THE MONARCH OAK 55 



Between these two positions there is sand acres of the land are in southern 



a great gulf fixed. They can no more Weld County, while the remainder are 



be harmonized than light and dark- close to Denver. The territory along 



ness, plus and minus, or zenith and nadir, the new line of the Union Pacific is also 



The opposing principles involved will included, as is land along the Burling- 



no more blend than will oil and water, ton's new line to Greeley. "Within this 



Veil it as we may, juggle it as we great empire," we are told, "the rail- 

 will, this is the issue that lies at the roads of Colorado and the promoters 

 base of the Ballinger-Pinchot fight. of land and irrigation projects have 



Personalities may interest ; and slan- planned to spend $10,000,000. In a few 



ders and graft charges may whet the years more, it is estimated this territory 



morbid appetitite; but more funda- ^^in ^dd at least 20,000 population to 



mental by far than personalities, slan- ^Yiq state " 



ders, or graft are broad questions of ^^^ of' which throws additional light 



public policy. on Secretary Ballinger's Spokane 



Such a question, ^ar ..re./ rn.^, IS the j^ .^^ J^.^^ j^^ expressed great 



question whether the public domain r • ji- r • j. • ■ i.- 

 S 11 • u <- ^- 1 • • iriendliness for private irrigation en- 

 shall, m substantial measure, remain m , - j 1 1 • ^1 ^ ^ 

 public hands to be administered by the terprises,_and a keen desire that Gov- 

 public for the public good, or be turned ernment irrigation should be kept well 

 over to individuals tS be exploited for °"* °^. ^^^ ^^^^.^^ all such. Further- 

 private gain. In this lies an issue which "^ore, it harmonizes with the talk heard 

 may well challenge the attention of stu- ^^^^^^ ^^^ Capitol. Where the irrigation 

 dent, citizen, and statesman, and upon JO^ ^^ too big, or difficult, or unprom- 

 whose wise settlement depends, in large isi"g to attract private capital, Govern- 

 measure, the permanent well-being of "^ent, as Adam Smith taught, may be 

 the Nation. permitted to take the risk. But where 

 5>i Ur J^ there are profits to be garnered, how- 



— . , _ . ever heavily the taking of these profits 



The Interest of 'The Interesis' in Irrlgotion ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ producer, Govern- 



ANEWS item published in Denver ment must stand aside and private capi- 



on December 12 makes interest- tal must have the right of way. 



ing reading. In part, it runs : Is this one of the "Roosevelt policies" 



"The Camfield Development Com- which were to have been so relig- 

 pany yesterday secured control of the iously carried out? We confess that 

 Henrylyn and the Golden-Littleton ir- we had not so understood. If, on the 

 rigation systems in a deal which in- other hand, the Roosevelt irrigation 

 volves $4,000,000. David H. A-Ioffat, policy is that of using the Government 

 William G. Evans, Gerald Hughes and in so far as practicable to aid the corn- 

 other capitalists are interested in the mon man in establishing, with as little 

 Camfield concern." expense as may be, a home for him- 



This taking over involves a purchase self in the arid regions, are we not find- 



of the entire bond issue of two dis- ing here another illustration of the way 



tricts — $432,000 — by the company, and in which those policies, as has been sug- 



their cooperation with a firm of Chi- gested, are being "carried out on a 



cago bond brokers. A hundred thou- shutter?" 



THE MONARCH OAK 



The monarch oak, the patriarch of tlic trees. 

 Shoots rising up, and spreads by slow degrees. 

 Three centuries he grows, and three he stays 

 Supreme in state; and in three more decays. 



— Drydcn 



