El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-07-20

ating these lands to the several state
and requiring the proceeds from The
sale of these lands to be expended fol
their reclaim ton.
NEARLY all of the constitutions O
the states within the arid region have
clause that declares and secures &c
the people of theSe states the right &c
the beneficial use OF all the uuapprOp
rated public waters Ct the state
These declarations virtually put the
control of the waters into the hands OF
the people of these states. So it seems
to me that the government can not 80
| into the irrigation business directly
and control the public waters of any
| state
| sis not Texas more favOrably situat
ed than most of the arid states regard
| ing markets, especially the staple
products of agriculture?'
"W nile YOU are undoubtedly nearer
export markets, freight tariffs con-
sidered, than most of the arid states,
| yet the farmers there have good or
better home market. Outside of
California all the other sections are
in the main greater consumers than
producers This condition of affairs is
! quite rapidly being reverse by the in
| creased acre cage put in cultivation by
the aid of irrigation.
Il UQlnk Lu6 NuOi0 DOFbHW esU Us
looking forward to the time when
there will be established on the gulf
coast harbors that will accommodate
the largest crafts that travel the seas.
The country west of the NJ sissippi is
to be producer of the bulk of the
grain and meat products that seek the
market of the world, aud its shipping
points OughttO be as near home as pos
sible. In this respect you have the ad-
vantage over the inland irrigated
countries for good markets for export
products.
''Aud then [ infer from what you
say regarding the Wichita valley en-
terprise that it will justify the ex
peDse the projectors propose to incur
and will add III aterialiy to the wealth
of the valley
81 cannot see why it should not I'M
der a good, intelligent and business
mana cement. You have an almost
perfect climate, barring the 'nOrthers'
that occasionally visit the extreme
northwest portion of your state, with
long seasons, and very productive
soil, ADAPTED to the great variety of
agricultural and horticultural pro-
duct. You also have country that |
is already settled, thus Obvieting the |
slow progress of securing emigration. |
'Your country is equally as well |
adapted for farming on a small scale. |
with intense cultivation, ma king homes |
for the many and giving employment |
to the family, as it is for the planter or |
bonanza farmer, with all the improved |
machinery
The Texas farmer may need to be |
given few object lessons in irrigation. |
Teachers in the art will naturally be |
here by sOur cheap lands and |
irri cation facii ties, for | think there |
is an Inclination t g to a country OF |
longer seasons where, from the nature |
of things, there IS more time for prof.
table work for the n1us trious man and |
better returns from the little labor of |
the lazy one than in the more northern
sections of the arid country.
The state of Texas is quite fortunate
on being free from conflicting interests
and authority over the la d and water |
problems. Very little legislation VIII |
be requir, d in relation t. the water
question, as it will naturally come up
with the irrigation development of
your state land, and 10 dou ut your state
will sooner or later be justified IN using
the proceeds from the sa e of some of
its lands in one part of the state to re-
claim by irrigation portions of the
semi arid lands in another part: or
a better plan would be to donate
lands for the construction Of irrigation
works.
Il think your lie yislature has taken a
step in the right direction in providing
for an amendment to the constitution.
the people in the semi-arid
parts of the sac, or any other part, in
fact where irrigation is obtainahle,
may legally organize and acquire mon
ey to help and protect themselves from
EN- barrassment and disaster that are
sure to occnr at times from causes over
which they would Otherw ise have no
control, and this attempt should receive
the support of your people, and it will
if the question is we'll considered, and
3 broad view taken of the possibilities
for a further advancement of the pro-
gress and wealth OF your great state"