Speech #490074645

There remain unsurveyed in round numbers alittle less than 500.000.000 acres. of which a large proportion consists of mountain ranges. of inaccessible regions largely of the sterile character that has been described in the extract read by the Secretary. and those most competent to judge are of opinion that within ten years from this time there will not be an acre left in the public domain upon which corn and wheat can be raised without irrigation. that we shall have reached the absolute limit of arable laud subject to homestead entry in the public domain. That presents a very dangerous emergency. an emergency that has long been contemplated with grave apprehension by those who have studied our institutions. and the only reason which exists in my mind for agreeing to the repeal of these acts is found in this fact alone. Whereas now a singler settler can obtain a quartersection of ground as a preemptor. an additional quartersection as a timberculture claimant. and an additional quartersection as a homesteader. making 480 acres in all. if these two acts are repealed he will then be limited simply to the 160 acres to be obtained asa homestead settler. and that will in some manner perhaps retard or procrastinate or delay or defer the emergency which I have spoken of. when there will be no longer any arable domain over which this surplus population of ours can diffuse itself peaceably. so that we shall be brought then face to face with the consideration whether we shall restrict immigration. or with that other more dangerous and hazardous emergency whether we shall enter upon a new career of conquest for the purpose of acquiring in the north or in the south additional territory over which our surplus population can be diffused and extended peacefully without danger to our institutions. I regret exceedingly that the committee saw fit to exclude from the operations of this proposed act what is known as the desertland law. I know of no reason that exists why. if the timberculture act should be repealed. the desertland act should not also be repealed.