Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-23
STATE CONTROL OF ARID LANDS.
in Favor of CessiOn by the
National Government
Portland Oreeonian.

Portland Oregonian.
The call by the governor of Wyoming for
convention in aid of the cession of arid
lands to the states possesses peculiar inter
est from the fact that the recent irrigation
congress omitted from it's declaration Of
principles all reference to this cardinal doc
trine of irrigation propaganda. 1t is not a
violent assumption that this neglect has
furnished at least one contributory motive
to Governor Richards, who is an ardent
champion of the accession by the states OK
the arid and semi -arid lands now owned by
the federal government in the great west.
Wyoming has acquired many of these lands
under the Carey act; large cessions We're
made the state by congressional enactment
upon its admission, and out of the body Of
Wyoming's experience in the management
Of these lands has grown widespread and
enthusiastic belief in the practical advantage
of the scheme of cession.
The irrigation congress doubtless refraned
from endorsing cession for two reasons.
Doubts have grown UP as to its feasibility
on account OF abuses. Governor McCord OF
Arizona is powerful opponent OF state
ownership. The second reason Is one Of
policy The reply to demand for federal
construction OF reservoirs and state owner
ship of lands has been: II the states are
to be given the lands, let them build the
reservoirs Now, federal aid of irrigation,
through dams. bitches, reservoirs, superin
tendence, or in any possible form, is the
supreme end of the irrigationists, and If
state acquisition of lands is to stand in the
way of federal aid it will have to go.
The reasons why the arid lands should be
ceded to the states have never been
m nd hn MI Gun tn
them is to raise objections based on diff
cultes of administration. Every great and
good undertaking has difficulties, and the
way to overcome them is not to abandon
the undertaking. The approved plan for
cession OF the arid lands to the states is for
a tentative grant, to become permanent
upon performance OF certain actual irriga-
tion work on the part of tho states. This
Is sound principle and perfectly work
able as Wyoming's experience shows Pos
session Of the lands will enable the states to
recoup themselves for outlays upon surveys
construction and police work. The federal
government will get nothing for the lands
but they are worthless to 1t now, AID 1t can
well afford to be rid of their responsibility
and care. The powers that bring them under
water will impart to them all their practi-
cal value. Nothing could be clearer than
that with the different status OF land tenure
in various states, under conflicting pro-
visions Of constitutions. statutes, tax sys-
TENS, herd laws. court decisions and popular
customs, each state is better fitted to admin
lister the arid or semi-arid lands within it's
bounds than Is the federal government 1t
is feared that abuses will arise; then the
state IS close at hand TO correct them. 1t
is feared that corporations will make money;
so they will in any event, for capital that
makes large ventures will guarantee itself
profits in case Of success. We know from
experience that state courts are
apt TO make a mess OF adjudication upon
land and water rights. but one serious
source of confusion will be removed once
the lands pass into state possession.