The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-10-03
IRRIGATION.
Paper by Judge ]. II Richards Read Befor,
the Receni Irrigation Congress.

n cultivation Of the soil cannot exist in the
arid region under similar laws. or laws in
terpreied in the light Of conditions. sur
rounding agricultural communities in
eastern states. Nature imposes different
terms She surrounds humanity here
with conditions totally at variance with
those from which evolved many existing
laws relating TO such communities. laws
wisely adapted to the wants and condi-
lions from which they sprung. but wholly
inadequate TO meet the requirements and
thereby stimulate the development of the
arid west. Man, the child of nature, must
accept the terms and conditions imposed
by the parent To reap the rewards Of
natures promised bountics, he must adapt
his efforts and laws. and the interpreta-
ton of his laws. TO the conditions under
which his social and Industrial life can
! alone evolve. Laws should therefore be
enacted and interpreted in the light of
these conditions. 1t is useless to hope to
develop high order of social and indus
trial life through cultivation of the arid
lands under laws not suited to the condi-
tons surrounding the retaining of such
lands and the development of the resources
involved in such reclamation and develop
ment.
laws adapted TO such purpose, unless our
courts interpret such laws in the light Of
the same conditions. Only those who have
given this subject bat consideration which
comes through experience, can fully realize
the worse than distressing effects resulting
from unwise and vicious irrigation laws in
their relation to the social and Industrial
life Of Il people. Only that character Of
thought which Is based on devotion to the
true development of II state, can reveal TO
the searcher after wisdom the mighty in
fluence irrigation laws created in the inter
est OF IA people and wisely adapted % that
purpose only would have in evolving high
order of social and industrial lifein this arid
west, and when thus evolved will be the
type of American social and Industrial life
based on the cultivation of the soil
Thi, subject, in all its varied forms and
farreachng effects, cannot be revealed TO
him who approaches it with n vision cloud
ed by self interests alone be he speculative
/ promoter capitalist seeking Investment, or
II cultivator of the soil, unless it be in the
light of IA very refined sellishness The pro-
moer must consider the imperative neces-
sity of reasonable profit; the capitalist must
considerthe necessity of return which, be-
lug based upon n slowly evolving industrial
life, insurcs pcrmanency and stability; and
I lhe cultlValor Oh ihe SOL prconsuhero OF wa
Ter reallZlng that wltlOutcapllal our deVel-
opmeht VIII oe SLOW anu painful indeed
must conceue iair pronl 10 anu sure
return Ut we Vapi'al lhNesteo' Inc loloW-
! lhs suSsesllons may hol DC oul Oh place IN
cohneclloh WIN Tue FOREGOING ana APP
prV"onlns 'nis suoJecl III the ilght oil Tue
loAo"ihs cohuitlohs'
| Inn al eol Il,
Aiuose Iinilless Vaileys whose SOIL IS
! pregnant WIN si'auly' 'aiieys lhreAueu
os s',eaihs vi living waters Vaiieys
neuin almost pcrpeiuii sunshine whlch
vi'ail~es 'he union oi sou ana WATER Val-
'eAs resting III ciinia'e suited 10 hlSh
anu periec' s.ase Vi ueNeioplneht vi pant
anu human nv eAhausViess .l'hoer' mlh-
cruz anu s'"N'ns iesouroes 'Sins uorihah'
IN ine adjacent mouniaihs'ready TO spring
into l'e ana stiuuiaie anu contribute 10
'he ueNeiopne,' ot nigh st''e OF soclal
ana lhuuslrial ne wi,hlh 'hese valleys;
streams WIN uhlilhlteu power seeking 10
turn lhe wheels OF industry IN THESE val
ieys' 'housahus OF lnuuslrlous people
seeking an opportunity 10 procure nome
III THESE Valieys-ail awaiting harmoni-
Gus union OF sucn soil ana water under
lnws ehacteu anu Interpreted IN the iight
Vi these ounui'iohS' 10 cover THESE Valieys
WIN 'i". noi''c' sovi'' ana inuus'riai me
witch u tne oasis Vi patriulism ana goou
o ~, unuer american institutions
ms oan Only DC accomplished uhuer laws
a'"p'cu Z" .'is P"iPose nnu Interpreted III
lhe liShl OF THESE cohui'lohs' Otnerwise
nearly nn1 III lac. whoie states IN tnearld
"es' ",ii 'ois remain ia 'nae cruue ana
unuetviopcu eV"u't'on III "nicn we now
hnu 'neii' "v''nei an honor 10 tne na'lon,
oene'i. 70 themselves nor olessing 10
humanity Inc purpose intended oy ma
lure AS na'ionai prooiem u Is lhpor-
", ,"nl, 40 q s'a'e Pioo'ein i's carry soiution
70 'niPo'",.Ne' 40 Il humanitarian question
.neio ",e "" ilole ueserVins' ana louay
us soiutlon secnis 10 turn on, "hat Us
puoio use ine sV,'e mas lar reaching
interest III we RAPID development ahlgh
olue' y, sooni ne III ,lese now ara val
W. in ias., ,he wuoie future character
VI .ne s.a,e WIZ oc i,i1ulueu through tnls
very ucselopnient ING standing Oh lhe
s'a,c III lts leia'iVi' W other States ana the
nation anu we onarecler OF us people VIII
oc 'oiesn"uo"vu, S'auualiy determined
anu iinaiiy es,"ollsneu oy me character OF
! 'he laws 10 De ehacieu ana thelr interpret
a'ivn " wy vou'ts III 'he near future
u"uo, WINCH '"ls ueNciopnleht VIII pe uh-
uer'"hen inen .ne irrigation laws OF
s'"'V u" 'i' arr" "cs' "le 30 closely relateu
W 'ie so0'"i "uu inuus'rlai me OF iis peo-
PIC, Vn"V a'iips' ns very existence ana
oer'aluly us vnuracter Oh ueVelopmentde-
penus upon lhose very laws Long delay
! =" Wv e"aO'"'V", vi suVn laws VIII not DE
Y