Gilpin observer., 1919-05-01

the gravestone for gigantic mistake
Why, it was only the grossest igno
rance that gave to the desert the labe
of bad lands The desert is q con
dition, not a fact. Here you zee the
passing Of the condition, the burial Of
the superstition. Are you interested ir
irrigation"
Rickard was not given to explain
the degree Of interest his profession
involved, for the stranger drew a pain
full breath, and went on.
"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. 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 a truth.
They were great because of It'll 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 ths desert
when they might easily have pre-.
empted the watered regions? Then
there are the Carthaginians, the Tol-
tees, the Moors. And one never for.
gets Egyptp
"For protection" Rickard gave the
sighted question an interested recog-
milton. "Was that not what we were
taught at school1 The forest held
foes. animal and human. Those ma
dons grew to their strength and
power in the desert by virtue Of its
isolation"
Superstition |" retorted the man
with the tie. 1--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
cient tribes who settled in northern
India. They recognized the value of
aridity. They knew Its threefold
worth"
"An inherent valuef" demanded the
college-bred man, turning from the
window.
"An Inherent value" declared the
exponent Of aridity.
"Wil you tell me Just what you
meanT
"Not In one session. Look yonder.
That's Brawley. When I came through
here ten years ago could have had
my pick Of this land at 25 cents an
acre. They were working at this
scheme then-on paper. was not
alive to the possibilities then; I had
not yet lived in UtahI"
The train was slowing up by a brand
new yellow-painted station. There
were several dusty automobiles wait
Ing by the track. 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 gen.
eral average Of intelligence in the
faces Of the crowd below. Rickard &C.
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 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. II 1t had not been for the set.
ting we might have been at 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 fit Of stran
CLING. Richard turned again to the
window. to the active scene which de
MED the presence Of desert beyond.
"The doctors say 1t will have to bt
the desert always for me-" The stran
ger tapped his chest significantly
"But 1t Is exile no longer-not In ar
irrigated country. For the reason ol
irrigation 1t is the progressive man
the man with ideas, or the man who II
willing to take them. who comes int
this desert country. II he has not hnt
education 1t Is forced upon him. saw
It worked out In Utah. was ther,
several years. Irrigation means co
operation. That IL, to me. the chile
value Of aridity."
The wind. though still blowing
through the car and running the traiI
dust. was carrying less Of grit ant
sand. To the nostrils Of Rickard an,
his new acquaintance II brought tn,
pleasing suggestion Of grassy mead
ows, Of willow-lined streams and frn
grant fields.
ut Is the accepted idea that thi
valley II attracting a superior clas
Of men because Of its temperate
|, afnnd II IA the Qther WAY r0und. Th