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THE IREIGATION AGE. 



In this issue appears a full report of the 

 Arkansas proceedings of the Irrigation Convention, 

 Valley held at Garden City, Kansas, April 16-17. 



Awakens. The question involved and discussed by 



practical men is somewhat novel we refer 

 to the "underflow" of the Arkansas Eiver and opens 

 up an immense vista in the horizon of irrigation. The 

 new Association purposes settling down to serious busi- 

 ness without delay. 



Our Washington correspondent tells about 

 Hwge Irriga- five irrigation projects to be undertaken 

 tion Projects, by the government this summer. It is 



claimed that the "desert is to be made to 

 blossom as the rose." We hope it will be, and we believe 

 it will be unless 



An inkling of what comes after the "unless," may 

 be gathered from the "Influences in the National Irri- 

 gation Program" on another page. It will be well not 

 to gather the "desert roses" until some of the thorns are 

 sliced off. 



We are plowing deep into every source of 

 The Primer information, gleaning points from hun- 

 of Irrigation, dreds of personal experiences, and utiliz- 

 ing every plain, simple, scientific point to 

 make "The Primer of Irrigation" something worth pos- 

 sessing by every farmer, as a ready counselor in every- 

 thing pertaining to agriculture. The preliminary chap- 

 ters are gradually working up to the irrigation point 

 as our readers will perceive. Order a copy now with 

 your subscription at reduced rates. The next chapter 

 will be on Semi-Arid and Arid Lands, and contain facts 

 not generally known. 



In Regard to THE AGE is in possession of some strange, 

 Salt River not to say "startling" information in re- 

 Valley, lation to matters with which Mr. George 

 H. Maxwell's connection with certain 

 dealings and transactions that will not look pleasant 

 when brought into the full light of an inquiry. 



If those residents of Salt Eiver Valley, Arizona, 

 who are asking us to take this matter up and expose the- 

 methods of Mr. Maxwell and those practised by person's 

 whom he appears to control, will have a little patience, 

 THE AGE is certain they will be fully gratified 'with 

 the results we have in expectation. 



Indeed, we may say, that the evidence is fast ac- 

 cumulating, and it will not be long ere the whole case 

 will be made up and placed before the readers of THE 

 AGE, as well as laid before authorities who will take some 

 more definite action than merely talking about it. 



It must be apparent to even the casual reader that 

 to eliminate only one disturbing element would still 

 leave a strong leaven of others to continue operations. 



Wherefore THE AGE deems it best to provide for a clean 

 sweep in the Irrigation Augean Stable, and our readers 

 may rely upon it that no one will be spared, and that 

 the pernicious influences combining against law, justice 

 and common decency will be swept away to afflict loyal 

 and true, hard working and energetic home seekers no- 

 more. 



The Nation- This number of THE AGE contains another 

 al Irrigation installment of the editor's side lights 

 Association, on The National Irrigation Association. 

 The reader will observe by a perusal of 

 the article that Mr. George H. Maxwell, who, for some 

 inscrutable reason, seems to have been permitted to ab- 

 sorb the entire Association, is building for George H. 

 Maxwell, a very laudable enterprise generally, but rather 

 "scaly" to say the least, in a matter of so much public 

 interest as irrigation. It is using the skin of the ani- 

 mal for personal purposes and giving the public the tail. 

 This it refuses to accept, or any other "leavings." 



The editor asks why Maxwell has departed from 

 his ardent admiration of state irrigation laws and the 

 leasing system? The conundrum is answered by giving 

 the "objects of the National Irrigation Association" as 

 set forth in its Constitution, following with the "Pub- 

 lication and Work of the Association." 



There seems to be considerable of a clash between 

 Mr. Maxwell's views and the objects of the Association, 

 but when these objects conflict with Maxwell's "plans," 

 which are purely personal, why, the constitution and 

 by-laws have to yield, sometimes even the government 

 of the United States. This means that George H. Max- 

 well and the grandiosely styled, "The National Irriga- 

 tion Association" are such close affinities that they can- 

 not be pulled apart. Indeed, we are surprised that 

 Maxwell did not include in his scheme the entire earth, 

 and the canals of the planet Mars. He was probably 

 prevented by the fact that they were beyond his reach. 



The article- starts out with the statement "Probably 

 'the greatest deception that has- ever been-' worlteS-pn the 

 Irrigation Congress has been through 'the agent of the 

 so-called National Irrigation -Associataoir,". -and then 

 goes on to demonstrate the proposition. What are we 

 going to do about it?- -Well,- it-would pot be good gen- 

 ..eralship to disclose plans in the presence of an enemy 



'to the public welfare. 



- . * ..,.._ . ....... . . ... 



The public have, through sad experience, acquired 

 the impression that an expenditure of public money 

 means .a "steal" of some kind,' This betrays a lack of 

 confidence which every honest .official should make : an 

 exertion to restore. A grand opportunity is afforded 

 him inihe irrigation money. And not only the lost -con- 

 fidence of the public should be regained in money ex- 

 penditures, but sought strenuously in executing the law 

 for the public benefit for legitimate homeseekers, and 

 not for the private gain of certain "carpet baggers," who 



