THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



C87 



The great land show has come and gone, 

 Patrons Save leaving an unpleasant suggestion of 

 Poorly incompetent management. The exhibi- 



Managed tion was a success because its patrons 



Exhibition. made it so despite the narrow policy of 



those in charge. The many who paid 

 exorbitant rentals and thousands of visitors who had 

 their eyes opened to the situation resolved never again to 

 patronize one of these individually conducted shows. 



In spite of all, the exhibits were good and the at- 

 tendance was large. It is a pity that such an enterprise 

 could not have been conducted by some responsible as- 

 sociation instead of bv one publication, which had no 

 higher purpose than an advertisement for itself and the. 

 return of some cash revenue. 



There was a vast assemblage from day to day of in- 

 telligjrvt.^rogressive people, who proved by their patron- 

 "age that they are ready to support an educational project 

 of thi- character. The demand for a permanent land show 

 is plainer than ever, but it will be necessary to organize 

 along different lines. 



W^ 



The exWoiwrs made the land show a means of edu- 

 cation so far as progressive agriculture is concerned. It 

 was a po\\jjrf*ul argument in behalf of irrigation. 



The flpe fact which predominated and impressed itself 

 on every mind was that intelligent effort and the adoption 

 of mOQern methods are as important in farming as in any- 

 thing else. Whether it be in selecting a location or con- 

 ducting a fruit or grain farm it pays to use the head as 

 well as the hands. It pays to give respectful attention to 

 the teachings of science. 



Of course, the exposition was in a large degree west- 

 ern, f6r it is in the newer western states that we find irri- 

 gation orincinles applied in the broadest way. Farming is 

 most progressive in the far west. It is conducted as a 

 rule by men who admit the benefits of scientific farming. 

 As a result we have the amazing collection of fruit and 

 cereals which were displayed at the land show. 



It was apparent to all observers that the persons most 

 impressed by the splendid illustrations of modern, intensive 

 farming methods were the residents of the middle western 

 states. In this section, of which Chicago is the metropolis, 

 agriculture is in a backward condition. The farmers in 

 this locality realize that they are behind the times and 

 hence their interest in those features of the land show 

 which illustrate the ideas of their more progressive west- 

 ern brethern. 



The miniature irrigation plants were specially inter; 

 esi:ing and instructive, and it was made clear to the public 

 ihat irrigation principles are as much needed in the 

 central west as anywhere else. 



Irrigation- from all parts of the West gave practical 

 exhibitions which were more than ordinarily praiseworthy, 

 illustrated the pumping of the water and its distri- 

 bution over the land by canals, ditches and lat- 

 erals, while by perspnal explanation and printed articles 

 gave the information needed by the public. On all hands 

 there was a wonderful showing of agricultural products to 

 prove the merit of this entire principle. The educational 

 value of the exposition cannot be overestimated. Tens 

 of thousands who realize the shortcomings of old methods 

 in farming were benefited by this revelation of what 

 irrigation and intensive methods mean to American agri- 

 culture. 



FROM SECRETARY BALLINGER'S ANNUAL 

 REPORT. 



Irrigating Indian Lands. 



There are large areas of irrigable lands within Indian 

 reservations in the arid and semiarid regions. It is im- 

 portant to protect the water rights of the Indians and as 

 rapidly as possible irrigate and reduce to cultivation such 

 areas as are needed for the support of the Indians. Many 

 of the Indians have not reached the stage of industry and 

 efficiency sufficient to successfully conduct irrigated farms, 

 nor can they be educated along these lines until provided 

 with the water to irrigate their lands. Furthermore, it 

 is believed that the advancement and education of the 

 Indians along this line may be aided by leases of irrigated 

 lands within reservations to the whites under conditions 

 insuring the permanent attachment of a water right to the 

 lands for the future welfare of the Indian, which can only 

 be accomplished through beneficial use of the water. The 

 leases should be made in reasonably small tracts for long 

 terms, the maintenance charges for the irrigation system 

 to be paid by the Indian leasing the land, and the whites 

 so colonized that their agricultural operations will be an 

 object lesson in industry and successful farming to the 

 Indians on the reservation. 



All purchasers of Indian lands under constructed irri- 

 gation systems should be required to pay a fixed mainte- 

 nance charge, based upon the irrigable area of their lands, 

 whether they farm same or not. They should also be re- 

 quired to pay their proportionate cost of the construction 

 work performed upon the system subsequent to the date 

 of their purchase. 



Up to the present time about 300,000 acres of land 

 in Indian reservations have been reclaimed by irrigation 

 works, of which amount 118,640 acres are being irrigated 

 by Indians and 42,080 acres by white lessees and pur- 

 chasers. The area which will be irrigated when contem- 

 plated amounts to approximately 1,100,000 acres. The 

 total appropriations for irrigation purposes during the past 

 year amounted to $1,365,000. By act approved June 25, 

 1910, Congress authorized the Secretary of the Interior 

 to reserve from location, entry, sale, allotment, or other 

 ;ippropriation any lands within Indian reservations valuable 

 lor power or reservoir sites, or which may be necessary 

 for use in connection with any irrigation project. This 

 authorization will be of great value in providing for and 

 accomplishing the irrigation of arid Indian lands. 



SAFETY OF AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN 

 MEXICO. 



American capitalists declined to take alarm over the 

 rebellion in Mexico. Stocks were but little affected by 

 the talk of international complications. This is owing to 

 confidence in the Diaz government, which is fully capable 

 of discharging its duties and which is friendly to the peo- 

 ple and capital of this country. It is supposed the up- 

 rising has been suppressed. 



By venturing to attack American properties the Mexi- 

 can revolutionists would take the quickest method of forc- 

 ing the United States to intervene and thus check their 

 plans. Every effort was put forth by our government to 

 maintain strict neutrality, as there is no desire to inter- 

 fere in any way with the internal affairs of the Southern 

 republic. But this attitude would not prevent our govern- 

 ment, or indeed any other power, from taking the neces- 

 sary steps to protect the lives and the property of its 

 citizens. This knowledge may, therefore, act as a deter- 

 rent upon those possessed by an anti-American sentiment. 

 President Diaz can be depended upon to do everything 

 possible to safeguard Americans and their interests in 

 his country, as he has consistently demonstrated his will- 

 ingness to handle American questions with every fairness. 



American bankers and others have immense interests 

 in Mexico and they have received assurances that the 

 worst is over. No reports of injury to American enter- 

 prises have come to hand, nor is it believed that any- 

 thing serious will occur. American capital has been de- 

 voted in Mexico mainly to the development of the trans- 

 portation system. 



