Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-11-27
AID TO THE
DEVELOPMENT Of
WIDE WEST
RAILROADS CHIEF FACTOR
SAYS ROCK ISLAND MAN
Plenty Of Free Land Left in
Southwest Seventeen States
Now Occupy What Was Once
Called Desert,
~[speeIaI corresponaene. q MornInr gournaIl

Especial Correspondence ia Morning JournaiI
Chicago. H.. NOV. 24-Rail-
roads deserve much Of the
credit for h development Of the
west. according to C.. =. Schmidt.
commissioner Of immigration Of the
Rock Island lines. Mr.. Schmidt has
been connected with Colonization
work for many years. In reviewing
conditions as they were and as they
are today. he said Co the Chicago
Tribune
IA recently as the middle Of the
last century the immense territory
lying west at the ninety-fifth merid-
Ian and constituting the western han
81 the United States. was yet terra
inCognitn. ON the maps n was desig-
mated as the Great American desert.
Here the aborigine had his undis-
puted home, right here he hunted the
buffalo, which was the chief source
OF his food. clothes and housing.
I'm his report 10 the federal gov
eminent regarding his journey OF ex-
piorutiona from 81. Louis to the
Rocky mountains, Lieut.. Zebulon NJ
Pike. IN 1907. characterized the
whole country west of the Missouri
river as e. desert incapable of sus-
tanning civilized lie. The Missouri
in his opinion, fortunately constituted
"a barrier against the advance uf the
American people preventing them
from spreading themselves further
west and thereby limiting the Union
to "a safe frontier, giving IL perma-
mont strength and power
Desert o Seventeen States.
such was the judgment OF that in
trepid soldier explorer, formed after q
seven months heroic journey across
the plains with his little band of
brave soldiers. There was little In
Lieutenant Pixies report 60 encourage /
immigration on the Investment of
capital in that territory. and yet n
group Of seventeen states has been
carved out of that Great American
desert during the last half century
and be is that vast section ga the
United states which now constitutes
the American %granary, the American
flesh pot and the American treasure
house
.And what hes brought about this
remarkable mctamorphosis within six
decades The railroads have lone
10, supported at first hy a liberal poll
ley 81 the federal government IN
Ftunting extensive tracts of land for
colonization to such railroad corpora
ti0ns as would undertake. within GER
tain limits. 20 push their lines across
the plains and over the Rocky "a
tains Old Europe participated. and
sim participates, with It's capital in
the construction of these railroads,
and also supplied a. large contingent
humgn matcrial-musclc, brain.
ana hiaWn-to assist in the trans
formation cot tho desert into this
.gruuary of e new world.
The railroads of the United states
have ever been the chief promoters OF
thc agricultural. commercial and in
dusuial developments of The country.
During the early periods of our his
tory when the natural waterways
marked the routes end constituted
che means of western progress. IL re-
uired a century 90 accomplish what
since the advent of the railroad has
heen done in decades
IIomescckcrs On Increase.
ln fact the railroads builded bet /
Ger than they knew. Induced by ina
proved and extended means of rms
p|orthtian the human tide followed
tna railroad enslucers and soon over
o them Don its quest Tor homes
ANA business opportunities this tide
spread itself north and south OF pro-
ltrtft trunk iIuc ot railroads O.
compelled the building at networks
nI branch lines ana ecdcr Lieut.
Pixies desert is now pouring forth
such ilo0ds of market commodities
ihtt the carrtine capacity Of the rail-
rolis ngs been uxed beyond It's linn
its And te This day.. huugh the sup
uiE ~ public hand tor free home
stHtds wst cot the Rockies Is Wen nigh
tho influx of homestokers
euIt continues hut Increases
iu Texas There is @ notable deVai-
.nmeHt fer Ute cattle kires hav
oparef rr their VAST possessions Go
fhe settler who combines general
rmin win stnek raising. ~ applies
DIS rfnItil and labor 60 intensive
faf uIrt Boo trHDk nnd fruit. Okla
hnma a tounEster iu the family uf
.tafee ufUurd tu rUttlsmcnt onfr
twenty Nfars $780, has made "a banner
record Don rluil advance nI settlement
lnd agricultural aud social develop
Louisiana la experiencing q nfW /
as @ result 90 d general deFeiop-i