San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-12-07

about the irrigation question by the as
Semblage of 4 convention TO discuss meas.
ureS looking to securing state aid and
legislation.
The state legislature will be called upon
to pass law regulating irrigation and
the disposal of its arid lands. But there
is a scheme that paleS into insigniiicance
all the suggestions made 50 far, II we only
had the craftsmanship to carry it out.
But we have a small bored adminiStra-
ton. and little hope can be entertained
that any measure ont OF the ordinary old
Democratic rut, will BE- put in operation.
The employment of the convict labor so
that it will not diSplaCe honest labor is
question that deserves settlement. 1t is
a burning shame to have our railroad cor
porationS served with this labOr-the rich
plantations of faVOriteS titled with this
labor. The state could build public
roads with this labor and thus relieve the
burden of taxation now imposed upon the
people But there Is scheme that would
employ the convict labor very profitable,
building dams in our western streams
to save the water for irrigation.
From San Antonio to the Rio Grandc,
there is a vast body of rich land lying be-
low the rough ridge of hills from which
spring the Medina, HOndo, SecO, Sahinal,
Frio. LeOna: a dam across the canOnS of
each of these streams would furnish a
world of water
The Medina could be damned ten or
twelve miles above CaStroville and pro-
Guce one of the most beautiful lakes on
| the continent 1t would back the water
| for thirty miles into the hills. This lake
would furnish water for thousands of
| acres of land and send irrigating can
ais into our own valley. 1t could be
| harneSsed to electric dynamoS, run
| lines OF cars to our city and illuminate
be.
The canons of the Hondo, the Seco, Sab
| inal. Frio and Woman could in like manner
! be turned into lakes. This, now dry cOun-
| try. would be transformed into a Switzer-
| land.
The altitude of this region ensures
| good health, and these artificial lakes
1t would be out short time before II
would be well populated.
The State could build these dams, and
| realize from the sale of its public lands
more than sufficient profit to pay for It's
expenditure. The convict labor could be
utilized and while not diSplacing honest
labor, would be instrumental in creating
labor for honest men.
This is no chimerical scheme,-it car
be accomplished inside of the life of d
| single Democratic administration. The
! state Of Texas can do it.-and there is ne
use waiting for another generation to un'
| dertake it.
| At the junction of Devils river with
the Rio Grande a dam can be constructed
that will carry the water of that noble
stream over hundreds of thousands o.
acres of good land. But this will require
international legislation and Judge Moo
nan is pledged to this work.
Much will be done by industrial enter
prise. in fact we may expect the QuiCkeS
results from industrial effort and private
capital, particularly in the development
of artesian supply. But the state cOulC
make grand success by the scheme just
| Sketched.
| The new administration Is figuring how
to raise money to meet the states needs
| The destruction of the sheep and cattle
industries by Democratic legislation has
decreased the revenues Of the state, de-
rived from the very country we have
spoken Of In fact there has been a
snrinkage OF values of all grazing lands
4
Instead of the figuring how to squeeze
blood outOf a turnip, why cont the powers
that be turn their attention TO measures
that will increase our wealth and make
| la,, - co 90 GphnmI
proposed would pay the state debt.