The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-02-21

4 the RrayeStOne Tor Riganuc mtStahe
Why, 1t was only the grossest igno-
rance that give to the desert the label
of bad lands The desert Is a con-
dition, not fact. Here you see the
passing Of the condition, the burial Of
the superstition. Are you interested in
irrigation7'
Richard was not given to explain
the degree of interest hfs profession
involved, for the stranger drew pain
full breath, and went on.
"Of course you are. II you are q
western man. You are, think?'
The engineer said he was, by choice.
| Irrigation is the creed of the West.
Gold brought people to this country
water, scientifically applied, will keep
them here. Look at Riverside. And
we are at the primer stage only. We
are way behind the ancients in infor-
nation on that subject. i learned at
school. SO did you, that some of the
most glorious civilizations fourished
in spite Of the desert which surround
ed them. That was only half truth.
They were great because of it. Why
did the Incas choose the desert when
their strength gave them the choice of
the continent of South America? Why
did the Aztecs settle in the desert
/ when they might. easily have pre-
empted the watered regions? Then
there are the Carthaginians, the Toll
tees, the Moors. And one never for
gets Egypt"
'For protection" Richard gave the
sighted question an interested recog-
milton. ''Was that not what we were
taught at school2 The forest held
foes, animal and human. Those ma
lions grew to their strength and
power in the desert by virtue of it's
isolation"
Superstition retorted the man
with the tie. "We are babes at the
breast measured by the wisdom Of the
men who settled Damascus, or com
pared with the Toltecs, or those an
Client tribes who settled in northern
India. They recognized the value of
arldty. They knew its threefold
! WORTH
"An inherent value?" demanded the
college-bred man, turning from the
window.
can inherent value" declared the
exponent Of aridity.
"Will you tell me, just what you
mean?"
"Not In one session. Look yonder
! That's Brawley. When came through
here ten years ago could have had
my pick of this land at % cents IN
; acre. They were working at this
scheme then-on paper. / was moi
alive to the possibilities then; hat
! not yet lived In Utahl"
The train was slowing up by brand
new yellow-painted station. There
: were several dusty automobiles wait
} Ing by the track, few faded surrey;
i and the inevitable country hotel has
: The platform was swarming will
: alert, vigorous faces, distinctly of thu
r American type.
3 The man in the seat beside hin
: asked Richard IL he observed the gen
eral average of intelligence In tn,
e faces Of the crowd below. Richard ac
L
I By that, not only here but at Imperia
: Junction, where he had waited for tn
. train.
e "There is club In the valley, latel,
5 started. university club which admit
Y as members those who have had a
0 least two years of college training
i The list numbers three hundred al
l. ready. The first meeting was held las
h week in an empty new store in Impe
Il rial. If II had not been for the SET
}, ting we might have been at Ann Arbo
i or Palo Alto. The costumes We're
!; little motley, but the talk sounded Xix
r home.
e The dust blowing ia through the ca
Q doors brought on another fit of straT
4 Cling. Richard turned again to tn
!, window. to the active scene which d.
MED the presence of desert beyond.
= "The doctors say 1t will have to b
: the desert always for me-" The strar
: ger tapped his chest Significant,
!. "But IL is exile no longer--not in a
|. irrlgationl 1t Is the progressive maj
a the man with ideas, or the man who
> willing 10 take them, who comes int
4 this desert country. II he has not ha
!. education il Is forced upon him. sa'
d IL worked out In Utah. I was theY
n several years. Irrigation means G.
r. operation. That is. to me, the chi,
If value Of arldity."
h The wind, though stlll BLOWN
"a through the car and rufling the tral
dust. was carrying less OF grit an
h sand To the nostrlls of Richard an
ie his new acquaintance Il brought Il
e pleasing suggestion OF grassy mea
"a ows, or wlllow-lined streams aud fir
" grant fields.
l. ut is the accepted idea That tn
q valley Is attracting a superior clai
h Of men because of Its temperan'
lie stand. II Is the other way round. ~
valley stood for temperance beenu
- ~ n