THE IRRIGASION AGE. 



133 



arid lands of the Bocky Mountain region 

 concerns every part -of the United States. 

 Syracuse (N. Y.) Post- Standard. 



The government is spending large sums 

 in aiding in the development of foreign 

 trade and the opening of foreign markets 

 for American manufacturers. It is be- 

 lieved that we should push our goods into 

 every market of the world and sell them. 

 The belief is also gaining ground that the 

 government should develop its home market 

 for its products and its manufacturers. 

 This it could do by reclaiming the 75,000,- 

 000 acres of western arid land and settling 

 thena with thousands, of industrious home 

 builders. Eastern merchants are more 

 than willing to see such an accomplish- 

 ment. National Irrigation. 



Captain Chittenden's report puts the 

 area that might be reclaimed at 75,000,- 

 000 acres. Here is size enough for an 

 impcrium in imperio; or, if the term of- 

 fends, a republic within the the republic. 

 The eastern overflow will need its outlet 

 for population for many years to come, 

 and it is that fact which makes this inter- 

 esting proposition worthy of consideration 



in this section. There would be no grea- 

 risk taken in the proposed expenditure, as 

 gradually as it would have to be made, be 

 cause the government could make its own 

 terms and guard itself effectually againzt 

 any ultimate loss by the outlay. Boston 

 Transcript. 



The disadvantage of permitting the- 

 work of irrigation to be done by private 

 corporations or syndicates is that the irri- 

 gation companies secure control of the 

 water supply. Having done this, they 

 forever afterward hold the key to the situ- 

 ation, and unless their plans are compre- 

 hensive, their construction work sub- 

 ftantial, and their water rates reasonable 

 which conditions are seldom or never 

 fully realized they are a hindrance to the 

 complete irrigation of the dependent lo- 

 cality. For these reasons the national 

 government ought to take hold of the irri- 

 gation problem and work it out on a 

 thorough and homogenous plan. The 

 newly elected national administration and 

 congress are fully committed to the policy 

 of nationalizing the work of irrigation. 

 Chicago Record. 



