to interest in farming under irriga- ton. listened to us patiently. but they would have nothing to do with the lit tie patch of twenty or forty acres. the possibilities of lich we endeav- ro Thar- declined to consider the matter seriously. as a tract of that size was not farm, but might interest the women for garden ing. We, however. continued to keep up our ceaseless campaign. our com pany spending. and continuing to spend. many thousands of dollars in exploiting and advertising the wonder ful resources and opportunities of the irrigated sections in the southwest. Though we have kept this great work up for years. We feel that we are hardly started in it.
 Tt is gratifying. however, to see the intelligent interest that is being arous- ed all over the country. which is be- coming more apparent every day. The fact this great interest is being awak- ened among the people everywhere, impresses me with the importance of still greater activity. and while the campaign we inaugurated has brought us good results. We propose to go into the work on a still greater and more extensive scale. which will be far reaching indeed. The results of the work we know will more than justify the time and expense.
 If I understand this question right ly. the reclamation department is as much interested in the success of these projects as the railroads. or the com munities in which the project may be located I therefore assume that suc- cess is not only to be attained from construction or an engineering standpoint. but financial as well. so that money expended for these pro- iects will be returned to the depart ment within the time prescribed. in order that new projects may be con sidered.
 Therefore. to carry these plans to a successful conclusion. it is very inn portant that a settler should be located on practically every forty or eighty acres under each project. The func- tions Of the reclamation service are only constructive. the colonization de- vOlving upon the railroads and the communities that will be benefited. This is the plan we have had in mind in pursuing our efforts of cOlOniZing the various sections along our lines However. we feel that We might be effected if the communities most closely concerned would recognize that their interests and ours are mutual. and ally themselves with us in our efforts to benefit their localities.
 We have done a great deal. We stand ready and expect to do a great deal more along our lines. And this brings us again to the point that to make a success of the work; to have our energy and activity bear fruit We need the active support of the com munities-of the local people them selves. many of whom I doubt not realize that the railroad is entitled to something more vigorous and effective than mere moral support.
 The great trouble I find in trying to arouse a general interest in the people who will be most benefited, is a disposition to shift the necessary work to the shoulders of one or two public spirited hustlers. instead of giv- ing il the general support it deserves. This is lamentable as it is unjust. for every man, woman and child is a ben eficiary and should be a factor in set