Arizona republican., 1922-04-14

the wish to have such fields ex-
tended.
Clothing manufactured in the New
England and Atlantic states and an
nually shipped to the irrigated dis
tricts of the West is greater in value
than the automobiles marketed In
those sections.
Hardware. drugs. boots and shoes,
electrical appliances, farm machinery
and implements, produced principally
in the Middle West and East, are
purchased each year in exceedingly
large quantities by the irrigationists
of the West. Outlines the manufac-
turer and his sales agent are luren
by far away markets in foreign lands
Today we hear much about the mar
kets of Australia, Canada and Argen-
tina, for the wares of America. These
countries are mainly agricultural. In
1919 Australia cropped less than IT,
600, 900 acres of land; Canada some
$4,000, 900 and Argentine, in 1918, had
under plow 61.000,000 acres-Argen-
tina's plow field being only little
more than double that Of the state
of Iowa and nearly twice as rich In
production. There is no possiniiity
of Australia, Canada or Argentina
rapidly. There is no question but
that the United States, with its 2O,-
OOO, 600 acres of arid land in the
West, its SO,000,000 acres of swamp
land, mainly in the northern Middle
West. lower Atlantic and Gulf states,
could, with proper financing. reclaim
larger, areas, within the next 70
years, than any other country in the
world. These lands, thusly reclaimed,
acre by acre, will be the richest lanos
Of our country.
It is yet within the United States
that our manufacturers have their
best chance to extend their markets.
Odd as it may seem, starting with
New York, there is scarcely an At
Atlantic coast or Gulf city that has
not, in close proximity. extensive
swamps, which should be reclaimed;
not alone for the crops which they
would yield. but for the elimination
of the mosquito and sanitation OF the
country.
Most Of these swamps were sur
veyed years ago and plans Tor tneir
reclamation even were worked out by
the interior department. under ap-
propriations by congress.
Secretary Fall, in his latest release
to the public, declares that over. l0O,-
600 soldiers wish land. Why should
they not?
Between 1S60--or really after the
close of the Civil war-and 1900.
400, ,OO0. 900 acres of the public domain
passed into private ownership.
There never has been and there
never will be time when fair per-
centage of our population will not
desire to possess the soil.
At the dinner at the Raleigh sug-
gestions were exchanged as to the
most feasible plans to acquaint con-
gress with the scope and merits OF
the Smith bill.
It is now time for the whole West,
which knows the value OF recIama-
ton. to appeal to those of whom tney
purchase wares in the Middle West
and East to support the McNary-
Smith bill. Arizona has many prol.
ects that would come under this bill.
which provides $3.50, 900. 900 as a fund
to construct dams, canals and drain
the swamp lands of our country. As
each project is completed bonds equaI
to the cost of construction or the
project are issued by the organized
district and sold through the federal
farm loan banks at par and drawing
not more than 5 per cent interest.
The selection of the projects to be
first built under the act falls upon
the secretary of the interior. Sew
eral projects in the state have already
been investigated by the present rec.
lanlation service and approved. and
in the instance of the San Carlos
dam actual work completed in con-
structing the diversion dam at
Florence, and the one at Sacaton IS
now being started.
1t is earnestly requested that every
person having friends among the
Eastern and Middle Western repre-
sentatiyes in congress address letters
either to them or some business
house in those states who do business
In Arizona.
Favorable replies from such sources
should be remailed to Judge p. ID.