The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-27

OF eminent domain over all running
streams, and declared them the prop
erty OF the people.
1t is expected that the legislature n
its coming session will give shape tt
this by the enactment Of an irrigation
law similar to that enforced in Califor
mia, popularity known as the Wright
bill" which provided for the organiza-
tion of districts with power to issue
canal construction bonds, made a charge
on the property benefited. This law
has not in practice worked as we'll as the
trainers expected, and the same result
will, 40 doubt, be the experience in
Montana.
The need OF a canal in any certain
district %presupposes the existence OF
aridity and absence Of population in
lands contiguous, and capitalists are in
disposed to invest funds with reliance
solely on the fertility to inure. They
want values in sight in the shape of i'm
proved farms and resident population,
more or less dense, to insure tax collec-
tions equal to the interest charges; the
result, therefore, of a similar act in this
state would leave lands, with few excep-
tons, in an embarrassing and unfruit-
full waiting condition, on the one hand
meeting a declaration that the farmers
will not come until the canal is built,
and on the other that the means for
constructing the canal cannot be OBJ
tanned until the land is settled.
1t must be conceded that in the quick
settlement of the agricultural lands of
the state rests all prospects for q gen
eral increase of values, and inasmuch as
the probabilities do not favor this being
accomplished by private enterprise, or
by district organization, the only feast
bic proposition is for the state to as
sumo tho direction of the work and
financial responsibilities involved, prec-
edents for which may be found in the
opening Of the Erie canal in the state of
New York as a highway Of commerce.,
the construction of the levees of louis
lana as a guard against overflow, and
the ownership by many cities of the
water supplies of their inhabitants.
The charge of the work might be ell
trusted by the legislature to a board of
commissioners with full power to make
selection of routes, to condemn existing
and interfering rights, to employ neces-
sary engineering skill! to lay out and
oversee the work, and when completed
to appoint special commissioners for
each canal to have charge of repairs and
the collection of tolls, which would be
fixed at a rate sufficiently large to cover
only the cost of maintenance and an
nual interest charges on the cost.
The advantages of this system would
be:
First, that the work would be begun
at once and carried on expeditiously.
Second, that the needed funds could
be procured by the intercession of the
credit, at a lower rate of interest.
Third, the water users would be able
to secure supplies at prices much less
than usually prevail. ....
Fourth, the disbursement of such a
amount of money would give m
ployment to labor in all branches and
stimulate business interests generally.
Fifth, the enhancement of property
values would yield in taxes a sum large
ly in excess of the interest charges, in
dependent of collections for use of wa
ter,
Sixth, the assurance of an abundance
of water for irrigation and consequent
reliability of crops would demand in
turn the construction of railroads for
distribution of freight, enlisting the
attention of foreign resources for such
purpose, and creating a condition where
capital would seek the opportunity
and not force the opportunity to seek
capital.
1t is obvious that the successful ap-
pllcation OF irrigation as the fundament-
al proposition would set in train all the
elements of progression, 1t is the
valve which when opened starts
the wheels of agriculture, transporta-
tlon, manufacturing, distribution of
merchandise by jobbers and retail mer-
and in turn reaches banking.
real estate, house building, the profess
sions, education and all the arts and
sciences.
There is nothing IN this suggestion
which would operate to prevent indi-
viduals and corporations from taking
as heretofore for mining and agri-
purposes, from places and
not appropriated by the state
for improvement, and the free use there
Of until such time as the state would, in
extending It's operations. decide to con-
and pay for privileges SO exer-
state BANKS OF ISSUE.
Another consideration quite as i'm
and dependent on the foregoing.
involves the beneficial extension of ia
.;illties for the incorporation of state
banks with note circulation in event
mat congress should repeal the prohibi-
tax now imposed.
The exaggerations of a political cam
oaign have created a prejudice in MANY
minds against such notes and attached
% them the Stigma of irredeemability
or which no cause exists. If, for IN
ten millions of dollars of Mon