, 1896-08-22

sufficient water, and to determine, by
actual measurement, the annual flow
of such streams at the different per-
iods Of the year. The second requisite
is to obtain the topography of the
country showing the levels and eleva-
tions, and upon what lands canals can
be successfully laid out and construct
ed. And third. comes the procurement
Of lands in sufficient bodies and con-
'tiguous to the water. The appropria-
ton for guaging streams is going to be
much appreciated by men all over the
country. The demand comes largely
from the eastern and southeastern
states, from parties interested in the
flow of the streams in those sections,
and their utilization for power pur-
poses. A large part Of the %appropria-
ton will be expended before the boun-
daries of the arid states are reached, as
well as by those in the arid states.
The appropriation for typographical
work is SOS, 200 more than for the last
year: and the act contains a provision
that at least w iron posts shall be
erected in each township of six miles
square of the public-survey, erected as
near township or section corner stones
as possible, and bearing upon each a
label showing the altitude above sea
level. This is a new feature. and Is
esteemed to be of great value in con
~nection with the Typographical lines
and maps, because a local surveyor, or
even a layman, can, with an ordinary
level, find a basis from which to start
his work of domestic ditch-building
for %irrigating purposes.
The amendment to the Carey law
simplifies and makes applicable and
practical the original law. which pro-
vides for appropriating a million acres
to each state, to be selected by the state
and reclaimed through irrigation. for
bona-fide settlers, in tracts not to ex-
coed 100 acres to each owner. The in
definite language OF the original act
has made its Interpretation by the in
terror department somewhat difficult,
and has placed obstacles in the way Of
states securing the benefits which were
originally supposed to be conferred.
The amendment is in the nature Of re-
lief from these.
AS to what congress has failed to do
for irrigation. there is much indeed.
The laws already passed are fragmen-
tary. and two of these, popularity re-
garded as exclusively in aid of irriga-
ton, are as largely in the interest of
other sections as of the arid states.
None Of the acts Of congress upto this
date extends all the required aid. and
none deals with the fundamental and
important problems Of irrigation. State
ownership Of water and governmental
ownership Of land. with their conflict
ing requirements and divided control,
is an obstacle to present success and a
constant menace to the future. The
irrigation laws of every other enlight-
ened country have recognized the ne
cessity OF uniting under one control
the management Of these two joint
elements of production.
Congress should determine. once and
for all. whether or not the general gov
eminent Is to exercise m supervision
and control in the division Of waters of
interstate streams, Or is to relegate,
in the future as in the past, the entire
management OF this matter to the sew
eral states. So long as this question
remains unsettled, there will be uncer-
tainty, friction between states, and the
possibility of injustice and loss to prior
appropriations. In my judgment these
problems are destined to secure ade.
quate consideration at the hands of
congress within the rear future. 1t
rests with the government, both be-
cause OF it's control OF the land and be-
cause it alone has both authority and
ability, to take the initiatory steps to-
ward giving a new impulse to the
growth and prosperity Of the arid re-
gion, and to enable us to take our place
with other enlightened countries In our
laws on this subject.-Francis e. War
rem. United States senator from Wyo-
ming. in American Agricultural.