The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-30

use, has been considerable. Many of the
best settlers and citizens are some of the
projectors who thus became farmers or
fruit growers under their own ditch.
Where the projectors could not buy
large tract OF land so as TO have the cut
ting of clean piece of cloth. but the
land had fallen into too many hands, the
next plan was to sell a contract for wa
ter at a certain low rate per year. Tho
price of the contract was supposed to be
somewhere near half the difference in the
price Of the land wet and the same dry.
Another trap for the tenderfoot for the
land owner would add as much more In
selling it TO him. This contract was called
a water right, and though possibly not
legal in certain senses. was as right In
morals and public policy as Ii is possible
for the purest virtue 10 be. No honest
man was injured by II. without II the
works were a sure failure TO the Injury
Of the community as well as promoters
and the cause Of irrigation in general
In some cases the water right contract
has had good results.
II is all right 70 discuss methods 10 have
the state or the nation build water works,
but both are apt 10 be slow, the latter quite
certain TO be. And there are many places
where they cannot now do II. though there
are fine possibilities begging for capital.
The instant the state made q move up
would go the rghts-of-way. water rights
and reservoir sites and the great American
juryman stands ever ready 20 cinch the
commonwealth I'm behalf Of some neighbor.
But for the desert land law there would
have been little or no building OF water
works for the last ten years. The settler
on that cannot exist or prove Up with wa
ter. and consequently has to buy IT. This
often enables a company TO go ahead on
a safe basis. But for this law the rich and
beautiful Salt river valley around Phoenix,
AriZ. would be a desert today Of the worst
type and many another OF the best set
Elements OF the West has been built IN the
same way. In spite Of the politicians talk
OF monopoly. the land owner has no COM
plant In these sections. for those who in
vest Ia such delicate goods as water are
iu too much haste 10 realize. Instead Of
oppression. the water right Is too often
sold for less than IL cost 10 bring the water
TO the land. More companies are ruined
in this way than get unduly rich IN the
other. Under almost all OF them. land can
be bought today for less than the actual
cost Of the water. and IN many cases at a
ruinous figure below cost
The feature Of the afternoon session was
address by Hon. w. ]. Bryan. Tie ex-
pressed regrets that he was unable 10 at-
tend the earlier sessions. the proceedings
~ which. however. could not be very dry
he said he was interested in the subject
Of irrigation as incidental 20 his interest
in the great and growing West He was
opposed 20 turning over large bodies Of
land 70 parties controlling water rights
unless safeguards were thrown around the
transaction 20 the protection Of holders
Of irrfgable lands. Mr.. Bryan admitted his
unfaniiisrity with the subject but prom
ised 20 Improve by study and declared his
faith IN the system as a reserve force 70
farm life
A resolution nemoTializing congress 70
take action on the question Of reServing
timber lands 10 states In which they vera
located bid fair to become a sub
jet OF animated discussion but Il
was sldetracked by reference % the
COMMITTEES on resolutions and the reading
Of papers was continued