The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-14

lands are to Be irrigated, il follows that
private lands mast suffer He held that
government lands shonsd be for mining
aud stock raising and not for irrigation
~ 81 this posnt storn Of questions was
Erred ~ Tie raaior an 10 she great waste OF
water IN Arixoua. IN Oweus valley and the
Rso Grande rivers The rnator said 5o.0oe,-
90 or 6g00,ego acres . year we're being
disposed Of, and IL oil the watsr could he
caught IL gould not be sufficient for the
amount demanded Msj. Powell pre-
dicsed that the acquisition cf more land
fycm TIE governments for irrigation sas
simply psling up q heritage Of conflict
over water rights. The people IN tie val
leys onght 70 own and control the land
and water. ana the government should
give settlers title % the catchmeas area on
which their lands depend,
Judge Emery. Of Kansas City. asked IL
Maj Powell believed in small homes from
the arid lands: whether Uncle sarn has no
more Of these homes. or whether they
must DC obtained from private owners.
Maj. Powell replied that those owning
lands now should be protected in their
water rights He said that Was the main
poin; he wished TO impress
Californian protested that AL the peo-
pie should have the same right per acre as
spectators and hs did not like Posea's
position at all.
The major retired at this point and Col.
Hinton, OF View Mexico, made an energetic
talk, in which be gave the government
scientists dig. He said the knowledge
of the world vas not confined to one
smart man or set of men Ii Powell
meant railroad lands, they did not want
20 .rrigate them. lie said Powell was
making conflicting statements. and called
for the official record.
Mulholland, Of California, said Powell's
position was in favor Of getting back large
grants Of lands TO railroads on both hands
and devoting them TO the use of the
people.
Hinton said Powell did not talk TO this
effect. and again called for the official
record. A dozen other delegates sprang 20
their feet with motions calling for the
question. etc, and great confusion reigned
for several minutes.
Gov. sheldon also combatted PoweIl's
/ statements and claimed that not one-tifth
of the available water was yet utilized.
I: was decided to take the platform up
by paragraphs. Then followed cross-ire
of suggestions ana amendments that was
bewiidering w +. smyth said the state
ments Of Maj. Powell about not enough
water 10 irrigate arabic lands was abso-
luteiy false so far as Utah is concerned.
Merrill. OF Nevada. and other delegates
also spoke In opposition TO PoweiI's state
ment. and all claimed there were immense
quantities Of water running TO waste in
various Western rivers
Maj. Powell again arose and said he
wanted fair play and no misrepresenta-
ton. He said that $50 600. 0o0 acres of
public lands have passed from the govern
ment to private ownership. and there are
millions OF acres more that can be irri-
gated, but there is not water to do IL
with.s The platform went over till tomor-
row At 80 p. m. and the convention
adjourned.
Maj Powell has done more for the
cause OF irrigation than any other man
now wing. Richard J. Hinton is pro-
fessionaI agitator, a Populist and friend
OF Senator Stewart.