The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-01
be conserved and equitabIy divided under
federal authority.
NEEDED NATIONAL LEGISLATION.

|
safeguards alike 10 pubic and to private
interests, while recognizing the rights Of
the nation, on one hard, and of tht
states. on the other, is task that may
not be lightly undertaken. We shall
suggest means by which it may be &C
complished within a reasonable period,
but in the meantime there are important
things which may bedone by legislation.
| Nothing must be allowed 10 je0pardize
! interstate streams, and it is highly i'm
portant that the drainage areas OF these
streams should be promptly known and
defined at once. III q way sufficient for
| ths. purpose here III view and not await
| the slow results OF a thorough technical
| inquiry, which should follow IN its train
ana for its needed purposes. The pas
| toral lands, especially within the drain
! age areas, should also, in our judgment,
be reserved Tor the present from sale or
permanent disposal. The net results for
leasing the same for range purposes
should be used for developing possible
water SUPPLY, to the end that stock
farms and homes may be erected
thereon, instead Of cattle ranges.
as at present. Tie whole
subject of national legislation should be
investigated by federal authority. aud as
means to tins end. we suggest the up
pOutment OF non-Dart!s2n national
commission. to be named al once and IN
structed to report a. soon as possible.
Tie importance of the development Of
wise local laws and ;he control of waters
lying wholly within the individual states
constitute reasons for tie early admis-
sion of the territories into the Union.
We favor the limitation OF The amount
Of land that may be taken up by settlers
under systems of irrigation 10 forty
acres, and predict that IN the future it
will be found desirable to reduce the
amount still further, and we favor the
restriction Of the privilege OF taking up
the pubic lands to citizens of the United
States. This has become necessary with
increase of popuiatian and IS also desir-
able as rendering more difficult the ac
quiremert of lands for speculative pur-
poses. We call attention the growing
importance of the storage problem, and
demand rigid national and state super
vision of dams and other works, in order
to protect life and property.
We especially urge the importance of
an enlighted policy for the care and
ton destruction by fire and otherwise.
We indorse the policy of forest and stor-
age reservations covering the mountain
water sheds of the west. The impor-
lance of due care and protection of these
water sheds TO maintain the prenniai
flow of springs and streams, and to pre-
vent floods and torrents. demands the
esta basement of wise forestry system.
Pending the establishment of such an
we favor the use of de-
tachments of the United States army to
protect all the western mountain water
sheds from injuries detrimental to the
highest use OF the valley lands.
Sums amounting to millions in the
aggregate have been paid TO the govern {
ment for lands in the semi-arid region
which were understood TO be fit for agri-
culture without irrigation. The eXper-
fence of years, during which settlers
and theii families have suffered the
severest hardshipS, demonstrates that
they can only be made productive by the
artificial application of water. 1t is an
act of simple justice to ask the govern
ment TO devote portion of the morey
received from the sale of these lands To
the practical investigation of means for
their reclamation, from surface streams,
s. orm waters or underground supplies.
We earnestly urge speedy action by con-
gre5s in this direction.
AN ARID LAND POLICY.
The time has come when the work of
developing an arid land policy, on broad
national ana state lines, can no longer be
delayed. The number of plans suggested
for the solution of the problem are legion.
Some of them have received lndorse
ment from commercial and political con-
Believing that harmony of
action is vital, that wide discussion and
patient investigation are Indispensable in
arriving at wise conclusions, we earnest |
" favor the adoption of the following !
plan: There shall be appointed Wy the |
national executive committee OF the lrrl- |
cation congress a commission for each !
state and territory in the arid or SEMI |
arid regions, consisting of five members |
each, who shall be competent and ex-
oerienced men. These commissions shall |
at once enter upon careful investigation |
IF the conditions existing in each OF |
their states or territories, and then !
plans looking to the adoption !
If a national policy to be supplemented /
oy appropriate local laws.
The results OF the Investigations of |
.hese several commissions shall be |
submitted to the next irrigation con- !
gress, at time to be deSi grated by the |
executive committee, not exceeding one |
year hence, and upon these reports
lie final and definite declarations of /
he people of the western states and |
territories may be based. By this means /
we hope within reasonable time to |
suggest a satisfactory irrigation policy TO |
The nation and to the states and terri /
tories, and we hereby declare our pur- |
pose TO erect il upon broad foundations |
Of justice and equity, with due regard /
FOR the rights OF both labor and capital. !
STATE LEGISLATION.
We endorse the principle of the dis |
trict irrigation law Of California, COM |
monty known as the Wright law" As a
wise step in the direction of the public |
ownership of irrigation works. While |
we 10 not assert that it is suited TO the I
needs of unsettled localities, or that il
be improved in some OF its minor
details. we do declare that experience
has demonstrated It's usefulness, its fair
ness and its economy
We advise each state which embraces
any part OF the arid domain, aud which
has not already provided for irrigation
and engineering, IN do so az
the next legislative session. and 10 Wig /
orously prosecute the work of investi-
eating the extent TO which further irri-
CATION work can be carried on with sue
tess and profit.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
The presence In this congress Of the /
OF the neighborinE Re- !
public of Mexico, which we gratefully /