154 , THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



croach on the capital plant or the accumulated wealth of society. 

 Considering the sources of taxation as furnished by the irrigated 

 farm, we find that the annual farm production by irrigation in Utah 

 in 1804 was $8,309,000, and that the value of the capital plant, based 

 on the average value per acre and the number of acres, was $35,587,000 

 The general property tax, including tax on real estate and improve- 

 ments, for Utah in 1896 was $861,607.76. Of this $610,820, or over 70 

 per cent, was contributed by the 1,035,226 acres under ditch in the 

 State, while 51,000,000 "arid acres" contributed practically nothing. 



b. By making men more independent and thus fostering content- 

 edness and patriotism. Large enclosures mean a capitalistic organi- 

 zation of agriculture and a system of landlords and tenants. This is 

 exemplified by the sheep-runs of England in the fourteenth century, 

 when labor was hired for wages by a pasturage over-lord, and even 

 more forcibly by the plantation system of the South, which required 

 slavery for its existence. - Small farms, on the contrary, mean inde- 

 pendent tenancies, because comparatively no capital is necessary to 

 cultivate them. This is seen in the arable fields of the old English 

 "mark", and in the village community system of New England. And 

 just so far as irrigation creates these independent tenancies through 

 the small farm unit, will the instinct of protecting property rights be 

 strengthened and patriotism be fostered. For patriotism and a con- 

 tented citizenship are based, in their final analysis, on the property- 

 right. 



