The herald., 1893-10-14

reasonable time to suggest eatisfactor
irrigation policy to the nation and to tn
states and territories, and we hereby de
clare our purpose to erect it upon broac
foundations OF justice and equity, will
due regard for the rights both OF labo
and OF capital.
STATE LEGISLATION.
We endorse the principle OF the dis
trict irrigation law OF California. com
monty known as the Wright law, as
wise step in the direction OF the public
ownership OF irrigation works. While
we do not eesert that it is suited to the
needs OF unsettled localities, or that il
cannot be improved in some OF its mino'
details, we do declare that experience
has demonstrated its usefulness. its fair.
ness and it's economy. The need OF state
supervision OF local districts il, howev.
er, apparent. and states that may here
after adopt it should provide for this
important feature. The right OF con.
demnation OF private works and their
requirement by the people upon pay
ment OF Just compensation, when ascer-
tanned by fair appraiBement, we heartily
endorse and recommend that it be
adopted by all states where private irri-
CATION works, covering land not part
of the public domain. may exist.
We advise all states in the arid region
to make provision for departments ol
irrigation, supervision and engineering,
and to vigorously prosecute the work oi
practical investigation.
To deal with the arid public domain
is one of the mighty tasks OF the future.
1t means not only the conquest OF new
agricultural empire and tremendous
contribution to the national wealth OF
the future, but it involves the develop
ment OF new forms of civilization and
will give new life to popular institutions.
ltis high and sacred trust, and in so
far as it may become the peculiar con-
cern of western men they will be true to
it's great obligations. But they approach
the matter in no spirit OF petty section
alism. They invite the cooperation OF
all their countrymen, east as we'll as
west, north as we'll as south. While
mining and its kindred employ ments
are vastly important to the western
states, directly and indirectly, the irri.
cation industry is and must ever be their
supreme interest. Under just laws and
proper national encouragement it will
add new Iustre to the American name.
Governor Sheldon, on the conclusion
of the reading, moved the adoption of
the report.
He made strong speech in favor of
the motion. He said: Gentlemen,
came to this congress satisfied that
knew all that was possible for anyone to
know about the irrigation question ;and
bad framed in my own mind q plan
for carrying irrigation into operation
that seemed to me simple, and did not
suppose there could be any objections
made to it. Now, since 1 came here,
and have heard the speaking, and have
met the gentlemen from the IL states
and territories, and hear what they
have to say, have about come to the
conclusion that have not sufficient in-
formation to declare plan in detail for
the carrying into execution of the policy
of irrigation.
Therefore this committee came to the
conclusion that it would consider gen.
eral principles merely.
1t has declared that 80 far that the
public domain is national question. l
should have the consideration of the
national government, and the waters of
the streams which arise upon the public
domain should be under the control of
that government.
1t declares what every practical Amer
lean must believe that the public lands
of the nation shall be disposed OF in
small quantities, in order that we may
reduce this fearful percentage of home
less people.
There are four elements without which
man cannot exist--sunlight, atmoa-
phere, water and the earth. There
should not be, thera cannot be, in the
name of humanity, any monopoly OF
these elements so essential to human
existence. r
So far as we could, we have attempted
to recommend policy that will prevent
any monopoly of water in the arid re-
gion.
p. A. Dsmens, speaking for the Rus
sian delegation, said that owing to the
form Of government there it would not
DO to present tho address in the same
way as here. but he would translate it
Tor use in Russia.
ton Age, and one OF the most energetic
hose who have favored the ceesion OF
II III ihnun W buo bbhtcns hAu IL buty uhu
nothing else by the propo-
'ition than that which had been ad-
yanced in the convention he hoped at
east that they had demonstrated that
hey had acted in good faith.
"We are aware" said Mr.. Smythe,
hat California thought we were bent
IN stealing the lands. The fact was,
We despaired Of wise national action and
lesired that if the nation would no.
'ct the state might be permitted to
10 90.
Our action, continued Mr.. Smythe, in
his convention demonstrated that we
ield the public good above private in
erests and this was demonstrated by i
he fact that we were willing to declare !
n favor of public ownership OF water
he right Of condemnation of public
works the repeal of the desert land law
'r the limitation of 40 acres of the
mount of land which might be taken
lp by settlers. So for from wishing to |