Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-17
PACIFIC RAILWAYS DEbT.
Commission Urged to Agree Upon a Plan
for Disposing OF 1t.

The report of the commissioner of railroads
shows that the total debt of the subsidized
r i to the United States was, on Deem
Der 81 1890, SIP, 512,6lSO6. large part of this
debt is now fast approaching maturity, with no
adequate provision for its payment Some pol
lev for dealing with this debt. with view to its
ultimate collection, should be at once adopted.
1t is very difficult. well-nigh impossible. for SO
large a body as the Congress. TO conduct the
Necessary negotiations and Investigations l
therefore recommend that provision be made
for the appointment of a commission to agree
upon and report plan for dealing with this
debt.
The work of the Census Bureau IS now far In
advance. and the great bulk of the'enormous
labor involved completed. 1t Will be mole
strictly a statistical exhibit. and less encum-
bered by essays than its immediate predeces-
sors The methods pursued have been fair,
careful, and intelligent, and have secured the
approval of the statiSticlans who have followed
them with patience and non-partisan interest.
The appropriations necessary to the early COM
pletion and publication of the authorized vol
imes should be given in time secure against
DELAYS, which increase the cost and at the same
time finnish the value of the work.
The report OF the secretary exhibits. with In
teresting fulness, the condition OF the terrific.
ries They have shared with the states the great
increase In farm products, and are bringing
yearly large areas into cultivation by extending
their irrigating canals rms work Is being
without that system which a full preliminary
survey of the water supply and of
the irrigable lands would enable them to adopt,
Arizona aud Utah in their material growth and
in the increase, Independence and happiness OF
their people Is very largely dependent upon
wise and timely legislation. either by Congress
or their own legislatures. regulating the dis
trtbutio, IL the water supply furnished by
their ST. ~ IS. If this matter is much longer
neg lected, private corporations win have un-
restricted control of one OF the elements of life
and the patentees of the arid lands will be ten
ants at will of the water companies
The United States should part with its owner
ship OF the water sources and the sites for res
yoirs whether to the states and territories or to
individuals or corporations only upon condi-
tions that will insure to the settlers their prop
er water supply upon equal and reasonable
terms In the territories. this whole subject is
nnder the full control of Congress. and in the
81 ties 1t is practically so as long as the govern
ment holds the title TO the reservoir sites
and water sources and can grant them upon
such conditions as 1t chooses TO impose. The
improyideut granting of franchises of enormous
value, without recompense to the state or mu-
nicipality from which they proceed. and with
out proper protection of the public interests. is
the most noticeable and fragrant evil of modern
legislation. This fault should notbe committed
in dealing with subject that will. before many
years, affect SO vitality thousands Of our people