The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-27

SOuuG VI nlChiSeS III my iohi4iF'
therefore take this method of defin-
ing my position on certain ques-
tions which must come prominently
before the first session of the state
legislature.
The water supply no doubt will
he first and uppermost in the mind
Of every farmer, and the maintain
ing and securing of his rights
thereto by the enactment of such
laws as will permanently and for
ever settle this vexed question
Justly and equitably between all
parties concerned And this is the
proper time for the farmers to make
united effort to establish, through
their representatives in the legisla-
ture, their prior claims to the water
in all streams heretofore appropria-.
ted and used by them for irrigation
and domestic purposes, otherwise
conflict will be inevitable between
them and those hugo corporations
who are constructing immense ca
ais in this county, the capacities
Of which will seriously jeopardize
she water supply of all parties not
Nnder their lines, and even, threaten
me very existence of any flow in
.he old stream, beds below their
heads at the time when crops must
% either irrigated or lost, which
,aight in one of those dry years
-nin one-half of the farmers in this
country.
AS an ounce of prevention is
yorth a pound of cure, let us apply
that old maxim in this case by hav-
.ng a thorough system of irrigation
avs passed, making them one of
the departments of the state, with
i state engineer as a chief officer,
whose duties shall include the
examination flow and, measure
nlent of all streams. the probable
amount of land, WHICH it is possible
to irrigate in each county, the
sroper location of sites for dams,
and reservoirs, their cost, etc., and
any other. information which may
be of interest to the people on this
question; also to use his best Judge
ment to prevent waste or scarcity
of water in all localities entitled to
IT'S use, and to, be the general super
visor of water and its distribution
in all cases in the state. We must
also have each. agricultural county
laid off into districts, and water
superintendent in each, all of whom
must co operate with and be par
TALLY under the direction of the
state engineer in the perform
ance of his duties-all expenses for
these officials to be paid by the
counties interested except the
engineer, to be paid by the state
Some people may object to this
department on account of the extra
expense of these officials, but they
are far more important to the farm.
ers than all the other officers put
together in the state. Beside. who
IS more entitled to the protection of
government than those who produce
the wealth to which all progress
and civilization are indebted for
existence? Not only so, but there
is an agricultural department. in
every state, and similar one to
this which l have outlined, in all
the states which have to be irriga.
ted, with full complement of off,
GERS for the execution of its laws
and who annually expend large
appropriations, made by their leg
islatures, to assist in the creation
and collecting together of all avail
aole water resources in the state
There should be exempted from
taxation all canals, bitches, reser