Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-03-23
IRRIGATION IN TEXAS.

reproduce from the San Antonio Express | the following comments on the new bill | recently adopted by the legislature of that state.
 The irrigation bill, es it will be pre- sented to Governor CuIberson for his signature, represents the best thought and practice of modern days in this new but timportsnt feature of agriculture in the ard and semi arid states, so far as such could be comprised in one meas ure, that would pass the legislature ID a state. whose people are new to the questions involved.
 The measure is meeting with some opposition. ThIs comes not on any specific ground affecting the matter of irrigation, but with the plea that 1t IS ID the interest of the foreign bond holders"-the bugaboo called up on every occasion by demegogues, where with to scare the people. According to these friends of the poor man., for eign bondhold is hyena who rosms about the world seeking whom 1t may devOur, the widows, orphans and farm CTS being considered especially fine favored morsels and particularly desir- able.
 If the truth were told, it could easily be established that the foreign bond holder has been the prey oftener than otherwise and any experienced promot- CT will testify that many of the vast en- terprises that have put bread in the mouths of thousands of Texas people and otherwise developed the country have caused serious indigestion to the capitalists who swallowed" them. No irrigation enterprise of any size will be built with home capital except in iso- lated cases To obtain this foreign capital, so necessary in all great schemes. a fair amount of protection must be given 1t by the laws of the state. This has been recognized in every state west of the Mississippi ex- cept Texas, and ID many of them much greater security has been given than IS now proposed in Texas, with the full accord of a people become prosperous through its ninistrations.
 The bill now before the governor of this state is far to all sides, and un- less it is passed many of the great irri- gation schemes now on foot will be lsId on the shelf until 8 Legislature and governor are in authority, who recognize these conditions. Irrigation plaGts are constructed in three ways One is on small scale, by wells or small streams, each farmer owning the entire water supply. Another is where thickly settled community realizing the necessity form a mutual company and bring water to already improved farms. The third case is where & vast tract of arid, uninhsbited land is re. claimed by bringing water to 1t at ire. mendous cost and retailing the land guaranteeing a water supply to each pur chaser or renter. It is probable that 90 per cent of the land now under ditch in the United States has been reclaimed by the latter system and it is plainly tc be seen it will be the way to salvation for the greater part of the -irrigable area Of Texas. Three things are necessary to induce capital to engage in this busi ness; the state must own the water ir the first place, water rights must be de- fined and right of way provided for by condemnation. These are the msir points of the bill now before the people of this state and it should become law without delay. The members Of the legislature recognize this, and the mess ure has been given right of way and nest favorable consideration; no other measure can be enacted at this session and the governor should hesitate before giving ear to the cry of ''down with tho corporations, slogan that has brought disaster more than once to some of ths most desirable propositions ever laiC before the people of Texas for their con sideration.
 Capital in great amounts IS what thii state neds at present. It can be res trained and the interests of the people well guarded without going to the ex' treme of refusing it encouragement anc even handed justice.