The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-11-22
The Irrigation Problem.

The Irrigation Problem.
Upon the proper and timely so
luton OF the irrigation problem
depends, in greater measure thar
many people are aware of, tn.
growth and prosperity of Idaho
Possessing as she does a greater
number of rich and permanent colo
and silver mines than has been al
lotted to any other section Of thu
Union having no greater area, which
mines must prove lasting sources
of wealth and add incalculablt
sums to the public exchequer for
ever, it is yet true that from hel
millions of acres of arabic land
made fruitful by the waters of he,
streams and springs, must come
the staples of her prosperity, the
GROWING glories Of her statehood
For even the richest mines become
exhausted. or passing into the
hands of capitalists, give employ
ment to but few people. Not SO
the farms of country. Their pro-
auctions when properly managed,
know no term. The products of
the farm-the cereals, vegetables,
fruits, berries, poultry and other
live stock, the fibres, butter, cheese,
eggs, ETC., and their preparation by
manufacture and otherwise for the
uses of man-never grow old, never
become improbable, except when
made so by shortsighted legislation.
OF these staples ofgreatness Idaho
can, when her vast plateaus are
vivified by irrigation, produce as
much as any other state of the
Union, and the quality of her pro-
ducts are generally. superior. Her
tillable land, much of which is vet
subject to presumption or home
stead, is sufficient, when irrigated,
to give homes to 100000 families.
The manufacturing interests which
their products will bring into being
will employ, perhaps. as many peo-
pie as the farms, while the water
used in irrigating the soil, can be
made to drive the machinery of the
factories, curtailing thus the cost
of manufacturing our raw materi-
ais. With so many advantages to
her credit, Idaho should be a Mecca
for home seekers from all parts of
the world but as We said in the
beginning, these good things can
only be utilized to the best advan-
age and to the greatest benefit of
Ill concerned, when the problem of
irrigation has been correctly solved. |
That our streams afford abundance
If water, intelligently husbanded |
md distributed, to irrigate the
'ntire cultivable domain of the
tate, we believe to be fact; but
" whom and how that water shall
re handled is the question. This
question the people must answer,
nd must answer correctly if the
arming interests of the state are to
rosper. If the legislature, guided
y individual interests, shall leave
be waters of the state subject to
orporate monopolization and con-
rol, agriculture will have received
set back from which it will only
ecoyer through the aid of a wiser
'gislation. But as remedial leg
being opposed to existing
'terests-vested rights-is always
lore difficult of enactment than !
reventive legislation, the present
the proper time for the state
assume control of the waters
thin her boundaries. The inter-
ITS Of the state are identical
it'll those of the irrigator; the in
'rests of individual and corporate
wnership consist in getting all
ley can for their water, without
gard to the success of the irriga-
". The progress and prosperity
the state depend upon the sue
sssful cultivation of her lands.
hey cannot be successfully cult
ated without irrigation. To insure
heir cultivation in this manner,
le cost of irrigating farm must
? SO low that the average farmer ,
IN afford to pay it and have a de-
mt margin of profit over. And
he irrigation problem cannot be
i'd to be solved until this princi-
|e has been irrevocably established i
authority of the state. Private 5
lrties interested only in the accu-
ulation Of riches will not do it.
he state should, therefore, control
'e waters of her streams so far as
be able to guarantee to each ir-
gator water sufficient to grow his
ops, and at price that will JUS
fy him in its use.