Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-08

why is it good, you meant That
pile of dark rock stands as a monu
ment to an effete superstition. 1t is
the gravestone for a gigantic mistake
Why, 1t was only the grossest igno-
rance that gave 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
irrigation?"
Richard was not given to explain
the degree of interest his profession
involved, for the stranger drew pain
ful breath, and went on.
"Of course you are, if 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 flourished
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 Carthaglnians, the Toll
tees, the Moors. And one never for
gets Egypt"
For protection" Rickard gave the
sighted question an interested recog-
milton. "Was that not what we were
taught at school? The forest held
foes, animal and human. Those ma
tlons grew to their strength and
power in the desert by virtue OF its
isolation
Superstition retorted the man
with the tie. eve are babes at the
breast measured by the wisdom of the
men who settled Damascus, OF COM
pared with the Toltecs, or those an
cient tribes who settled in northern
India. Fhey recognized the value of
arldity. They knew its threefoid
worth"
| IAN inherent value?" demanded the
college-bred man, turning from the
window.
"An 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 1 could have had
my pick of this land at % cents an
acre. They were working at this
scheme then-on paper. l was not
alive to the possibilities then; had
not yet lived in Utah!"
The train was slowing up by brand
new yellow-painted station. There
were several dusty automobiles wait
ing by the track, a few faded surreys
and the inevitable country hotel bus
The platform was swarming with
alert, vigorous faces, distinctly of the
American type.
The man in the seat beside him
asked Rickard if he observed the gem
eral average of intelligence In the
faces of the crowd below. Rickard ac-
knowledged that he had been struck
by that, not only here but at Imperial
Junction, where he had waited for the
| train.
'There is Club in the valley lately
started, a university club which admits
as members those who have had at
least two years Of college training
The list numbers three hundred al
ready. The first meeting was held last
week in an empty new store in Impe-
rial. If it had not been for the set
ting we might have been at Ann Arbor
or Palo Alto. The costumes were a
| ibtic HhOtlSSf buL lhc ldih SOuuueu IKE
home.
The dust blowing In through the car
doors brought on another fit Of stran-
Cling. Rickard turned again to the
window, to the active scene which de-
MED the presence of desert beyond.
"The doctors say it will have to be
the desert always for me-" The stran-
ger tapped his chest significantly.
"But it is exile no longer-not in an
irrigated country. For the reason of
irrigationi 1t is the progressive man,
the man with ideas, or the man who is
willing to take them, who comes into
this desert country. If he has not had
education it is forced upon him. saw
1t worked out in Utah. l was there
several years. Irrigation means CO.
operation. That Is, to me, the chief
value of aridity."
The wind, though still blowing
through the car and rufFiing the train
dust, was carrying less of grit and
sand. To the nostrils Of Rickard and
his new acquaintance 1t brought the
pleasing suggestion of grassy mead
ows, of willow-lined streams and fra
grant fields.
1T is the accepted idea that this
valley is attracting superior class
of men because Of its temperance
sd. 4 H.