AN UNWATERED EMPIRE. 



BY GEN. NELSON A, MILES. 



My interest in the subject of irrigation began some three decades 

 ago when, in the performance of official duty, I had occasion to 

 explore more or less thoroughly that vast extent of sparsely settled 

 or unoccupied land bounded on the east by the one-hundredth 

 meridian, on the north by the 49th parallel, on the south by the Rio 

 Grande, and extending to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges on 

 the west. The thought often occurred to me then and the thought 

 has grown into a conviction as the years have gone by that it was 

 not the part of economy of nature to have this enormous expanse of 

 land lie inert and waste. Millions of acres were apparently desert, 

 where the coyote starved and only the cactus and sage bush could 

 live; yet the soil held within itself the elements of productiveness, 

 the air was as pure as heaven, the scenery inspiring as a beautiful 

 picture, the application of the vivifying water the only thing lacking 

 to arouse its rich potential energies. 



Since those early days I have, from time to time, with voice and 

 pen, done what I could to advocate the conservation of the water 

 supply of our arid lands and the preservation of the trees, which are 

 the guardians of the fountains at the waters' source. 



Since the foundation of our Government center of population has 

 been steadily moving westward, the pioneer spirit of the East seeking 

 homes and independence far a\*ay from the stifling atmosphere of the 

 large overcrowded cities. This united desire of our people to own a 

 home rather than to rent one to be their own landlords rather than 

 some landlord's tenants assures the vitality of the great American 

 Republic. The American farmer is soverign to-day, and the dignity 

 and independence engendered by his free environment, the health- 

 fulness of mind and body resulting from the pure air he breathes, the 

 love of country which home-owning stimulates, make him the pre 

 server of those beneficial institutions under which we live 



It would be a sad day, full of evil portent to the Republic, if 

 home-building should become unpopular, if gravitation towards the 

 cities should overcome the outward march into the expansive country, 

 if tenantry in an over-crowded alley should be chosen in preference 

 to a free quarter section in valley or upland. Therefore I say the 

 devising of means whereby the public domain is available for home- 

 seekers, and the arid lands are made habitable and productive, is now 

 one of the most important lines of American endeavor. I reiterate 



