THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



American States. One bar to her progress fell when 

 the practice of polygamy was discontinued and the 

 church party dissolved. The other bar falls with 

 the shattering of Territorial bonds. The future of 

 the beautiful State between the Rockies and the 

 Sierras looks as bright as one of her own morning 

 skies. 



It is widely announced through the press 

 Railroad despatches that the admission of Utah to 

 Proposed, statehood will be quickly followed by 

 active operations in the construction of a railroad 

 system from Salt Lake City to the coast. It is stated 

 that prominent officials of the Mormon church are 

 cooperating with Isaac Trumbo of San Francisco 

 and Gen. J. S. Clarkson of Utah in this undertaking. 

 Surveys have been made and assurances of ample 

 financial backing secured, according to current re- 

 port. It is said that the railroad will open up enor- 

 mous coal beds in southern Utah and then proceed 

 southwest to a connection with the Santa Fe system. 

 We sincerely hope this report is well founded. Such 

 a railroad is much needed and will give a splendid 

 impulse to the development of a section of country 

 which is very richly endowed by nature. It would 

 create an avenue for the exchange of commodities 

 between localities which differ widely in character 

 and products. Southern California will ship largely 

 to the inter-mountain region in the North, and the 

 latter section will ship largely to Southern California. 

 In the near future ocean traffic will come into San 

 Diego's phenomenal harbor. The new railroad will 

 also open a splendid field for irrigation enterprise all 

 along its line. It seems almost too good to be true 

 that such a line can be built in the midst of the pre 

 vailing hard times, but if the potent influences of the 

 Mormon church are behind it we believe it can be 

 done. The resources of these people are large and 

 their credit of the highest. They have never yet 

 failed in any industrial undertaking. 



Opening The United States Senate has passed the 

 bil1 opening to settlement 3,000,000 acres 



Lands, of Indian reservations in central Utah. 

 This will give another glorious impulse to the new 

 State. The lands which it is proposed to open are 

 among the best in Western America. They are en- 

 dowed with rich and varied natural resources, and 

 the country will become a wonder field for prospect- 

 ors, as well as for the development of agricultural 

 and horticultural industries. It is understood that 

 the numerous beautiful valleys are amply watered. 

 There can be no doubt that money and men will rush 

 in to make the most of the opportunities from which 

 they have so long been barred by the presence of the 

 Indians. All things considered, Utah would appear 

 to be at this moment about the most promising State 

 in the Union. It will be difficult for her to escape a 

 genuine boom. It is pleasing to reflect that her foun- 

 dations are perfectly solid, and that she ought to be 

 able to amply reward whatever amount of labor or 

 capital shall be expended upon her. 



The Third Real Estate Congress will be 

 held at St. Paul, Minn., August 21, 22 

 is the Cry. and 2 3. The secretary of this body is 

 Mr. O. W. Crawford, of Chicago. This gentleman is 

 doing a good work in raising the slogan, " Back to 

 the Land!" His articles on this subject have been 

 widely published. In these articles he notes the 

 steady decrease in the average size of farms, and 

 predicts that they are destined to grow smaller and 

 smaller in order to accommodate the pressure of 

 population. The Real Estate Congress will take up 

 this subject in earnest. Mr. Crawford believes that 

 small farms are going to be popular, not only in the 

 irrigated region, but in the Middle, West and South. 

 He believes the people must go back to the land in 

 order to sustain themselves and make the nation 

 prosperous. The friends of the arid region are glad 

 to observe this kind of agitation. They think they 

 know to what section the people will go when they 

 are thoroughly aroused to the necessity of colonizing 

 vacant lands. 



