The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-30

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SzzIdtt1all less for agriculture,
M<l8M Ey1g1tHIE lNM usS but that 120, 900, 900
@H$N$SSs0k&EiSkIaEV,SfSlsSSlE that are now desert
MftSl/</yJ&NlXN99NSSyyyyES SyyyyES&& may be redeemed
N/A>II//AS SssASsssSSSa by irrigation, 80 as
JOHN W. NOBLE. to produce the GER
eals, fruits and garden products possible in
the climate where tho lands are located.
The secretary quotes from the report of the
commissioner of the general land office to
show the falling off in homestead entries,
and says that officer is Of opinion that the
wisost plan would be to transfer tho land
and water to the direct control Of the states,
subject to such limitations and restrictions
as would insure the reclamation of the land
and the transfer of titles to actual settlers in
quantity not exceeding 160 acres to each,
with provisions for forfeiture to the United
States in Gaze Of any violation by the state
of the conditions Of the grant. Under ex-
listing acts providing for rights of way for
canals and bitches and the location of
reservoirs, the secretary concludes that
''private corporations and associations are
now substantially given the field Of the
water supply for that vast domain that may
be redeemed by irrigation, and that this
field is being rapidly seized upon. 1t is one
thing for the individual to own his claim on
which heresides; it is quite another to be a
member in a large association, or stock
holder in corporation controlling the
water necessary for the cultivation Of hie
claim. The United States by existing leg
islation does not retain Eany control, and
but weakly and insufficiently establishes
the authority of the states and territories
The control of the water is handed over tc
corporations or associations. These indi-
vidual associations will bc driven to incor-
poration by the necessity there will be to
avoid the frequent changes of owner
ship and other difficulties aris-
ing from death or assign
ments of interest,"; and the owners of the
water and the owners of the farms may be
expscted to soon become distinct bodies,
with almost opposite interests. The states
or territories may expect to exercise some
control of these companies and protect
their citizens from oppression; but the
United States government. from whom
these vastly important and far reaching
privileges emanate, should not release
altogether its hold upon the water supply
and its ultimate distribution. No one can
now compute the money value that will
concentrate in these Reservoirs and canals
and bitches conveying the water to the
fields of the husbandmen, and upon which
the people must depend for their prosperity.
The efficiency of local legislation may be
impaired bv private interests, and few
may be enriched at the expense of the
many"
1t may be, the secretary says, that the
United States may not endenvor to build
the reservoirs or retain the desert lands for
improvement by itself. Those already
located may be transferred to the states or
territories, and those yet to be located put
under local control. Yet he thinks the
United States should reserve the right Of
forfeiture in case of great abuse or con-
flict of interests between states, or allow
ing the irrigntion of vast districts to fall
into the hands of monopolies without sutii-
the subject one of such pressing importance
that congress should pass comprehensive
laws at once, determining the national
policy upon this subject.
Connected with the water supply of the
arid regions, the report says, is the neces-
sity at this time of making systematic
reservations for settlement OF public lands
about the heads of streams that are to
make irrigation possible. Such reserva-
tions should be made for all streams. but
especially for those above referred to. If
the timber growth is removed, without con-
n n n in
~ - ,,h;cn Ia atraama oive THAR nresent
n rs,ni s,,,niu ~ wntar viii he Greatly short
~, @ 81 hu Aenaa ,nd dronchts, Ths safety
If tha nnh,ic t;mhar wna oraatlv impnired.
~ as,,otn,s statas hv n ,,rnvis;on in the
act ~ Mach q last which made II lawfnl
- out t;,,,,ar grn,r, +bo n,,hl;c lands of Col.
nrsdn ~ Montana Idahn the Dakotas and
Wvn,n;nn : f'r acricnltnral. mining mann
foctnr;nr ! ~ ~ dnmastia m,rnnses. anh;aot
n,iv 80 II. rastrsints of tha interior da-
uny ,,art,nort ~ NJ ono conid nnt timber
To- nnu ,,,rnos. not dsscribed in thosa
,,,nrd. ~, tho sa"ra{ orv says nnlsss n was in
WIZ wo.a' a,n,a". .nu SSnarianca has ahnwn
ths4 - ia rarr J;f,icnit 70 nraserve the nnh.
~ ~ 40 ,,rdar in,us nrovainr dirant nen-
NE. a1V fnr trasnssses nnd Il cnn NOT be
dnnhtad ,,nn;sbnaant will be much lass oar
.n;,, fer Ipiaiat;nns ~ asnartmentni repnla-
t;nns tn Alreadv Tho applications for per-