i 9 4 THE FORESTER. August, 



general conclusion is that the West will Public Lands of the House of Representa- 



not be developed to its full capacity along tives ; and by the Committee on the Irriga- 



present lines. tion of Arid Lands, also of the House. 



The prevailing sentiment among those The legislation proposed is mainly along 

 who have given the most attention to the the line of providing funds for the con- 

 problem is graphically told in a cartoon struction of large works, which, from their 

 which represents the West as appealing magnitude are beyond the power of indi- 

 to the country at large to expand the area viduals or even of ordinary corporate en- 

 capable of agricultural industries within terprises. Such works, while of great 

 our own borders before going abroad for value to the country, cannot, from various 

 additional lands. By the exercise of force- reasons, be made matters of speculative 

 ful and wise statesmanship thousands of profit. It has been proposed that in order 

 additional homes can be made possible in to meet the objections regarding the ex- 

 the region. penditure of public funds in unlimited 



The expansion of the United States amounts for such work that the invest- 



from the Atlantic to the Pacific has taken ments be confined to the proceeds from 



place with such vast strides that even now the sale or disposal of the public lands of 



the center of population is still far to the the West. 



eastward, and also the center of commer- The amount which has been received by 

 cial interests. Nevertheless, the business the Treasury since the foundation of the 

 men of the country are beginning to ap- Government, up to and including the year 

 predate that they have a vital interest ending June 30, 1900, is $300,000,000. 

 in the home markets possible in the unoc- The following table gives the receipts for 

 cupied West, and are awakening to the the past twenty vears : 

 fact that these markets are worthy of de- 

 velopment. Proceeds from the Sale of Public 



We are accustomed to consider the Lands from the Years 1SS1 



states by name, insensibly giving them to 1900 Inclusive. 



equal weight, without regarding the im- Year ' Amount. 



mense difference which exists in area, *gg* 2,202,000 



population, and natural resources. Take, ^83 .......... y^s^ooo 



for example, the State of California: We 1S84 9,8u|ooo 



recognize it, in conversation as one of the l88 5 5,706,000 



forty-five states, and vet, when we com- ^S6 ... 5-631,000 



J ,., . .,, ' , , ,.,. , . IC>b7 Q,254,O0O 



pare this with other localities we begin to ^SS 11,202000 



note the wonderful differences. 1889 s'^g^ooo 



Not only does California surpass in l8 9 6,358,000 



area a number of groups of the Eastern ^ 4,030,000 



Oj. 4. i . r , , J ^9 2 ... 3,262,000 



states, but in resources far overtops them, ^93 3, 182^000 



and yet, at present its population is en- 1894 1, 674^000 



tirely out of proportion to what it should l8 95 , . . 1,103,000 



be. At the same time, we must recognize J 8 ^ ^se^'ooo 



that growth is not taking place with the 1898 ..'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 1, 24^000 



degree of rapidity which would be antici- 1899 .......... \ i^S^ooo 



pated, and the conclusion is inevitable that J 9oo 2,837,000 



some step must be taken to remedy the It is evident that the proceeds from the 



defect. ^ disposal of the public lands furnish ample 



During the latter part of the year 1900 funds for entering upon a general scheme 



the increased public interest in water con- of reclamation. The amount is sufficient 



servation led to action by Congress to the to begin the construction of reservoirs or 



extent of considering a number of bills canals for the diversion of large rivers in 



and holding committee hearings. These several states where the needs are greatest, 



were principally by the Committee on A limit to expenditure is afforded by the 



