The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-02-21

the ~gravestone for a gigantic mistake.
Why, it was only the grossest igno-
rance that gave to the desert the label
of bad lands The desert is a on
dition, not a fact. Here you see the
passing Of the condition, the burial of
the superstition. Are you interested in
irrigation?"
the degree Of interest his profession
involved, for the stranger drew q pain
full breath. and went IN.
"Of course you are, II you are q
western man. You are. I 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. / learned at
school, 81 did you. that some of the
most glorious civilizations flourished
in spite Of the desert which surround
ed them. That was only half q 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 q never for
gets Egypt"
"For protection" Richard gave the
slighted question an Interested recog-
milton. "Was that not what we were
taught at school? The forest held
foes, animal and human. Those ma
lions grew to their strength and
power in the desert by virtue Of Its
isolation"
Superstition" retorted the man
with the tie. I'VE are babes at the
breast measured by the wisdom OF the
men who settled Damascus, or COM
pared with the Toltecs, or those an
cient tribes who settled In northern
India. They recognized the value Of
artdity. They knew in threefold
WORTH"
IAN inherent value9' demanded the
college-bred man, turning froh the
window.
IAN inherent value" d~erlared the
exponent Of aridity.
"Wlll you tell me just what you
meant"
mot In one session! Lock yOnder.
That's Brawley. When 1 came through
here ten years ago I could have had
my pick of this land at 25 cents an
acre. They were working at this
scheme then-on paper. l was not
alive to the possibilities then; l had
not yet lived in Utah!" i
The train was slowing up by a brand
new yell0w-painted station. There
were several dusty automobiles wait
ing by the track. q 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 Richard IL he observed the gen.
eral average OF intelligence In the
faces Of the crowd below. Richard nc.
knOwledged that he had been struck
by that. not only here but 1t Imperial
Junction. where he had waited for the
train.
There Is 4 club In the valley. lately
started. q university club which admits
as members those who have had al
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. IL it had not been for the set.
ting we might have been ut Ann Arbol
or PalO Alto. The costumes were q
little motley. but the talk sounded like
home.
The dust blowing in through the cal
doors brought on another 1t Of stran.
Cling. Richard turned again to the
window. to the active scene which de.
MED the presence Of desert beyond.
1.-The doctors say it will have to be
the desert always for me-" The stran.
6CA N0pRCU AA0 N1lCSI 0lk0luCOuIIy
but 1t Is exile nc longer-not In an
irrigated country. For the reason OF
irrigation! It is the progressive man
the man with ideas. or the man who is
willing to take them. who comes into
this desert country. II he has not had
education 1t Is forced upon him. I saw
1t worked out In Utah. I was there
several years. Irrigation means CO
operation. That Il. to me, the chiet
value Of arldity."
The wind. though still blowing
through the Z and running the train
dust was carrying less Of grit and
sand. TO the nostrils Of Richard and
his new acquaintance e brought the
pleading suggestion Of grassy mead
ows, Of wtll0wline6 streams and ira
grant fields.
1T = the eccepted idea that THU
valley u attracting . superior class
Of mea because Of tn. Temperance
stand. II Is the other way round. Th<
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