56 



THE IRKIGATION AGE. 



superficial knowledge of conditions inside of the organiza- 

 tion known as the National Irrigation Association. I can 

 very readily understand how such matters as we have pub- 

 lished would sound harsh to one whose heart and soul is 

 in this work and who has fully believed that the plans which 

 George H. Maxwell or the National Irrigation Association 

 are attempting to carry out are all good. 



It would, perhaps, interest you to know that the writer 

 helped William O. (Bucky) O'Neill, of Arizona, shape up 

 his first speech on the subject of "National Aid," which was 

 delivered before the Farmers' Protective Association of Mari- 

 copa count}', Arizona, July 18, 1896, which, if you will look 

 up the records of the National Irrigation Congress, you will 

 find was some time previous to the time the Congress was 

 held at Phoenix. This, by the way, was the first Congress 

 in which George H. Maxwell took any part ; hence, I claim 

 that he is in no wise responsible for the early work done 

 along the line which resulted in the passage of the irrigation 

 law, and, while we all give him due credit for what he has 

 done in subsequent years, the fact remains that he simply 

 carried out the ideas of O'Neill and others ; and, as one 

 writer has stated, "in some sections of the arid region the 

 impression prevails that he is a foster child of Uncle Sam 

 and whatever he says goes with his gifted parent." There 

 is no foundation in fact for the impression, but Mr. Maxwell 

 does nothing to destroy the delusion. As a matter of fact, he 

 does what he can to encourage it by adroitness and indi- 

 rection. 



I will ask, Mr. , if you have ever known of 



a statement being issued by the National Irrigation Asso- 

 ciation showing the condition of its finances, or if you have 

 ever known of a list of members who contributed money to 

 the association being published? or a statement published of 

 the sums paid in by the different members of this association? 

 or if you have ever received any information as to how the 

 money received has been disbursed? 



When the writer purchased THE IRRIGATION AGE, he went 

 to Mr. Maxwell and explained to him that he was anxious fa 

 let the people, interested in irrigation, understand that -tne 

 publication had changed hands, and would like very much to 

 send a sample copy, only one copy to each member, mind 

 you, so that they would understand that the publication had 

 changed hands and was showing signs of improvement, edi- 

 torially and otherwise. Mr. Maxwell refused to comply with 

 this very reasonable request and if you look at the edi- 

 torials of our November issue you will note that I quote his 

 reason for refusal. 



You may now place yourself in my position, if you please, 

 Mr. - , and tell me what your opinion of that sort 



of a stand would have been. Did it not look like a close cor- 

 poration instead of a national organization? Why should 

 Maxwell refuse to allow that list to be made public, or to 

 give out information as to how much each member paid in 

 the organization? These are a few of the points which first 

 led me to wonder whether this was a National Irrigation 

 Association or a Personal Maxwell Association. I note that 

 since we have called attention to the discrepancies in the di- 

 rection above indicated a meeting of the National Association 

 has been called, to be held in St. Paul some time next year. 



I have roughly outlined some of the features of the situ- 

 ation associated with Mr. Maxwell and am prepared to furnish 

 you with much more data, but prefer to do so through the 

 columns of THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



Allow me to emphasize, however, that THE IRRIGATION 

 AGE is working along the line of the best good for the arid 

 and semi-arid West, and if work of this character removes 

 from the front of the stage a man like Mr. Maxwell, it is 

 no fault of THE IRRIGATION AGE or its friends. As stated 

 previously, I can readily understand how, from your geo- 

 graphical position and remote point of view, you may be some- 

 what lacking in inside information concerning conditions 

 surrounding this controversy. 



I will call your attention to this particular feature, viz., 

 that I have yet to notice where Mr. Maxwell has replied in 

 print or otherwise to any of the statements made in this 

 publication or by government officials in printed forms. 

 Trusting that I may have the pleasure of meeting you some 

 day and go into this matter more fully, I am, yours respect- 

 fully, 



D. H. ANDERSON. 



It will be readily seen that with the parent organiza- 

 tion killed and out of the way that the National Irrigation 

 Association, practically absorbing its patronymic, controlled 

 by two or three individuals and with no especial necessity of 

 informing the public of its doings, financial or otherwise, 



would control a wide strip of territory and could wield too 

 great an influence either for the good of or injury to the 

 cause of irrigation. In explanation of the above, will say that 

 it is possible to be too good to a good cause. 



At the meeting of the eleventh Congress at Ogden in 

 1903, this subject may possibly be discussed, but it is doubt- 

 ful if it will ever be brought up again, as it is the intention 

 of those having this meeting in charge to devote the time to 

 a discussion of subjects of direct value to the arid West 

 rather than to the airing of personal animosities or individual 

 ambition. 



THE WIDE OUTLOOK FOR IRRIGATION. 



Nearly $7,000,000 is available in the federal treas- 

 for the construction of national irrigation reservoirs. 

 This fund promises to increase in the future, from the 

 sale of public land. This new legislation thus introduces 

 entirely new possibilities of enormous development in 

 the heretofore arid west. The matter is creating the 

 utmost interest throughout the semi-arid states, and 

 many large reservoir locations are now rapidly surveyed 

 by the government. 



The public in the Mississippi valley and east there- 

 of has as yet but little conception of what is meant by 

 this federal policy toward irrigation. It is going to 

 open to the settlement in small tracts for intensive 

 agriculture very considerable areas of now worthless 

 lands. We thoroughly believe in the general principle 

 of this policy, but of course the utmost precautions are 

 to be taken to insure economy and wise good judgment 

 in the administration of the enormous fund now avail- 

 able for national irrigation works. It is proper that 

 government should own, control and develop the main 

 sources of water for irrigation throughout the arid 

 regions. Only by so doing can the now worthless public 

 lands be made valuable, and the interest of the whole 

 people in the water supply be conserved. And within a 

 very few years the income from the sales of land thus 

 brought under water, promises to exceed cost of the irri- 

 gation works. 



Intelligently administered, therefore, the new pub- 

 lic policy may not only promote the welfare of the arid 

 west in particular, and of the whole people in general, 

 but may be self-supporting and perhaps yield a hand- 

 some surplus to the government over and above the first 

 cost. Exchange. 



MERGER OK JOURNALS. 



The D. H. Anderson Publishing Co., 112 Dearborn 

 street, Chicago, announce that the Drainage Journal of 

 Indianapolis, Ind., the only publication of its class in 

 the world, will be merged with the IRKIGATION AGE 

 January 1, 1903, by which move their circulation will 

 be more than doubled, and the editorial department 

 materially strengthened. THE IRRIGATION AGE is one 

 of the best journals of its class, and is doing notable 

 work in its chosen field. It is a first-class magazine, 

 ably edited and recognized as an authority by all who 

 are interested in irrigation. The combination with the 

 Drainage Journal will make the magazine even more 

 valuable than previous to the merger. Our good wishes 

 are extended to the publishers. Implement Age, Phila- 

 delphia. 



NOT TROPICAL. 



Not all of us can leave our work 



To hunt the long-lost pole, 

 But we can freeze to death at home 



At current rates 'for coal. 



Chicago News. 



