The morning call., 1893-10-14
ARID LAND RECLAMATION.
1t Is Declared to Be Great
!. National Question.
COMMISSIONS ARE DESIRABLE.
recommendations Made by the Con-
gress for the Conquest of New
Agricultural Empire.


tion Congress. Its committee on resolu-
tions reported an exhaustive address.
which is in the nature OF an irrigation
platform. and after nearly an entire day
spent in debating the issues it contained
the most important ones were definitely
passed upon.
As whole the document is terse in Ian
guage and vigorous in sentiment. 1t is
clear cut and decisive, so that he who runs
may read, and no question it touches upon
is left open to doubt or Misrepresentation
1t declares unequivoeally against the re-
cession of the arid lands TO the re-
spective States in which they lie, and de-
clares that the reclamation of the arid
public domains is national question.
Land speculation and monopoly are con-
demned, and declaration made in favor
OF restricting individual farm holdings to
forty acres. The principles involved in
the California district irrigation law will
be heartily indorsed when the address is
finally passed. The paragraph reported by
the committee on this subject reads as fol-
lows:
I'VE indorse the principle of the district
irrigation law of California, commonly
known as the Wright law, as a wise step
in the direction of the public ownership
of irrigation works. While we do not as
sert that 1t is suited to the needs of un-
settled localities, or that it cannot be im-
proved in some of its minor details. we do
declare that experience has demonstrated
its usefulness. its fairness and its economy.
The need of State supervision of local Gis-
tricts is, however, apparent, and States
that may hereafter adopt it should provide
for this important feature. The right of
condemnation of private works and their
requirements by the people upon the pay
ment of just compensation, when ascer-
tanned by fair appraisement, we heartily
indorse, and recommend that it be adopted
by all States where private irrigation works.
covering land net part of the public do
main. may exist"
This was deemed rather too mild and in
definite by the congress. and was finally
referred back to the committee for suit
able revision.
Another paragraph was referred back,
the sense of which will be contained in
the adopted address in stronger words.
With these exceptions and tie possible ad-
dltion of paragraph regarding the
Nicaragua canal project. the address that
Will formally be adopted tomorrow. and
would have been adopted to-day but for
the changes referred to, reads as follows:
Los ANGELES, CAL, Oct. 13.
To the people Of the United States: The
International Irrigation Congress, assembled
at Los Angeles, CAL, for the five days Begin
ming October 10, 1898, composed of delegates
from this and foreign countries, announces the
following statement of its views as the de-
the Western States ana Territories:
Writing TO an American friend many years
ago Macaulay said: ''Your national safeguard
lies in your boundless public domain. You
now have room for the spread Of population
and the satisfaction OF every mans desire
for land. but tile time Will come when
this heritage will have been con-
sumed. this safeguard Will have vanished.
You will have your crowded Brminghams aud
Manchesters and then VIII come the test OF
your institutlons."
We invite the earnest attention OF our coun-
trymen to a situation of which this prophecy
furnishes startling suggestion, The scenes
recently enacted in he Cherokee strip remind
us that the pressure OF surplus population stlll
seeks an outlet in the West and that we have
practically reached the limit of settlement in
that portion OF the public domain where the
rainfall Is sufficient to support agriculture.
Existing social and Industrial conditions in the
great cities or the East and middle West also
remind us of the alarming increase of the class
of homeless people Within the borders OF the
United Safes. To provide further field for
colonlZ tion under conditions which promise
good average prosperity TO individual citizens
by The utilization of the great public estate
still remaining In the hands of the Government
is, in our judgment, a work which must now
appeal with irresistible force to American
craftsmanship
The public lands which still belong to the
people OF the United States are for the most
part arid or semi-arid, requiring the artificial
application of wafer TO render them productive.
They lie between the ninety.seyen meridian
and the Pacific Ocean. and are divided among
seventeen States and Territories This domain
Is estimated by The General Land Offices TO
contain 542. 600 acres. Enough OF this
land Is arabic 10 provide homes and farms for
millions OF people. The portion which can
never be cultivated Is valuable for range pur-
poses or for forest reservations. Notwith-
standing the present condition of these arid
lands, we confidently predict that they will be-
come the seat OF the highest civilization and
the greatest average prosperity yet developed
on this continent. The intensive scientific cul-
tiyation rendered possible by irrigation results
in the largest conceivable development. of inde-
pendence and prosperity on the fewest possible
number OF acres. The conditions of social life
which naturally grow up In region of small
farms are among the strongest attractions of
The irrigated districts OF the West.
IL is The experience OF tine world that the acre
value Of land increases as the farm unit dimin-
ishes.
The reclamation Of the arid public domain
means the Improvement OF the peoples estate
and rbe consequent addition of vast sum 10
the national wealth.
Tie progress bus far made in the reciama-
tion Of the arid regions bas been along the line
Of local effort and individual enterprise. Never
theless. the problem Of cepquering these deserts
is national IN essence. These lands are he
heritage of the American people. To have q
home upon them is The birthright of every
American child. The conditions under which
they shall be reclaimed and acquired by the
settler must he founded on the recognition Of
these facts. There are also questions between
States which require national legislation and
oversight, and however Western men might de-
sire 10 settle the problems which nature has
placed about them, the result cannot be at
tain except through national legislation.
The laws DOW governing waters and lands In
number OF States and territories are made
duate ana dangerous, streams are arpropri-
ated under lax and conflicting State laws and
the ABSORPTION OF interstate waters promises 10