The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-21
AN IRRIGATION COMMISSION.

The annual report OF the commissioner
OF the general land Office touches upon two
subjects which will be OF especial interest
10 the people or the western part OF the
United States. They are those relating 10
irrigation and the preservation of timber
reserves. They are treated as distinct sub
jects. but experience has shown that, so
far as maintaining water supplies IS con-
cerned, they are intimately associated.
This commissioner recommends the crea-
ton by congress OF a national irrigation
commission. and. with the growing import
ance OF irrigation throughout the lands OF
the West which are now being taken up.
II is certain the proposed body would find
many duties TO perform and very inipor-
tant ones, too. Irrigation has now become
a great question. and. while it Is being
tried both under state and private super
vision. "a multitude OF questions are arising
which viii claim the attention of congress.
and which cannot be satisfactorily under
stood without the assistance Of some sort
Of board such as the commissioner of the
general land Office recommends.
In some places where irrigation on
large scale is being undertaken. there have
arisen protests from the cities and towns
along river banks, based on fears that this
new and extraordinary use Of water may
dry up the rivers and leave the in
dustriss Of these cities and towns
practically stranded. 1t IS not IN
likely that this great Irrigation movement
may result IN very serious differences be-
tween Irrigation companies and those
river bank communities which regard the
turning OF large streams as an Interference
with their vested rights and a blow to the
industries which rely upon the rivers for
water. Moreover. equally decided conflicts
OF an Interstate nature may arise through
the withdrawal 81 water IN one state and
the affecting Of private and corporate IN
terests In another.
Such matters would come before an irri-
gatcn commission for consideration and. II
handled sntelligently. there Is no doubt it
would save congress from much embar-
barrassment and the supreme court from
much labor by avertiug tedious and ex-
psnssve tests Of rights AID privileges. and
preventing the occurrence Of contests and
the doing OF irrepRrable damage which may
result II no government scheme or. super
vision has been adopted. The scattering
- countless settlers over the lands where
water IS needed has forced irrigation 70 the
| front as a great and Important question.
| sufficiently important. in fact. as 20 war
rant much more attention being given 4
/ in the future by congress than has been
given in tie rast
The association q the protection Of tim
her reserves with irrigation is natural be-
| cause % thu closs relation between cur
| forests ana the water supply - cur rivers.
| The great falling ~ in the supply Of many
/ of the streams u the country can Ne
| traced almost directly 70 the wholesale de-
| strucii5n ~ timber during The last fifty
| years. Anything vAlch teais t. decrease
| the SUPPLY ~ water "a certain % dotra-t
| s~em the value and hamper ths develop
! usent or ara lands WoodcG districts arc
/ more hu1id sud Aeea the water courses
| ra,re even ard regular IN the supply ct
| moisture they carry % the sections
through Vhlch they pass. ana It woal3
! seem taat ;h>se vho are supposed % 1ook
| a-e- the arit districts might weu attend
| a!sa q the timber reserves. upcn the pro-
/ lection - which 50 much % tae prosperity
! q he irrlgated countries depends The
! whole subject IS enc = uHusual import
| snce. and congress wtH no doubt carefully
| consider The commissioners rsconamenda-
| tons wtrA vie~ os giving such lev1sla-
t.oa as the country. ard the IVES, especi-
! slly. VII socn urgently ask fer.