THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



the Idea achieves its substantial victories. It is, 

 then, in the conventions, public prints and record of 

 congressional enactments, that we must study the 

 progress of irrigation thought during 1894. We have 

 already seen that the year was not notable for its 

 record of construction or colonization, although in the 

 latter respect it was somewhat encouraging. The 

 progress of ideas cannot be measured by physical 

 standards. Great movements, like great men, go 

 through a long and painful process of preliminary 

 development and then stand out suddenly and dis- 

 tinctly before the public eye, dominating the thought 

 and imagination of the country and possibly the 

 world. There are three indispensable conditions of a 

 successful propaganda, whether in industry, politics, 

 or religion. They are, first, a just cause; second j 

 good leadership; third, an opportunity. Starting 

 with a cause of tremendous significance, physically 

 based on half a continent and deeply planted intel- 

 lectually in human need, irrigation has latterly 

 developed good leaders in every State and county. 

 As for the opportunity, there can be no question that 

 it is here. It is not yet as marked as it will be, but the 

 dawn is in sight and noonday will come. Only the 

 few who have had a chance to study the subject from 

 all sides, in every part of the country and among all 

 classes of people, realize how near we are to full day- 

 light, nor what large things will finally stand revealed 

 to the world's view. 



The popular convention has done its best 

 Semi-Arid . , . , . , 



Region work during the past year in the semi- 

 Converted. ar j^ re gj orii an d Kansas has been the hot- 

 bed of its operations. In the picturesque language of 

 Judge J. S. Emery, " Kansas has got her head and 

 tail up, and irrigation is a go." It would puzzle the 

 historian to calculate just how many meetings have 

 been held in Kansas, but they have been very numer- 

 ous indeed. They have resulted in arousing an im- 

 mense popular interest. The culmination was reached 

 in the State convention held at Hutchinson, Novem- 

 ber 23d and 24th. This was attended by delegates 

 from all parts of the State, including many members- 

 elect of the new legislature. It was addressed by 

 almost as many prominent men as are usually drawn 

 together by a national convention. The attendance 

 on the evening of the 23d exceeded three thousand 

 people, and perhaps this was the largest number ever 

 assembled to listen to the discussion of irrigation. 

 Conventions were also generally held throughout 

 Nebraska. Those at Omaha in March, and at Kear- 

 ney two weeks ago, were especially notable. On all 

 these occasions attention was chiefly centered on the 

 practical aspects of irrigation. The question of water 

 supplies, pumping plants and methods of cultivation 

 superseded all others. The leaders of the movement 

 in the semi-arid region have shown that they are 



blessed with a rare power of organization. They have 

 pursued the plans which seem likely to lead most 

 surely and quickly to results. Already, the irrigation 

 idea has taken firm hold upon Kansas and Nebraska 

 and- far-reaching changes will be brought about in the 

 industrial life, and ultimately in the intellectual life, 

 of those States, There is equal need of the same sort 

 of agitation in the Dakotas, Oklahoma and Texas. 

 In those localities something has been done during 

 the past year, but much more remains to be done. 

 The conversion of the semi-arid region is important 

 because it will solve the question of prosperity for a 

 vast expanse of country which has hitherto suffered 

 from the drouth, injuring the reputation of the States 

 and wrecking investments, but, what is far more 

 important, entailing hardship and wretchedness upon 

 thousands of men, women and children. 



We have given the dramatic movement 



Inn uen ce 

 of the Com- in the semi-arid region the first place in 



missions. tnis recor( j as a ma tter of justice to the 

 brave spirits who have so successfully led it forward. 

 It is not, however, the part of the year's developments 

 which will exert the greatest influence in shaping the 

 future. It does not touch any of the larger questions 

 involved in the reclamation and settlement of the arid 

 empire. It deals not so much with the making of 

 homes for future millions as with the sustenance of 

 present thousands. The richest contribution to the 

 progress of irrigation thought for 1894 was the work of 

 the State Commissions. These have not been fully 

 appreciated, a fact much to be regretted. Neverthe- 

 less, they are a contribution of inestimable value to 

 the common fund of knowledge and to the intellectual 

 current of the arid region. In THE IRRIGATION AGE 

 for October these reports were quite fully reviewed. 

 It should be remembered that most of them were 

 based on letters written in answer to questions sent 

 broadcast through the several States. They repre- 

 sent, therefore, the views of a wide public on the 

 larger questions involved in the work of conquering 

 the arid region. They have already begun to exert a 

 quiet influence which is destined to grow with the 

 years. In so far as the National Irrigation Congress 

 took any forward steps they were taken as the direct 

 result of the work of the commissions, 

 Significance Another and most interesting phase of 



Utah h Re- tne >' ear ' s progress is the revival of in- 

 vival. terest in Utah. The world is constantly 

 referred to this territory as the classic land of Amer- 

 ican irrigation. Hence it seems a little strange to 

 talk about an irrigation revival there. Nevertheless, 

 there was much need of it. Utah is in the very heart 

 of the mining region. Public opinion has seen noth- 

 ing worth talking about except silver. One prominent 

 journal has even gone so far as to say that a great 

 civilization has never rested on agriculture, but al- 



