IRRIGATION AND LABOR. 



In connection with the question of government irrigation of arid 

 lands, which is now beginning to attract so much attention through- 

 out the west, a report, made about ten ^ears ago by a committee on 

 arid lands of the California State Board of Trade, is of special interest 

 just now. In this report, the committee draws attention to the fact 

 that most of that part of the United Stales west of the one-hundredth 

 meridian either requires or would be benefitted by irrigation. With- 

 out it crops are not certain. Thus, irrigation not only becomes a 

 question of national interest, but a question of national necessity. 

 The vast territory in the United States requiring irrigation covers 

 over one- third of the inhabitable part or our country, and if the na- 

 tional government can wisely expend millions of dollars in keeping 

 the water off from a portion of the inhabited part of the country, can 

 it not with equal wisdom, expend wisely money to put water upon 

 that portion of land that most needs it? 



As showing the large area of the United States where irrigation 

 would be advantageous, and where it is most necessary, the following 

 figures are given: 



Square 



Acres. miles- 

 California 100,992.640 157,801 



Oregon 60,975,360 95,274 



Utah , 54,380,800 84,970 



Washington 44,769.160 69,994 



Xe\v Mexico 77.568,640 121,201 



Nevada 71,737,600 112,090 



Arizona 72,906,240 150.932 



Colorado 66,880,000 104.500 



Wyoming 62,645,120 97.883 



Idaho 55,228,160 86,290 



Montana 92,016,640 143.776 



To this may be added the northern and western part of Texas, 

 with area of about one hundred thousand square miles. 



The population of our country is increasing at a remarkable ratio, 

 as the population increases the opportunities for young and ambitious 

 men who live in the older states of the union to gain an honest liveli- 

 hood, is every year becoming less. Labor is necessarily becoming 

 cheaper. If no more unoccupied lands are made fit for use, landhold- 

 ing will soon be the privilege of the rich, and tenantry the only hope 

 of the poor. 



Another point that should be regarded in this connection is the 

 increased stability lent to a government where many of the citizens 

 are landowners. The irrigation of these arid lands would do much to 



