"There are a
great many reasons that you have not yet considered."
"I'm ready to hear them," said Bob.
"Look at the case as it stands. In the first place, you cannot but admit
that Mr. Baker and the men associated with him have done great things
for this country. When they came into it, it was an undeveloped
wilderness, supplying nothing of value to civilization, and supporting
only a scattered and pastoral people. The valley towns went about their
business on horse cars; they either paid practically a prohibitive price
for electricity and gas, or used oil and candles; they drank well water
and river water. The surrounding country was either a desert given over
to sage brush and jack rabbits, or raised crops only according to the
amount of rain that fell. You can have no conception, Mr. Orde, of the
condition of the country in some of these regions before irrigation. In
place of this the valley people now enjoy rapid transportation, not only
through the streets of their towns, but also by trolley lines far out in
all directions. They have cheap and abundant electric light and power.
They possess pure drinking water.
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