The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-09-27
TEXAS MAN TALKS
ON IRRIGATION
irrigation Not only as an Economic
f Project But as Aid to clviIIz-
atIoT, Is Is vvT5ss vvTT5ssa.
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
Pueblo, Colo. Sept. 27.-George
Eames Barstow. Of Barstow. Texas.
former president of the national Irri-
cation congress. IN an address de-
livered here today before that body,
made a strong appeal for irrigation,
not only as an economic project, but
as an aid to civilization and a potent
factor in the worlds progress. His
speech in part follows:
"The first essential for a success
full issue of irrigation is sufficient
supply of good water. One may pos
sess twenty, fifty, or one hundred
thousand acres of fine alluvial land.
splendid climate. nearby markets, etc,
and yet. IL lacking proper supply of
water, he need not look for success
full issue. l regret to say that there
are men In different parts of our coun-
| try, who having gained possession Of
land, have made the innocent to suf-
fer. and also brought some disrepute
on great and most important nation
al industry.
"We cannot too strongly condemn
operations Of this kind. and l trust
that the committee on resolutions Of
this congress viii present for our ad-
option a resolution on this matter set
ting the subject before the country in
no uncertain manner. II we are to
continue in irrigation by private enter
prise in the great arid and semi-arid
parts OF our nation, we must constant
I1y draw and hold the confidence Of
our monied interests and investing
classes We can not hope for such
most desirable results If for one mo-
ment we countenance those irrigation
operations that are designed to filch
the public.
! History discovers to us that irriga-
tion by private enterprise has always
been in the van. This has been true
in India, Syria. Babylon, Egypt, Java,
under the subject aud successors Of
Montezuma; in Chile, Peru, Argen-
Il tina and the United States Before
the English imperial government be-
gan its great work in irrigation in
India, the people of India by private
enterprise had constructed works Of
various types capable Of irrigating
twenty-five million acres Of land. This
acreage has been increased to over
thirty million acres by private enter
! prise: and over twenty million acres
by imperial government Such has
: been the history Of the governments
abroad that | have named; in 1901
1872 the United States Of America
, played the crowning act on these lines
! for its people In the passage Of the
reclamation act However. previous
Z to the enactment Of this law. private
$ enterprise in America had reclaimed
e many millions Of acres Of land by irri-
! cation; and today the grand total by
private enterprise aggregates over
!. eleven millions Of acres.
= have observed some illusions OF
criticisms in the far-eastern press
concerning the large amounts Of
money going, into private irrigation
speculation. If these references have
to do with illegitimate irrigation en-
I terprises and to which have already
y made reference. applaud the same
1 If on the other hand reference is had
q to the immense Investments that have
!, been, and are beiug made in sound
1 commercial and productive irrigation
d enterprise, then l condemn that par
It of the press that has used its powe
T In that way. It is narrow and cir
p cumscrIbed view, and discovers grea
1. lack Of understanding, that, todal
would place any stumbling block Il
II the way Of an industry whose poten
o tial force means so much to ever
u American citizen.
Z have many times advocated tn
great Importance OF all irrigation CON
panies installing system Of drainag
bitches. I am today more IN earnes
on this subject than ever; beeaus
+ during the past year have seen sue
: system. and | understand the frs
in the United States to be installed, a
h Barstow, in the Peeos valley Of Wes
IS Texas, and its workings more thal
se justify the positions that ! have af
e. vocated.
n