THE IRRIGATION AGE. 1 



practically all of their water supply has been diverted by white set- 

 tlers, and they, the original owners, have been reduced to actual 

 starvation. Last Congress appropriated $30,000 to feed them $80,000 

 to feed a free and independent people, heretofore relying only upon 

 their labors, industrious, and asking nothing of anybody. 



But why bother these department clerks about such a matter. 

 They have sat at their desks probably for twenty years and they know 

 best how f o do things. When the report comes in of Inspector Graves, 

 who has been sent down to the Pi ma agency to tell the same old story 

 in new words, it will be then time to labnl and pigeon-hole it. 



It might be well, however, for the Secretary of the Interior to 

 himself inquire a little into this matter, and not act entirely on the 

 recommendation of bureau and division clerks, who apparently desire 

 never to see any definite relief provided. This case of the neglect 

 and abuse of the Pima Indians has just about reached the straining 

 point. 



THE IRRIGATION PROBLEM OF VAST PROPORTIONS. 



Hydrographer Frederick H. Newell, of the Geological Survey 

 who is making a general tour of the West in the interests of irrigation 

 matters, combines not only exhaustive knowledge of his work with in- 

 defatigable activity, but takes an interest in western development 

 amounting to nothing less than great enthusiasm. He usually spends 

 much time during the summer season in traveling through the west- 

 ern states, and during the winter months delivers a goodly number of 

 lectures in eastern cities, descriptive of these travels. In this manner 

 the western country with its illimitable possibilities and vast resources 

 gets an eastern advertisement which must be of great benefit. Some 

 of Mr. Newell's stereopticon lectures on the great irrigation works of 

 the West are full of interest and carry to easterners some idea of the 

 scale upon which things are done in this part of the country. Mr. 

 Newell anticipates the rapid strides in the work of irrigation during 

 the next few years, but he gives some excellent advice in an interview 

 on the subject of the progress possible. 



" The problem of the complete reclamation of the desert lands,'' 

 said Mr. Newell, "is too big for individual or corporate enterprise. 

 The government must reclaim these new fields, which will be the rich- 

 est in the world, as it now, by spending millions of dollars, seeks to 

 save the productive lands of the lower Mississippi valley. The manu- 

 facturing East is now beginning to gladly support such a policy since 

 its possibilities are being properly exploited. The West, however, 

 must look ty its representatives in Congress to press matters in the 

 most practical manner, and it must send the right kind of men to 

 Congress. 



' The surveys we are now making will furnish facts upon which 

 recommendations to Congress can be made, and behind the work of 

 the congressmen, there should be the strong backing of the organized 

 business interests of the West." 



