Arizona republican., 1911-12-06

area for example in the lower Mis-
sissippi region) is so located that
the drainage problem involves federal
action. perhaps in cooperation with
the states.
| To every thoughtful citizen il is
clear that one of the great public
needs of the day is the extension of
reclamation over wet lands of the
country; and it is important that the
requisite action be taken by state leg
t, islatures and the federal congress,
in cooperation with private owners.
at an early date.
powerful agency in shaping
thought and concentrating public eff
fort exists in this irrigation congress.
Here we have a voluntary organiZa
ton of citizens that may justly be
said to have originated the irrigation
Iact (Which Theodore Roosevelt de-
clared the most beneficial act of his
entire administration, out of which
grew the reclamation service, and to
have done much during the past
Twenty years toward inspiring and ex-
lpanding the forest service. This in
Ifluential body has announced in it's
official call for this congress that
provision has been made for giving
Exceptional attention to drainage. both
lin connection with irrigation projects
and for the reclamation of swamp
and overflow lands in the humid as
well as in the more arid portions Of
the county"
| Under this authorization. the board
of control have invited public atten-
| t;a,, oil "a h.. Hr1ifg n
wet lands as a means OF national
growth and continued prosperity. The
| attendance of citizens interested in
swamp and overflow lands has been
earnestly urged to appoint delegates
in the interest of the development of
this great. but hitherto neglected. re-
source Ii seems peculiarly fitting for
the interests represented in the arid
lands. especially in moving for fed
eral legislation required To develop the
former effectively. For. while the wet
lands are widely distributed, the
greater areas are confined to so linn
| tied portion of our territory as to
render most desirable the same sym
lpathy and support of the great west.
! in which the irrigation congress has
grown up, as the arid west received
from the south in support OF the irri-
cation act.
Thus far no attempt has been made
/ to formulate policy looking to the
reclamation of our wet lands by
drainage: but it is hoped that the de-
alterations of this congress will lead.
or. at least. point the way, to the
adoption of wise mode of procedure.
both by the states and by the federal
government.
The success of the movement for
reclamation of wet lands by drainage
can not be assured without hearty
co-operation between all the states.
but especially between the states OF
the south and west. The two sections
must pull together. Any effort 70 d.
vert this congress from its primary
purpose would arouse spirit of hos
tility and antagOnism; on the other
hand. every effort To enlarge the I'M
Outstanding and enlist the support OF
western representatives would be help
full to the south Should il be found
feasible To create a committee on
drainage. il ought to include repre-
sentatives OF the west no less than or
the south. and its report in 1917
would undoubtedly be of greater force
if submitted, in western city, in
such terms as 10 insure western sup |
port.
The swamp land drainage crusade,
embracing. as il does, more than
eighty million CSO.000,00O acres OF
wet land in thirty-five states OF the
Union, is a proposition so big. involv-
ing so many millions of dollars and
such vast interests. individual, state
and national. that it must inspire the |
biggest Drained men interested in ITS
Ldevelopment Again and again by |
resolutions has this congress called |
the attention Of the federal govern
ment TO the crying need for such ma
tional action. Personally, DO not
know any western man who Is not
willing and anxious to contribute IN
every way to arouse the entire nation, /
but especially the federal congress. to
a full realization OF what the drain
age of these wet lands would mean |
to thousands of home makers; what |
the increase of taxable wealth would |
mean to the nation at large by max
ing land now dormant and of little |
or no value. worth from flfty 10 one
hundred dollars per acre; what ne
cessity now exists for removing. from
many sections. conditions which the
eminent authority. DR.. Evans. eN-
health officer of this city. says serve
to spread foci for diseases and radiate
a pail OF inefficiency on those who
live on nearby lands" this annually
costing thousands of valuable lives
and making more thousands unproiit-
able to themselves, the state ana the
nation In other words, this is n SUI
perb question OF national conserEa-
ton which vii: readily appeal To- pa
triotic and public spirited citizens
north. east. and west, as well as south.
I'm union there is strength" Let us
all pull together.
The Real Gift Of Irrigation.
While the benefits derived from lrri-
CATION are often stated in measur-
able terms by acres of land brought
under bitches, by bushels or tons OF
product. and by increased population
of arid states-all this, great though
il be. fails to express the full meas
ur, of the benefits: for the chief git
Of irrigation lies in the raising OF
standards Of excellence.
Ion