The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-10-04
IRRIGATION

The subject of the need Of 4 general and COM
prehensiye system Of irrigation has recently at
tracted public attention throughout the States
and Territories lying on either side Of the Rocky
Mountains. \ convention Of those interested
was recently held in Denver, at which n resolu-
ton was adopted recommending the holding of 4
general convention in San Francisco some time in
September, to take the subject into consideration,
and requesting the attendance Of delegates from
California, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Utah,
Wyoming and Colorado, and such other States or
Territories as may feel interested. The Surveyor
General of Wyoming, who is one Of the leading
spirits in the moYement-a live man has
been engaged in the collection Of all reliable data
relating 10 the subject, and for this purpose OBJ
tanning an accurate measurement Of the amount
Of water in the principal streams, and the area of
country which requires and which they are capa-
bic of irrigating. Where however the surface
water is inadequate to irrigate the land suscepti-
bic Of cultivation, it is asserted that an abundant
supply can be obtained by the construction of
dams across the mountain streams, from the bed
rock up. so as TO force the underground currents
to the surface, (the greater part Of the drainage
on the Pacific slope finding its way to the sea
underground; by the construction Of vast reser-
voirs in the mountain ranges for the storing of
winter rains, and for which purpose they seem
to have been specially designed by nature; and
by the sinking of artesian wells. IL is by n sys-
TEN of reservoirs constructed i'm It's. mountain dis
%tricts, FOR the collection and storage for summer
use of the winter rains, that agriculture is sus-
tanned in Ceylon, the most productive of the spice
islands of the Indian Ocean, and which, without
such Il system, would be little better than n bar
rem waste.
The first and most important question that will
present itself to the proposed convention will be
how and by whom this grand system of irriga-
ton shall be developed? The obvious answer to
this is that to place it in the hands of n corpora
ton would be to create 4 mischievous monopoly,
and that to realize the full benefit TO all interested
the work must be in the hands Of the State.
Whatever works are necessary for the conveyance
and distribution of these waters over the territory
where needed, will, it is suggested, be constructed
with funds appropriated from the public treasury,
on some plan whereby reimbursement may be
found in the sale of public lands and by Il tax
levied upon the irrigators within defined irriga-
ton districts. The principle is demonstrated in
Il small way in the present system of irrigation in
Los Angeles, Southern California, where all the
irrigating bitches are the property of the munich
pality and by it controlled, 4 tax of about 81 per
annum being levied upon the irrigator-just snf-
ficient to cover the cost of maintenance of the
system.
In the contemplation Of this grand scheme Of
public improvement devised by the g live men
of the Pacific States, an example is presented for
the emulation of the statesmen of Hawaii mel,
whereby they may immeasureably develop the
natural wealth of the country and render their
own names and the reign of LUNALILo illustrious.
1t is not mere visionary talk, hut plain matter of
fact, when we assert that these islands are pecu-
liarly fitted by nature for carrying out just such
n benefcent scheme of utilizing the streams that
are now wasted in the sea, or of collecting and
storing up the abundant rains Of the winter sea-
son in vast cisterns or reservoirs in the mountains.
What an amount of practical good to the country
could have been accomplished by the expenditure
in this direction of the very large sum that will
be layished on the new government building be
fore that huge sin and blunder is fully completed
1t would have, for instance, made 4 smiling gar
den-a vast cane-ield-of the entire district OF
Makawao and the kula of kamaomao. clear down
to Kahului-now an u~nsightly barren-and added
millions to our national wealth. And the same
may be said of numerous localities throughout
the islands. Why is it that nothing of this ma
ture is deemed practicable here? Not so much
that we lack the money, which might be got, but
because We have not the men at the head of aE
fairs, who, fired with the spirit Of enlightened
and liberal enterprise, can devise, plan and ex-
ecute, for the country's material advancement.