The advocate., 1895-01-09

sell That we may have tho unquastloned
power to do such neediul things Tor ourselves
and not have the hands OF the people tied on
every occasion demanding such action ts. per-
hapS, the most urgent reason why we should
have . constitutional convention; tor IL IS
doubtful whether anything OF the kind, no
mattsr how imperatlvelY demanded, can De
done under the present condition.
IRRIGATION.
The Importance OF irrigation is too gen0r-
ally conceded to require It's discussion here.
The only debatable question Is what legislA.
tlon should be enacted concerning this urgent
necessity OF western farmers. Control OF tns
husbandmAn's water supply approaches IN
importance control OF the air ne 0reSthes, ana
it would be scarcely less cruel In the former
case than In the latter, to subject MIN 90 Gne
almost certain extoFtiOns and Determinations
OF private MONOPOLY. Fortunately, THIS mas
not become o theme for heated partisan dis
cusslOn so as to make men obstinate adnef-
ents Of any particular plan and none but
those selishly seeking to virtually make mef,
ch8ndise OF the very rains ana ueWS Ot
heaven, will approach the conslderatIon OF
the subject with biased minds. What you do
Rt this session in this enterDrlse, you do not
fora day, but for many years TO come. Should
the control of husbandFy be given over TO
private corporations, our hands Will nave De-
come tied by the federal constitution, aud no
matter how badly the experiment may turn
out, nor how Oppresstvl may be the cOnduct
OF those who shall have been made che masters
OF agriculture, we shall be utterly poWerless
for years TO remedy the error to free che peo-
pie from the grasp OF the monster our own
folly will have evoked. Nor could we avail
ourselves Of impoVed methods or new and
valuable discoveries or inventions, but must
suffer In order to avoid Interfering with vested
ri Ehts. II any elaborate scheme OF irrigation
Is &c be undertaken at all, 1t Is 80 lmperatlvely
necessary that the people themselves shouIo
undertake aud conduct the enterprise, that
the very thought Is startling that IL might DO
given over to private or corporate control;
but the executive ,efuses TO believe the Iegl5-
laGure capable OF such reckless Legislation
when the happiness OF the people Is 80 dl-
Pectly at stake, In the opinion nf tue execn-
tive no elaborate scheme OF irrigation ls nec-
es5ary. The public assistance hr5t required
would, perhaps, be proper survey TO locate
the underhoW, and Ia this connection you are
referred to the following recommendation OF
the chancellor OF the university which 10
worthy OF consideration.
"The department OF geology Of this univer-
| sity is thoroughly competent TO undertake
the geological work for che location OF these
parts Of the semi-arld region which are capS'
BILE OF irrigation from underground water
Every dollar expended for this purpose sup
| pementing the resources OF the university
will accomplish better results than jdeVOted
| to the establishment of separate irrigation
bureau, or commission, or with q new force OF
scientific workers and field equipments. The
state should use the machinery IL already has
especially as In this case 1t is OF the most
modern and effective character"
While conducting such survey, she state
could, In the meantime, establish upon lands
| IL now owns or controls, the soldiers home Ae
| Dodge CITY, the forestry station Rt WaKeeney,
and the experimental stations OF the agrt1ul-
tural cOllege-experimental stations which
| could, AZ an early date, 80 far determine the
possibilities and the best practical method
OF irrigation, that farmers might be spared
the personal expense OF experimentation by
| ayalllng themselves OF the knowledge thus
aba Aatsn
also, by actual tests, in the cultivation, In
what kinds Of products irrigation may be
! pTodtably employed, Such stations have, In
| fact, been already established by the re-
| gents Of the agricultural college, as appears
| from the following extract from their report,
which Is submitted for your inf0rmstlon:
THE station has recently, Rt the earnest re-
! quest OF Interested persons In the western
part OF the state. undertaken experiments In
| irrigation. The limited means OF the disposal
OF the board made 1t necessary 20 cOnane
these experiments In extent and locality.
Two plants have been secured for trial OF lr.
/ rigation from wells by wind power, with de.
| signs TO cover all questions OF water supply,
adjusting 10 various crops, and effects OF va.
rious modes OF tlllage, and handling In con-
nectlon with the study OF climatic conditions.
| One OF these, az Garden City, tS In operation,
with f. w. Dunn In direct charge OF expert
ments under direction OF the state council.
A report Of details will be given in the annual
| report OF the station. The other, at Oberlln,
| Is being put In shape for early operation next
/ year. Both are under lease TO the board OF
regents for ten'years II desired, the permanent
| Improvements TO revert with the lands to the
| owners at the expiration OF the lease.
1T seems very important that these expert
ments should be m ade Ss conclusive as posi-
bic, and the state may we'll devote means to
these special inYes legations"
This plan Is not ambitious tt IL true. 1t
contemplates no more than the location OF the
underfow. and experimentation With lt. But,
at present, the stale cannot afford TO do more
than this. The state itself must learn as IL
progresses; and methods which contemplate
the cutting OF channels and the providing oil
reservoirs. " not left for the general govern
ment to und grtake. should Rt least be left ioI
future consideration. after future develop
ment shall have given greater knowledge