The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-03-29
ARIZONA MEMBER TAXES 4 HAND
 IN LEGISLATION
Makes Two Speeches On Matters Af- fecting the Welfare of Arizona's
 People and Is We'll Received.

MT. Hayden. MT Chairman, I want briefly to give my testimony to the effect that nowhere in the United States is this legislation more needed than in Arizona.
 As most of you are well aware, the larger part of the area of my State is desert land, where there can be no cultivation without irrigation. It is true that there are comparative large sections where certain classes of crops can be grown by system of dry farming, but any land in Arizona will produce in greater abundance if the flow of some stream or the water from some well can be applied to the land.
 When the homestead law was first adopted it was applied to the lands of the Middle West, where there was ample rainfall to produce crops. Alter the first year, when the prairie was once broken, the homesteader had an income from his land and the amount of that income was generally Suffic- tent to keep him and his family SUD- piled with at least the necessities of life without any outside resources. But when the hom eseeker reaches Arizona he finds the conditions en- tirely different. The rule there is that thes ettler goes upon the land in anticipation of the building of some irrigation enterprise either by the Gov ernmen or by private capital.
 He takes up the land in the hope and oftentimes with an assurance that he will receive water for irriga- tion in the near future. But the best laid plans of Government engineers or of the managers of private enterpris- es are always subject to the unfore- seen delays. The universal rule has been that the water has not been put upon the land as soon as anticipated The result is that the poor homestead CT, chained to his land by the require ments of the law, must either receive outside assistance in the shape of his own previously accumulated capital or by loans to the limit of his personal credit, or else he must abandon his hope for a home and go elsewhere to make, a livelihood, for the land upon whicfa he resides absolutely will not contribute anything to his support without water.
 This bill, which reduces the time in which he may obtain patent from five to three years, will not lescen the period of his struggle, but the further provision which permits him to be ab- sent from his homestead for five months in each year will be of inesti-
 
 to go into other and more settled parts of the country and there by his labor accumulate the means he can devote the remaining of the year to the improve ment of his land.
 There are many places in Arizona where water can be developed, either by pumping or by artesian wells, III sufficient quantities to irrigaIe pro fitab1V considerable areas
 But pumping plants and deep wells usually cost more than the limited capital which the homesteader has in his possession. If he can obtain title to his land within a shorter period, he comes that much sooner to the time when he has an asset in the shape Of real estate upon which to borrow mon- ey for these most necessary improve ments
 We have been told that by reason of the liberal homestead laws of the Dominion last year 125,0OO American citizens left the United States to settle in Canada, taking with them millions of dollars of wealth. Arizona would such an addition to her pop nlation. We are developing our re- sources so that we will be able to ac- ,omodate many times that number of people. We are storing the floods of he rivers; we are boring deep into the earth and there finding the precious fluid that brings life to a thirsty soil. There are no fairer fields to be found lnder any flag that can be found in Arizona.
 This change in the homestead law $ one of the best means of diverting he great stream of emigration which S now leaving the United States and directing it's course into the States Of he arid West such as the one which
 have the honor to represent"
 On March 11th the House had under a Bill for the Protec- ion of the National Forests From De- ;truction by Fire, the bill carrying an appropriation for that purpose. On his occasion MT. Hayden said:
 MT. Chairman: Owing to the long md unnecessary delay in the admis- sion of the State of Arizona, I was not Member of this House at the time his bill was reported, and I had not m opportunity to appear before the Committee on Agriculture when this tenn was under discussion. I want o read from letter which I received rom MT. Graves, the Forester, con- ,erning this item in the bill. He says:
 The appropriation bill for the cur 'ent year carries $500,000 for improve nent work. This fund is for the con- 'truction of trails, fire lines, telephone ines, ranger cabins, bridges, roads, md other permanent improvements. The money is being mainly expended 'or the construction of such improve nents as are needed for the proven ion of forest fires. The national for ests are still without adequate means of transportation and communication, and this is the greatest difficulty in fire At the present rate of eX-
 Continued on Page Eight)