Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-08

Dispatches from California give an nc
count of the completion Of great irrga
ton enterprise in that state. 1t is a note
worthy affair and has a significance be-
yond the outward apprehension.
This particular enterprise has caused
an expenditure of $1,000, 900 1t will
easily irrigate 800, 900 acres Ia the very
heart of the great San Joaquin Valley
The day the water was turned from the
Merced river into the great ditch, with its
tunnels and the great reservoir near
MERGED. those 800, 600 acres easily became
worth 49, 100000. The canal can be ex :
tended at probably fifth Of the first
cost--that is. $500, 600 to serve Ms many
acres more, The average value of the
land without water arthciallY distributed
is not SO per acre Inside of five years
every acre will readily sell for $50 each .
Much of the area will be worth good
deal more.
Inside of two years the tax valuation
of California has increased at least $500, 60
100000. Population has increased oner
half Of a million souls. The valuation of
Colorado, an irrigation state also, has in.
creased within two years over $500, 600 o.
900.
Two things have done this. The first
results In California from the provisions
of the new state constitution, which levy
equal taxes on all land, improved or I'M
improved. Men like Crocker, Miller and
Lux, Hsggin and Tevis; Baldwin, Hams
burg and score more, who have held
vast tracts of unimproved lands, were
compelled TO turn them into use. Water
lie the only golden rod that makes the
thirsty plans and valleys of the arid
regions bloom and blossom like the
rose"
There Is in this MERGED canal incident
hint of national importance A big
slice of our national domain, 600 miles
east and west and 600 north and south
if the same was compactly arranged, is
arid in character. 1t has a precipitation
ranging about twelve inches per annum,
running at Yuma from four inches to
some points in California and Colorado
of twenty inches. Major Powell consid.
ers the latter degree of precipitation or
rainfall as necessary to insure cultivation.
In other than arid regions twenty>four
inches are required.
OF our whole arid area possibly one.
fifteenth may yet be redeemed by con
serving the natural water supply and the
melting SHOWS, and distributing the same
by irrigation bitches.
this vast area without the concurrent
action of state and national governments
In the way of conserving the water sup
plies, Colorado. New Mexico Arizona,
Utah, Montana, Idaho and Nevada have
already declared all natural water sups
plies and sources to be public property,
subject to appropriation only for benef-
clal uses under law and by common con-
sent.
California is in the throes of a great
dispute over riparian rights or private
control by adjoining control of steam,
or use by appropriation for industrial
purposes under some general system
The riparian policy has been confirmed
BY supreme court decision, but an en-.
forcement of 1t would create a revolution
in that state.
There is an opportunity in this irrga-
ton problem for craftsmanship. Private
enterprise can have no right to mOnopo.
lie the water 1t is not able to do the
engineering necessary for full conserva>
tion of the supplies created BY the snow
fall of fifteen feet per annum. 1t is a |
matter for national engineering at least |