The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-08-26

tainly as important to the producer
that way should be prepared for
the conveyance of water to his farm
as that road should be provided
for conveying his products to mar
ket. The first essential is produc-
ton. If we divest ourselves of the |
idea of separate ownership in water,
I think the progress towards the
treatment of canals and other irri-
eating devices, as public highways,
will be easy. I foresee one objec-
ton that may be urged against this
proposition. 1t will be said that
the whole community would be sub
jected to taxation for the benefit OF
class. We might admit this and
support the position with as good
argument as that which applies to
the opening of the state road, which
l apprehend is warmly supported
by many gentlemen within the hear
ing of my voice. But l am not
prepared to admit that necessity.
Those who enjoy the benefit of such
waterways might we'll afford to pay
the cost of construction and main
tenance. Neither can conceive
wherein those who have already in
vested largely in canals and water
ways would needs suffer unjustly.
Their properties should be pur-
chased upon fair and equitable
terms. I am, therefore, very much
of the opinion that the arid regions
will never experience permanent
and satisfactory development 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 reg
ulatisn of land ownership. offer
this suggestion with great hesitan-
CIV, 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 a
sufficient amount of water to prop
erly 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 subjected to the same rate Of
taxation. The design OF such reg
ulation would be to promptly STOP
land speculation and compel pres
ent speculative holders either t6
cultivate their lands or sell them al
moderate price.
| modestly submit these crude
outlines for your consideration ane
respectfully invite your honest crit
icism.
, should be permitted to indulge
the hope that the newspapers o
f this state would regard with ap
proval the ideas / have presented
, I believe, can see wherein a strong
, relation between the press ant
, the development of agriculture
, in the arid regions might be estab
, lished. That relationship mus
! grow out of concentration O
forces and unity of purpose
{: Some fundamental principles mus
/ be agreed on and systematicall.
: advocated. If the idea of state con
troll of waterways should obtain IL
t this meeting, discussion on thai
a line would become active and tn
) whole subject would undergo thor
: ough ventilation, and the detail
! might safely be left to the working
! of time and experience. | am yer
: seriously converted to the idea tha
] any system of land and water distr
! button which contemplates sepa'
f ate ownership, or indeed, conflict
g ing management, is fundamental
I. wrong and subversive Of progress
r The true principle lies in syster
g of employment of both elements a
g the lowest possible cost to the pro
9 ducer, and without permanent, Q
5 rather, continuous profit to outsid
# investors. Farming in the arid re
e gions can never be successful
). prosecuted while the farmer
J. compelled forever to divide tn
= profit of his labor with the capita
ist. It is the pleasing hope, tn;
v some day he will own his farm
E, absolute independence that urge
i the farmer on to renewed lndustr
J. and closer economy. Give him tt
' prospect of hopeless dependent
o and endless tenantry, and you q
). stroy that ambition, and cultlva
h a stolid Indifference to present al
n comforts and utter contempt OF Il
e. ture miseries.
. I believe that it is within Il
,e power of the state press to do mue
ID for the development of agricultu
D. in the arid regions, but to that en-
d, I am equally convinced, there mu
10 be a general agreement and
al united effort. At the present tin
is / am, as before said, unable to d
is cover any relation between II
a. press and agricultural develo
in ment, but am strongly IN tav