The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-14

makes the prediction that before many
Tears consress viii be making appropria-
canals and works In the interest OF agricult-
ure. the same as IL now makes appropria-
tions for the Improvement OF the rivers
and harbors in the interest OF commerce.
When that time comes. as IL is sure TO,
then the national government will enact
ject OF water ways. their use and main
tenance. States however. may undertake
10 foster. and promote irrigations and adopt
such regulations as may seem 10 best meet
the requirements OF the case. This has
already been done in some of the Western
states. and as the 12,o9 miles OF ditches
and the 100000 acres of irrigated land IN
Colorado speak favorably for the efficiency
of the laws OF that state. a brief refer
ence Is made to them here The farmers
OF the Constitution OF Colorado. recognizing
the arid condition Of the land OF the state.
declared that the waters OF the running
rivers should be held in common for iIri-
eaion. domestic. mining and manufacturing
purposes. Irrigation to have preference over
the manufacturing and, following TINS
eonsstutiona provision; the iaw.IaSKer y,t q,
all the safeguards which experience mas
shown 70 be necessary: One feature OF me
rirne laws is that OF appropriations and
priority For instance, an individual or
company may petition the courts and OBJ
tain a grant by judicial decree Tor a cers
tain amount OF water tfor the purpose or
illustration. say 100 cubic feet per second).
TO be carried in a ditch of their construc-
tAoh- tHtb - ~ hct aittu
TO water can. under the law. be
furnished To bitches of later con-
struction until ditch No. l has received
its full quota of 100 cubic feet per second.
even IL the last bitches be located above
the first. nearer the head-waters OF the
stream. The Colorado law does not recog-
nize riparian rights, but the right of pri-
orfty-the power TO pre-empt water for ben
encial uses. IL Is unlawful to waste water,
and the theft OF water IL held to be lar
ceny, and Is punishable under the criminal
and civil codes.
But. after all. that which the farmer of
the seventeen arid States most desire Is the
repeal of some bad national legislation and
the enactment Of additional beneficial laws
cooperating with the laws of me States for
the purpose OF promoting irrigation and the
reclamation of the waste lands. And TO
make manifest this desire and TO assist In
the great work an irrigation congress, COM
posed OF practical irrigators and farmers:
was organized a few years ago. The third
meeting of the congress-. held in Denver
last fall. was noted for the intelligence and
prominence of he large number of delegates
In attendance. To indicate the object and
spirit Of the meeting il is necessary TO quote
but enc paragraph from the platform adopt
ed by the congress It's as foilows:
THE fundamental idea OF our policy Is
not the separation of State and national
powers within their proper spheres. The
great Gro IN view is to reclaim lands aOw
useless and make them mt to sustain a sdSt
population under conditions which shall
guarantee Industrial independence and hui
man equality. We recognize these public
lands as the heritage OF the American peO-
pie. not as the spoil OF private greed. We
aim 10 deliver TO the people this precious
birthright under conditions which will bur-
den them only with the actual cost of re-
clamaflon and the return OF the capital
actually employed in the work, principal
and interest, We recogni5e no Priy ,ais mo
rent of the field and hence OF the man who
lives thereon. We seek TO inaugurate a poll
&C., ,eg,, ~nlc9 q w,h s Ssrsle ~ 1n' Justice ana Ma'e EQUITY eHn.
We aim to preserve and protect the forests
and to so control the pastural lands that
the barbarism of frontier warfare shall be
forever eliminated and this portion Of the
public domain made useful to the largest
number of people,, under conditions which
hhope to Inaugurate a new era of industrial
development, finding employment for labor
and capital and security and satisfaction
for both"
A FORESTRY POLICY.
The following paragraphs from the adj
dress to the people arc OF Importance. as
they give expressions to the views Of the
congress concerning a forestry policy, as
10 its gratitude for national legislation and
to the patriotic sentiment which actuates
the endeavofs OF those. interested in adj
vancing the cause of irrigation in general:
But while we are about TO urge the
necessity of important and fear-reachins
legislation. we do not forget TO thank the
Congress and people Of the United States
for what they have already done for Vest
ern States and Territories. We remember
with gratitude the wise and patriotic ac-
ton of President Harrison in establishing
large forest reservations, ana urge the
Cleveland. We heartily indorse the plan or
Prof Sargent, of Harvard University, pro-
of skilled f~oresters for a local forest guard,
and for the use of ~detachmeqts OF United
States troops in guarding forest
puorafo the inheritance of forest
preservation to the economic life of
America. because of the intimate reia-
ton 10 water supply for irrigation.
we also note with satisfaction that a
bill donating TO each Western state. under
condition. 100000 acres OF arid lands. Tor
purposes Of reclamation. recently passed
the United States Senate unanimously,
passed the House with. only nine dissenting
votes and received the prompt approval
of the president of the United States. Ne
interpret this remarkable unanimity OF &C
ticn as an evidence OF confidence IN west
ern men. of real concern for Western In
stitutions. And il is our purpose to avail
ourselves of the opportunity thus given and
TO make the Carey law the nrst step IN
the development OF a great internal pol
1--WE specially urge our countrymen to re-
member that in the true sense the problems
of the Irrigation Congress are OF national
dimensions and national import. The best
solution of the difficulties that vex our
which would provide idle, discontented or
unprosperous people first with labor, then
with homes Our panacea Tor existing an
rest Is a small. irrigated farm, producing
what the family consumes as we'll as a
surplus for market, and giving TO Its occu-
pants. by reason OF its smallness, the beft-
ents OF neighborhood association. We ask
only the opportunity and facilities to pro-
vide such homes for millions, and so erect |,
great States on what is now the voiceless
desert. And this we seek to do in the name
% our nationality. not In the name OF in
dividual States or sections. We know no |
nag except the flag of the Union. We know
no destiny except the destiny OF the Ameri-
can people. And whatsoever we shall accom-
plish under the policies we enunciate will
add directly TO the glory and greatness of
our common country" |
This congress demanded the repeal of the |
desert land law. under which an individual
may take up coo acres of arid land and d.
benefit, thus robbing later settlers Of the
use OF the wafer for irrigation purposes |
The congress also took an important step /
In declaring for the appointment or a ma
t.onal irrigation commission, empowered to |
administer irrigation works constructed by
the general government and to Investigate
and report upon matters relating to the
adjustment OF differences growing out of
interests involved In Interstate waters. In |
addition 20 these recommendations the con-
9res adopted measures looking TO the en-
acfment OF better State laws and TO the
encouragement of the irrigation movement |
IN every section OF the country
No question Is OF deeper interest or more
importance TO the great mass of agricul- |