"SAVE THE FORESTS AND STORE 

 THE FLOODS." 



The holding 1 of the National Irrigation Congress in the East, as it 

 turned out, was a wise move. The people of that half of the country 

 have had the subject of national irrigation brought home to them in a 

 manner not otherwise possible. The far-reaching importance of the 

 problem has been presented to them and a genuine interest has been 

 awakened. Instead of finding opposition in the East, the Congress 

 found that eastern men of prominence were more than interested in a 

 proposition which promised an increased western population of mil- 

 lions of people. 



As the "enemy's country" has been invaded, the myth of eastern 

 opposition has faded away and its people are found to be anxious to 

 see inaugurated a national policy of western arid land reclamation. 



The western delegates went home with the feeling that they have 

 the hearty support of eastern interests in securing action which will 

 open to settlement a half a continent, capable of supporting fifty mil- 

 lion people. They cannot but feel that this support is growing; that 

 it is developing into a great movement; that many people are realizing 

 that national action would meet such a western development as would 

 increase the national wealth beyond measure. 



The time seems fully ripe for the west to take a firm and decided 

 stand on the question of national irrigation and something great may 

 be accomplished at once. Why not? It is as right that Congress 

 should appropriate money for storage reservoirs as for river and har- 

 bor improvements. The building of storage reservoirs would obviate 

 the necessity for much river expenditure and would help navigation, 

 and the home building area of the United States would be vastly in- 

 creased. And now if the West makes this demand the East will back 

 it up, for the benefit would not be local. 



Every western paper is interested in seeing this development ac- 

 complished. What would be the result of an appropriation of eight 

 or ten million dollars spent annually in the west for irrigation con- 

 struction? The immediate stimulation would be enormous and the fu- 

 ture benefit greater. This policy should be inaugurated and the 

 western press should urge it with one voice. It is a national matter; 

 it can be productive only of great good; the East is responsive; will 

 the West be aggressive; it is time to work. 



It is the opinion at Washington that $40, 000, 000 will be appropria- 

 ted by this congress for river and harbor improvements. Of this the 



