The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-05
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The policy outlined as desirable by the Senate
Irrigation Committee and those interested In the
solution OF the arid land problem, 1t is said en-
braces the creation of a small division or bureau
In the Department OF Agriculture, having for its
OBJ CT tue collection and publication OF iniOr-
nation bearing on the cultivation OF arid soils
water supply, etc; the creation In the same
department Of an administrative office or conn
Gil OF climatology; the collection of primary n.y.
geographic facts in the survey OF publIc lands
and law providing that all reservoir sites.
now oil hereafter to be Withheld from occupation
be transferred 10 The several States In trust for
irrigation purposes upon application and proof
of their need thereof by the Executive; 10 pro-
Vide by law also that when the several States
wiihin the arid region shall have given power to
the settlers In any correlated area that NAV be
formed into an irrigation district receiving It's
water supply from some common source The
Government OF the United States Will permit
local taxation OF all entered public lands to an
amount equivalent to The taxation upon private
lands In the same district for the purpose of con.
slructing and maintaining irrigation works. FL
naily, that all patents for homestead purposes
within areas requiring such irrigation wherein
bonds have been issued or other debts incurred
for constructing the same, shall contain a lien
upon The land for the legal cost of said works
and their maintenance according TO the area irrI-
gated and owned by the lands occupants.
Mineralogists and those engaged in mining for
gold and silver will scan with profound interest
lhe reports OF the Mashonaland pr0srectors
mat In this remote part OF Africa until recentlv
Almost unknown TO Europeans, they have found
eWuences OF former occupation by LARGE
i,us population, displayed in the remains OF
n r.' workings the quartz from which had
rl' ui'etlNeu on large granite slabs whne
the rouhd stones formerly used as crusbing roIl
CTS now lie around partly hidden bv accnn,
Iatea soli and tropical underground Prosnector0
VINO may look with longing eyes on tbe new ~
Dorado had better patiently await deveIon
ments. Those interested are likely IN snre.d
glowing reports and avoid making reference IN
ne deadly African fever or other ORA whacLs
likely 10 play havoc with new arrivals.
How jealousy the Turks watch over the HeIlse
poDt may be judged from the fact that even Tho
Japanese iroDclad which brought home rho snr -
vivors OF the Turkish frigate Ertrogroul was re-
fused permission to pass the Dardanerles Per
haps some high official in authority In fear NJ
losing bis head, was responsible for the dlscour
iesy, which justly excited the ire of the spunky
commander OF the vessel. 1t is we-known
fact that by the terms of the treaty of july;
1871, confirmed by the Paris peace of 1856 no
foreign ship OF war may enter The strait except
Dy turkish permission. Even merchant vessels
are only allowed 10 Ipass the castle Of Chanak-
halesi during the day.
Now that the Behring Sea negotiations b,va
ieached such an important stage the Russian
,n oiesponuehce on the subject would prove very
VI esting reading Indeed. In the negotiations
a. si washington, Secretary Blaine and the Rms
InII,,, " mister nave acted together, while Sir
yeaan fauncefote and, at certain stages Min.
Win ipupper' have appeared for the other side.
with russia SO deeply interested and credited
WIN u determination to protect her ,n,aras,a
warrant the title conveyed by her CERTAIN
no"'onai reports recently crcuIated seen ~
naSe very Insecure foundation In the nreaen,
afford TO w al European affairs could Germany
ing some of her ,v nef position at home by send
inc mere nef are SO many important measures pend
ing before congress that the prospects NJ NJ.
rows Chinese Bill are shrouded in aouht rt NOR.
Will however, be made to take adyantaaa as
every opportunity 10 advance its progress. VI