1902. 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



277 



than any former President. His long 

 residence there gave him an unusual 

 opportunity to study its resources, and 

 to his practical suggestions and firm 

 stand the West owes the passage of a 

 law that will be far-reaching in its good 

 effects. It is not too much to say that 

 without President Roosevelt's aid the 

 reclamation of the arid lands would have 

 been postponed indefinitely. 



In speaking of the causes that led to 

 the passage of the Irrigation Bill great 

 praise must be given to the National 

 Irrigation Association for its steady and 

 effective support. For 3'ears this organ- 

 ization has been carrying on an edu- 

 cational campaign for the purpose of 

 awakening interest in the work of re- 

 claiming the arid lands. In advocating 

 this work the National Irrigation Asso- 

 ciation has steadily maintained that the 

 public lands must be reserved for home- 

 builders ; that reservoirs should be built 

 and water provided for the lands ; that 

 the public lands be reserved for actual 

 settlers under the Homestead Act, and 

 that they be allotted in small areas, and 

 so kept out of the hands of speculators. 

 The National Irrigation Association has 



convinced the manufacturers of the East 

 that a great market awaits them in the 

 development of the West ; it has brought 

 about a general understanding that the 

 development of the West is a national 

 question. It has been through the 

 leadership of the National Irrigation 

 Association that the various forces work- 

 ing for the reclamation of the arid lands 

 have been united. 



In calling attention to the work of the 

 National Irrigation Association it is but 

 just that mention be made of the splen- 

 did work done for the cause of national 

 irrigation by Mr. George H. Maxwell, 

 its executive chairman. Mr. Maxwell 

 has been for years a most potent factor 

 in bringing the subject of national irri- 

 gation to the attention of thinking peo- 

 ple throughout the country. His sin- 

 cere, convincing arguments were of great 

 assistance in shaping and bringing to a 

 successful issue the recently passed bill. 

 To his untiring efforts and executive 

 ability is due, in a great measure, the 

 effectiveness of the National Irrigation 

 Association. 



The rapid progress of the Irrigation 

 Bill in the House and the substantial 



THE RIOHT KI>D OF 



WATER CURE." 



From the Bosiou' Hfrn/d. 



