The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-03-28

Since the adionrnment of4ho

islature Governor Wiley has vetoe
the irrigation bill. In this the Go,
ernor has assumed weighty Re
sponsibility. An irrigation law !
matter OF supreme Importance t
this state, and we should have
now, as the longer it's adoption i
postponed the longer will the settle
ment and reclamation Of our ar;,
lands be delayed. Recognizing thi
fact, the legislature, in its capacit'
as lawmakers for and representa-
tives of the people of the state
passed such a bill as majority O
both houses thought would sub
serve the interests involved in th
question of irrigation. We hav,
not a copy of the law, and so ar,
not prepared to express an opinion
as to It's wisdom or adaptability t.
the purpose for which it was en-
acted but newspaper comments OF
the bill, and a perverse proclivit,
to oppose one-manism inclines vi
to doubt the propriety of the veto
But whether the provisions of the
law were wise or otherwise, so much
of the Governors veto as has beer
published does not in our judgment
Justify the PRONUNCIATION Of the veto
itself. 1t is fact that most of GU,
arid lands are so situated that they
must be irrigated by means of ex-
tensive and costly canals. These
canals must be constructed by CO.
operation Of the citizens, as is done
in many places in California: by
public or state enterprise or by or
CARNATIONS of private capitalists.
As inducements to make the heavy
OUTLAWS necessary for this work the
right to divert and appropriate any
and all water in the state not al
ready diverted or appropriated the
right to construct dams in streams !;
the right of way for canals, and to
sites for reservoirs, subject in all
cases to such restrictions and limi-
tations as the convenience, safety
and welfare of the public require !;
and subject, also, under fair and
equitable provisions, to established
rights of individuals, must be con-
firmed, granted and guaranteed by
law. This much having been Sc
cured to canal companies. the law
should require them latter securing
charters to construct proposed Ca
mails within a reasonable time to
supply water in quantities sufficient
for the legitimate demands upon
them and each of them, and should
affix a maximum price, above which
no water should be permitted to be
sold. The price fixed should be
reasonable and fair to both parties,
and should be subject to reductions
by county or other boards, when
ever it appeared that it was more
than just compensation for the
water furnished. Without a pro-
vision of this kind the farmers de-
pendent upon canal companies for
water would be entirely at the mercy
Of such companies, and would find
that their acres absorbed the water
only that the corporations might
absorb the crops. This is the les
son taught by hard experience in
California, where cultivators were
formerly dependent for crops Who'll
ly on incorporated ditch companies,
and it was this experience that led
to cooperative irrigation enterpri-
SEES. Law should deal justly by all
and should forever avoid the folly
Of trying to deal generously with
any, as legislative generosity to
one is unavoidably an injustice to
another Besides, any advantage
gained by law this year, no matter |
low unjust or mean, will next year
De held to be irrepealable by both
beneficiary and courts, because Of
vested rights" SO it is better to
start right and avoid troublesome
complications. Give to the corpo-
ations the pound of flesh but in no
Instance drop of Christian blood.
A BEAUTIFUL picture was limned
IN the Sawtooth mountains one
lay this week. The sun was shin
pg brightly and the snow-covered
'eaks and spires-the lofty cupalos
nd fanes OF rock, white with their
urdens of snow, glistened and
Uttered and cleaned in the daz-
ling brilliancy of the suns rays
Ike mighty pixies OF polished steel,
r like shining shafts of stalagmite