The San Francisco call., 1898-03-15

California seems now to be standing at the portals of an unusually dry season The situation forces consideration of the need for irrigation development over large areas of the State. Great as is this need, we are confronted with the fact that unless a general public interest in the solution of the great problem IS aroused no solution will be found and no progress made.
 Irrigation development by private capf- tai has practically reached its limit. There are very few localities where new propositions can be found warranting its investment. The only solution of the problem is through State and national ac- tion. California is big enough to bring about either or both if her people could be aroused to their importance, and to full realization of the fact that the irriga- tion district system Is a delusion and disastrous and hopeless failure, and that it's continuance merely makes certain the stagnation of irrigation development.
 Enough water never can be had for the Irrigation of the Sacramento and San Joa- quin valleys except through the construc- tion of storage reservoirs in the Sierra Ne vada Mountains. Yet San Francisco must look to the settlement of these great val leys for her future growth, and 1t be- hooves her to give attention to their oe- Velopment.
 If Congress would act upon the recom- mendations of Captain Hiram M. Chit tenden of the United States Corps of En- gineers, in his recent report submitted as the result of his labors and investigations under the Congressional appropriation made for the location and survey Of res ervoir sites in Colorado and Wyoming, policy would be adopted by the Federal Government which would bring about the construction of the storage reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains necessary to furnish enough water for the 1rrlga- tion of the great interior valleys or this State.
 Beyond and separate from the project of Federal storage reservoirs solely to conserve flood waters is the movement looking to the reclamation of the arid public lands through the construction by the Federal Government itself or the IT, rigatiCn works necessary for their recla- nation. The Irrigation Congress has de- clared in favor of this, Governor Myron H. McCord of Arizona strongly urges It in his last annual report, and the move ment is fast gaining strength. California has an enormous interest in it. There are millions of acres of arid public lands in this State which never can and never will be reclaimed in any other way. The arid public domain in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles countleS is vast empire in itself, a desolate des- ert now, but capable if irrigated of sus- taining a teeming population.
 California should lead in an active or ganization and agitation to push the adoption of this policy by the Federal Government. Every paper in the State every political party-every California Senator and Congressman-every cham Der of commerce or organization or any kind having for it's purpose the promotion of general prosperity should be vigorous ly and actively advocating the adoption of this broad policy by the Federal Gov ernment.
 No general public interest has been as yet awakened in reference to these pro- jects for Federal reservoirs and irrigation works which are of such far-reaching importance to the State of California. A start has been made, however, by the re- cent organization at San Diego of an as sociation called 'The Irrigation Propa- ganda," having for it's object the awaken ing of public interest in this great and Vi tai subject, and branches of this organi- They should be organized in every town and city in California and include every one who actively desires to promote it's progress and permanent prosperity.
 If for no other reason. such an organ1- zation should be formed to fight the gil gantic steal now incubating for ceding mains of the arid public domain-includ- ing the whole 100 900 acres of lands sus- ceptIble of reclamation by irrigation. To cede these lands internationally to the States would result in their passing 1n a few years, through the corruption of State Legislatures into the hands of spectators and range owners, and the hope of prosperity for the whole West which now lies in their reclamation by the Federal Government ana JnelT Sdie III small subdivisions to actual settlers and home builders would be gone for genera tfons-perhaps forever, for once dedicated to the cowboy and the cattle range in prf- yate ownership, their reclamation and settlement would probably never De ac- compliShed.
 The Phoenix irrigation congress de- clared for principle as to State cession which the whole American people should unite to uphold:
 Resolved That we favor the cess1on or II k1e% .Nf hn n "a spective States or Territories only upon conditions so strict that they will insure the settlement of such lands by actual settlers in small tracts and absolutely under private ownership.
 To cede them absolutely would be crime against the people or the naIl0n. But while public attention is diverted by the possibility of a foreign war the pro- motors of this monstrous robbery of the people hidden under the guiSe or state cession are active, the House Committee on Public Lands has just reported favor ably the Shafroth bill and the steal may go through in this Congress 1T the people do not wake up and prevent II.
 In addition to Federal storage reser- voirs and irrigation works, we must nave some plan devised to take the place or the irrigation district system ana 10 re- lieve the conditions of disaster that eHist wherever there Is such a district, and put California in line for an onward move, mant in the development of her mineral resources Wn1cn Will loIioW lllo SttoII vision and settlement of her arid lands which is impossible without irrigation.
 There can be no doubt that State IT, rigation system could be devised which would do away with all the defects or the present district system, ana undeT which the disasters in the districts gould be relieved The way to get such State system devised is for every one inter. est@ in the problem to get to work at is solution "In multitude of counsel there is safety" A remedy can be found under State system for, every deiect ton to such a State system can be ob- viated But all possible objections should be foreseen and guarded against in ad- interested in this great subject discuss its solution through the press and see which can be substituted for the district