The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-09-07
TRANSFERABLE ARGUMENT.

state that, in my opinion, waterways
should be subject to the same general
principles as highways. If the state has
found it expendient TO erect and maintain
system of road-ways for the benefit and
convenience of commerce--for such GER
tainly is the principle purpose-I cannot
discover why a system Of waterways
should not be constructed and maintained
for the advantage of agriculture. 1t is
certainly as important to the producer
tina; way should be prepared for the con-
veyance of water to his farm as that
road should be provided for conveying
his products to market The first essen
tial is production. If we divest ourselves
of the idea of separate ownershipof water.
think the progress towards the treatment
of canals and other rrigating devices, as
public highways, will be easy. foresee
one objection that may be urged against
this proposition. It will be said that the
whole community would be subject to
taxation for the benefit of class. We
might admit this and support the position
with as good an argument as that which
applies to the opening of the state road
which apprehend is warmly supported
by many men within the hearing of my
voice. But | am not prepared to admit
that necessity. Those who enjoy the
benefits of such waterways might well
afford TO pay the cost Of construction and
maintenance. Neither can | conceive
wherein those who have already invested
largely in canals and waterways would
needs suffer unjustly. Their properties
should be purchased upon fair and equit-
able terms. | am, therefore, of the opin-
ion that the arid regions will never expert
ence permanent and satisfactory devel-
opment until the waterways are subject
to state control and ultimate ownership
by the people who actually use and enjoy
them.
One word with respect to the regulation
of land ownership. offer this sugges-
ton with great hesitancy and mainly
with the hope that your attention may be
attracted to the subject and some more
perfect means devised After placing the
waterways under state control, | would so
arrange water distribution that no single
individual could hold, subject to future
use, more than sufficient amount of
water to properly and economically irrigate
forty acres of land. AT the same time no
water right should be vested in any one
who did not actually reside upon the land,
and all similar lands, whether cultivated
or not should be subject to the same rate
of taxation. The design of such regulation
would be to promptly stop land specua-
ton and to compel present speculative
holders either to cultivate or sell them at
a moderate price.
! modestly submit these crude outlines
for your consideration and respectfully in
vite your honest criticism.
If should be permitted to indulge the
hope that the newspapers of this state
would regard with approval the ideas
have presented believed can see wherein
the development OF agriculture in the
arid regions might be established That
relationship must grow out of concen-
traton of force and unity of purpose.
Some fundamental principles must be
agreed on and Systematically advocated
If the idea of state control of water ways
should obtain in this meeting, discussion
ON that line would become active and the
whole subject would undergo thorough
ventilation, and the details might safely
be left to the workings of time and exper-
fence. am very seriously converted to
the idea that any system of land and water
distribution which contemplatesa separate
ownership, or indeed conflicting man.
agemcnt,is fundamentally wrong and sub
versive of progress. The true principle
lies in system of employment of both
elements at the lowest possible cost to the
producer, and without permanent, on
: rather, continuous profit to the outside in.
vestors. Farming in the arid regions can
never be successfully prosecuted while the
farmer is compelled forever to divide tn,
! profit of his labor with the capitalist Il
is the pleasing hope that some day he will
own his farm in absolute independents,
that urges the farmer on to renewed in
dustry and closer economy. Give him tn,
! prospect of hopeless independence anC
i, endless tenantry, and you destroy that am
. bition, and cultivate stolid indifference,
to present discomforts and utter contemp
of future miseries
| believe that ii is within the power o
the state press TO do much for the devel
opment of agriculture in theard regions
but to that end, am equally convinced
there must be a general agreement and
united effort. AT the present time am,
as ! said before, unable to discover an,
relation between the press and the agri
cultural development, but | am strongly
in favor Of establishing such a RELATIONSHIP
as it will enure TO their common benefit
| sometimes suspect that RELATIONSHIP
might be traced between the press an,
development of speculation in arid regions
and found that suspicion on the fact tina
were TO find one invitation to farmers I,
come and settle nddeyclopc, find dozel
inducements offered to capitalists to com,
and speculate. think that the PROPOSE
ton ought to be reversed.
am grateful to the Press Associatio,