THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



which shall remain. This condition of 

 affairs is not conducive to the general 

 development of the live stock industry. 

 It has caused dissention and strife, the 

 loss of stock and even human life. It 

 has resulted in a large decrease in the 

 number and value of the stpck, and in 

 some localities in the destruction of the 

 grass, almost beyond recovery. It has 

 been suggested that the leasing of the 

 lands, under state supervision, at a rental 

 of a few cents an acre would not only 

 make the stockman secure in his pastur- 

 age, but would provide a fund for the 

 carrying on of other public work. In 

 order to do this, however, it would be 

 necessary for congress to grant a cer- 

 tain area of the land to the states, either 

 in perpetuity or for a term of years. 

 The state officials would then assume 

 control and the responsibility. Already 

 some steps have been taken with a view 

 to making a beginning on this line, and 

 it should meet with popular approval. 

 From the beginning of time the stock- 

 man and the farmer have been at war 

 and this presents an opportunity for the 

 settlement of some of their difficulties. 



Important A decision of far- 

 Decision reaching importance 

 has been rendered by Judge Welborn, 

 of the California Federal Court, by 

 which it is held that the Govern- 

 ment is entitled to the transportation 

 of its soldiers, the mail, etc., at half the 

 rates charged to the public, not only 

 over the land grant but over all railways 

 where it chooses to fix the rates for such 

 service. It will make a difference of 

 many millions a year to the receipts of 

 the railway companies, but it is said they 

 w r ill submit to the decision without ap- 

 peal. 



Encourage If there is any one 

 Factories thing which the good 



Westward friends of irrigation 

 should believe in and work for it is the 

 development of industrial enterprises. 

 Encourage the factories to move west- 

 ward. Induce them to locate near the 

 raw material supply. It can be done. 

 Manufacturers are ready to listen to 

 propositions that may prove to their ad- 

 vantage, and what greater benefit can 

 they desire than cheap power and the 

 saving of excessive freight charges and 

 be within reach of the raw material and 



in touch with the consumer? All this 

 and more can be and should be offered 

 them. These factories will consume the 

 products of the orchard, the farm and 

 the ranch; they will employ labor and 

 distribute money. The manufactured 

 articles can profitably be sold at prices 

 lower than now obtain, thus encourag- 

 ing home consumption. 



Immigration and Every western city 

 Industrial and county should 

 Associations. have its immigration 

 and industrial association for the pur- 

 pose of encouraging settlement and de- 

 velopment. Its work should consist of 

 gathering information about theresources 

 of the state in general, and its own 

 locality in particular; it should secure and 

 maintain a permanent representative ex- 

 hibit of products. It should enter into 

 correspondence with homeseekers and 

 manufacturers and spread before them 

 the resources and advantages of its sec- 

 tion. It should assist in placing upon 

 the statute books wise laws that would 

 encourage investment and protect both 

 capital and labor. It should try to have 

 the railroads grant additional facilities 

 in train service, and sidings and stations 

 whenever required and make reasonable 

 concessions in freight and passenger 

 rates. It should be composed of the 

 most public spirited men in the com- 

 munity and no opportunity should be 

 lost to arouse a strong and united senti- 

 ment in favor of, and a pride in local 

 progress. THE IRRIGATION AGE will 

 cheerfully lend its influence to such a 

 movement and the editor w r ould be 

 pleased to correspond with those who 

 would like take up the matter. 



Beet Sugar The interest maiii- 

 Industry. fested in the develop- 

 ment of the beet sugar industry is one 

 of the most encouraging signs of the 

 times. It has been demonstrated beyond 

 doubt that sugar beets can be grown in 

 every western state and territory, of 

 course in some localities to better advan- 

 tage than in others, but profitably in all. 

 As shown in the February number of 

 THE AGE the American production in 

 1896 amounted only to forty thousand 

 tons, while the consumption w T as hun- 

 dreds of thousands of tons. Millions of 

 dollars were sent away for imported 

 sugar, which should have remained in 



