The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-09-07
UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT,
Separate Ownership Of Land
and Water is Ruinous.
The Press and the DevelI
opment Of Agriculture.

[R. H. Davis, of the Caldwell Tribune,
at public meeting of the Idaho Press
Association at Ketchum. August l5, 1803l.
After some considerable investigation,
have been unable to discover any degree
of consanguinity between the press and
the development of agriculture. have,
though, frequently noticed points of fam
lily resemblance between the press and the
arid regions, and could, perhaps, establish
such similarity as would lead up to, at
least, strong suspicious of cohabitation.
However, take ii that the executive COM
mittee designed that this subject be dis
cussed in broad terms and, therefore,
take the liberty to abandon it altogether
If find its dimensions too contining.
AT the outset | am tempted to say that
feel somewhat apprehensive that my
views on the bject of development of ag
riculture in the arid regions will not meet
with that degree Of appreciation which
would give them any measure Of author
ity have not yet had time nor oppor-,
tunity to give the subject that amount Of
study which its importance demands, and
| am, therefore, beset with doubts and
fears In the discussion Of this subject,
we may be assisted in arriving at Just
solution by basng the argument upon q
statement of known and commonly ac-
cepted facts AS first, agriculture is the
foundation of the permanent prosperity
of the commonwealth second, its devel-
opment in the arid regions is a question Of
land and water and their proper dstribu-
tion, and third, that community is most
prosperous where soil ownership is most
equally divided. | think those statements
will be accepted as principles of economic
science, which permit OF no discussion.
and that will not mistake the motive Of
this discussion by contining myself to the
question of proper distribution. II
were able and so inclined, should con-
slider an academic discussion at this time
out OF place What we aim TO attain is
some immediate practicable means which
will enhance the development Of agrlcul
ture-the fabrication and harmonies of
theories may be attained to on more
leisurey OCCASION
In the arid region the value of land
T and water depend absolutely upon each
other that is to say, the water has no
, value except such as it acquires by being
put upon the land. and the land is practi-
caly valueless without the application of
water It therefore follows that mo-
, nopoly of either element includes absolute
] control of the other; and, consequently,
( any system of distribution which encour-
= ages or tolerates separate ownership does,
in my opinion. retard and interrupt devel-
L opment. am aware that this view con-
Il verts established practice and, perhaps,
: popular sentiment, but ] submit it in can
Z. dor and modesty. To illustrate the prin.
J. ciple, we may suppose two considerable
|, tracts of land, each being equal TO tn,
v other in all respects and owned by thu
rt same individual if you please. The acre
Y, age Oh one lTdCl ID OutIcu loI icuthi du
s, moderate price, but without hope or pos
ne sibility in the tenant of ultimate owner
ly ship. while the acreage Of the other trac
Id is offered at absolute sale. Now ask il
e. all seriousness which of these lands woul
e. be first taken, and upon which would tn
Id highe, It and best development occur?
of do not think that the question would pre-
tie woke a moments debate.
y, Land and water depending solely upo
he each other for their value, where owne
,er ship Of both does not reside in the SAN
To- individual ownership of either, impli'
&c tenantry, and operates, as the case cited
'ut discourage growth and development.
!" shall not weary you with multiplicity
illustration and detail. believe that Il
lth gentlemen here, if they adopt my view
t are quite competent to furnish the arg
,od ment. believe that there should be
lies recognition of separate property in la
md and water, and, indeed am somewhat
is doubt as TO whether or not there is a.
lse- legal recognition when the question is a
self piled to irrigation alone. This leads us
Continued on fourth page)