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THE IRRl GAT ION AGE. 



ural channel. To be sure this has been 

 and is being done on the theory that it is 

 necessary for the improvement of naviga- 

 tion, yet every intelligent citizen knows 

 that the real object sought is the protec- 

 tion of the adjacent lands from overflow. 

 The Mercury recognizes this as a perfectly 

 proper object of Government expenditure, 

 as it does also its kindred work of making 

 productive the waste lands of the West. 

 It also recognizes the face that in a meas- 

 ure both objects might be secured by a 

 new plan of operation, that of building im- 

 mense impounding reservoirs at the head- 



waters of the Mississippi and other streams 

 whose floods do annual damage to the lands 

 along their banks. Improvement of rivers 

 and harbors and irrigation of waste lands 

 are indeed kindred matters, and should be 

 treated as being upon exactly the same 

 footing with the general Government, and 

 in a large measure both might be secured 

 by the same outlay of money. The West 

 will make itself felt in Congress on this 

 subject until its position in the matter has 

 been recognized as the correct one and 

 this neceseary work has been taken up by 

 the Government. San Jose Mercury. 



