Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-10-28

child. The conditions under which they
shall be reclaimed and acquired by the set
tier must be founded on the recognition OF
these facts. There are also questions be-
tween states which require national legisla-
ton and oversight, and however western
men might desire to settle the problems
which nature has placed about them. the re-
suit cannot be att aimed except through ma
tional legislation.
1.-THE laws now governoring waters and
lands in number of states and territories
are inadequate and dangerous. Streams are
appropriated under lax and conflicting state
laws, and the absorption of interstate waters
promises TO become the fruitful source of
future litigation and social disturbance.
"We declare that water in natural channels
and beds is not private property, and that
companies for supplying and distributing
waters are common carriers, subject to the
supervision and control of the power from
which they derive their rights.
''We declare that all streams rising IN one
state and flowing by natural courses through
one or more other states must be conserved
and equitably divided under federal author
"Sums amounting to millions in the ag-
gregate have been paid to the government
for lands in the semi-arid region which were
understood to be fit for agriculture without
irrigation. The experience of years, during
fered 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 government
to devote portion of the money received
from the sale of these lands to the scientific
investigation of means of their reclamation,
from surface streams, storm waters or under
ground supplies. We earnestly urge speedy
action by congress in this direction.
1.-THE time has come when the work of de-
veloping an arid land policy. on broad ma
tional and 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 Endorsement
from commercial and political conventions.
Believing that harmony of action Is vital,
that wide discussion and patient investiga-
ton are indispensable in arriving at wise
conclusions, we earnestly favor the adoption
of the following plan: There shall be ap-
pointed by the national executive committee
of the irrigation congress commission for
each state and territory in the arid or semi
arid regions, consisting of i've members
each, who shall be competent and expert
enced men. These commissions shall at once
enter upon a careful investigation of the
conditions existing in each of their states o..
territories and then formulate plans looking
to the adoption of a national policy to be
supplemented by appropriate local laws.
"The results of the Investigations of these
several commissions shall be submitted to
the next irrigation congress.
"We indorse the principle of the district
irrigation law of California, commonly
known as the Wright law as wise step in
the direction of the public ownership of irri-
CATION works. We do not assert that it is
suited to the needs of the unsettled localities,
or that it can not be improved in some of its
minor details, but we do declare that expert
ence has demonstrated its usefulness. its fair
ness and its economy. The need of state
supervision of local districts is, however. ap-
parent and states that may hereafter adopt
it should provide for this important feature,
and we recommend that it be adopted by all
states where private irrigation works. cover
ing land not part of the public domain,
may exist.
1--WE advise each state which embraces any
part of the arid domain and which has not
already provided for irrigation supervision
and engineering to do SO at its next legisla-
tive session and to Wig orously prosecute the
work of investigating the extent to which
further irrigation can be carried on with sue
cess and profit.