370 
There  is  no  possible  question  of  the  desirability  of  getting  such 
people,  but  the  mere  desire  for  settlers  does  not  put  them  on  the 
land.  Many  attempts  to  get  permanent  settlers  have  been  made 
in  the  past  with  varying  degrees  of  success.  Based  largely  on 
the  findings  of  Mr.  Newell  and  the  recommendations  in  his  re- 
port, it  now  appears  that  perhaps  the  most  practicable  way  to 
bring  about  conditions  that  would  make  it  possible  to  attract  and 
secure  the  sort  of  home-makers  we  need,  is  through  the  exten- 
sion to  Hawaii  of  the  benefits  of  the  Federal  Reclamation  Act. 
Under  this  law  it  appears  possible  to  reclaim  considerable  areas 
of  semi-arid  public  land  on  each  of  the  larger  islands,  through  irri- 
gation. The  Territory  has  already  gone  nearly  to  the  limit  of 
its  resources  in  its  attempt  to  develop  the  islands  along  traditional 
American  lines.  The  burden  of  taxation  has  now  almost  reached 
the  breaking  point.  The  reclamation  of  the  semi-arid  lands  is 
too  big  and  expensive  a task  for  this  community  to  tackle  alone. 
The  time  has  come  when  aid  must  be  sought  from  some  outside 
source.  A practicable  solution  is  presented  in  the  extension  to 
Hawaii  of  the  Federal  Reclamation  Act  of  June  17,  1902.  The 
investigations  now  under  way  mark  the  path  for  further  advances. 
Therefore  it  should  be  the  pleasure  of  all  large-minded  citziens, 
as  it  is  the  duty  of  Territorial  officials,  to  help  on  a movement 
that  means  so  much  for  the  future  of  Hawaii. 
The  Reclamation  Act  provides  for  a revolving  fund — started, 
originally  by  receipt  from/  the  sale  of  public  lands,  whereby  areas 
of  potentially  arable  lands  throughout  the  West  may  be  reclaimed 
through  irrigation  and  transformed  into  home  supporting  farms. 
Its  operation  is  limited  to  the  States  and  Territories  west  of  the 
99th  meridian,  but  including  Texas,  to  \vhich  State  the  Reclama- 
tion Act  was  extended  by  special  act  of  Congress  three  years  ago. 
As  a full  fledged  Territory,  having  considerable  areas  of  irrigable 
public  land,  it  is  the  claim  of  Hawaii  that  she  is  justly  to  be  con- 
sidered an  “irrigation  state”  and  consequently  entitled  to  the 
benefits  of  the  Reclamation  Act. 
To  secure  the  extension  of  this  law  to  Hawaii  requires  an  act 
of  Congress.  Favorable  action  by  Congress  in  any  given  measure 
is  usually  the  result  of  strong  and  aggressive  support.  In  a 
project  like  this  little  can  be  hoped  for  without  the  assistance  of 
friends  on  the  mainland.  Especially  desirable  is  the  endorse- 
ment of  great  popular  associations,  for  often  the  real  wishes  of 
the  people  are  best  expressed  in  this  way.  This  is  particularly 
true  of  the  National  Irrigation  Congress,  whose  recommendations 
carry  great  weight  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  irrigation.  The 
National  Irrigation  Congress,  now  in  its  eighteenth  year,  is  made 
up  of  representatives  of  all  the  leading  irrigation  institutions 
throughout  the  country, — states,  cities,  national  and  local  associa- 
tions, water  companies  and  interested  individuals.  It  is  a power- 
ful and  thoroughly  representative  organization.  Recognizing 
this,  the  Territory  of  Hawaii  was  this  year  represented  at  the 
