Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-09-16

settlements were made higher up the
river in the territory of New Mexico suffi-
cient in extent to largely consume the
waters of the stream unless some means
we're taken to save the flood waters; and,
still later, settlements were made in the
state of Colorado and extensive bitches
constructed, and such quantities of water
used as to interfere with the rights of the
settlers lower down, and the farmers in
Texas, Mexico and lower New Mexico are
beginning to feel the effects of an occa-
sional water famine.
The first proprietors have the better
title and should be protected, but how
this ia to be done is a difficult question
to be solved, and presents one of the
most duplicated legal problems of the
age. It requires the most careful con-
sideration from those who have the well
fare of the country at heart. Have the
proprietors of the water rights in the re-
public of Mexico, or the state of Texas,
any remedy under the existing laws, that
can be practically enforced? Must the
citizens of the republic of Mexico and the
state of Texas submit to the unlawful
taking of water to which they, as pro-
prietors, have the first right, or is there
any way of enforcing their rights, and, II
so, before what tribunal can they be en-
forced? The difficulties presented here
are repeated in every instance where a
stream crosses the line of two or more
states or territories.
sub vuhinh hoo fnr
time attracted the attention of those in
terested in irrigation, is how and by
whom the flood waters are to be con-
served? Who shall formulate the plans
and furnish the capital required for the
extensive improvements necessary to this
end?
Three plans have been suggested: First
that the general government do it; second
that the lands should be turned over tc
the states and reclaimed by the states
third, that it be done by private enter
prise.
Each of these three plans has some
features Of especial merit; but, in my
opinion, the first is the better one, and
the only way to save all the food waters
cheaply and apply them justly to the re-
clamation of the desert lands. There are
many reasons why this plan should be
adopted and this work perfected by the
general government; as I have said be-
fore, the policy of the government
present land laws is detrimental to the
reclamation of the arid lands by private
enterprise.
THE UTILIZATION OF WASTE WATERS.
In large majority of cases, under ex
listing conditions, the utilization of the
waste waters is impracticable by private
enterprise, and the instances heretofore
mentioned as being successfully realized
are in connection with large properties
privately owned with one exception) by
titles derived from the Spanish and Mex
lean governments. The policy of our
government is to prevent the acq uisition
of large bodies of the public domain by q
few persons, and to see that it is reserved
for homestead and presumption rights
for her citizens, believing it to be better
that each man should be the owner of his
own home. Where the waters of great
rivers like the Pecos, Rio Grande, San
Juan and the Colorado of the west, with
their tremendous annual floods, are to be
controlled, placed in reservoirs and con
served for the redemption of large bodiel
of arid lands, it must be done by an az
gregation of capital working to single
purpose, directed by men of ability, aided
by experienced engineers, possessing
great technical knowledge and capable Of
calculating accurately the results to be
achieved.
1t is certainly on line with the pres
ent policy of the government that the
work should be conducted by the govern
ment to prepare homes for her citizene
that each individual may be the owner Of
his own homestead, and look to the gov,
eminent for his water supply and not BIZ
sub ected to the grasping avariciousness
too often found to exist where private
corporations own the water.
It has been the policy of the govern.
ment, as interpret it, from the passage
of laws preventing aliens from acquiring
property in the territories and even from
preventing a corporation or aggregation
| of individuals from acquiring more than
1000 acres of land under one ownership
az we'll as by many other acts of congress
with reference to the sale of public lands
to bona fide settlers, to preserve the pub.
lie lands for their use and benefit, and un.
less this governmental policy be changed
and the public domain be disposed OF in
large blocks to be under the control and
management of one directing head, it will
be i'm possible to get that concert of action
required for successful reclamation OF
these lands by individual enterprise.
SHOULD BE UNDER aovERNMENTAL CONTROL,
Almost from its inception the doctrine
of internal improvement has been ad.
opted and followed; millions have been
expended in the construction of levees,
in the improvement of rivers, the
building of canals and railroads for the
welfare and convenience of the people,
and why should not this same liberal
policy be extended to the reclamation of
the arid landss The same amount of cap
ital, honestly and judiciously invested for
the conservation of our flood waters and
the reclamation of these lands, will fur
nish more homesteads to the people of
the nation than has ever been done by
the policy of building levees and drain
ing the swamps of the great rivers, and
will be of more benefit to the people of
this nation than any public improvement
ever entered upon.
Another reason why the reclamation of
the desert lands shonld be under the con-
troll OF the government is from the stand
point OF economy. The government can
raise the required funds to do this work
at less expense than can be done either
by state or private enterprise. Money
raised by private enterprise would cost
at least per cent, by the state from to
s, while the general government could
obtain 1t at rate not to exceed per
cent, and, as the cost to the farmer would
be governed by the interest upon the
money invested, his water rate would not
be more than one-half as much when the
improvement was made by the govern
ment.