The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-09
WATER STORAGE POLICY.

n last the Escondido Times has made state
I \ ment OF what the Federal irrigators expect 20
accomplish. 1t says that Governor McCord
OF Arizona said Missoula: Those who say that it
is idle to expect that Congress will in this or the
next generation, adopt system OF national irriga-
ton are either ignorant or dishonest. They should
know that Congress its last session came very near
approprating SCI 5000 to begin work upon national
system OF irrigation for the arid West and that the
leaders agreed with Senators Warren and Carter that
at least that should be appropriated by the next
Congress if they would consent let the matter go
ever"
Therein we have the measure OF what IS promised
by the next Congress- There nine States and
Territories concerned together in this and the
sum promised will amount to less than $4,000 each
The Federal rrgators insist that the proposed work
in California will cost so many millions that the State
cannot afford it. For illustration let put the cost
at $4,000 ooo At the Of $4,000 year men now
living and their descendants for twelve genera
tons will have interest in the result. The Times
insists that system OF equitable distribution of the
stored water must precede storage 1t puts this as
imperative" and we admit it. But how is the Fed
eral Government to arrange that system within a
State? Under what grant OF power to Congress can
it be done? What kind OF system will be2 Will
it involve the construction by the Federal Govern
OF canals and bitches to carry the water to the
head gates of every user?
! The Times says that: Federal irrigation means
! the reclamation and settlement OF the millions OF
of arid public lands by the construction by the
Government itself OF the irrigation works necessary
to reclaim them the purchase by the er OF the soil
! OF Government land at Government price plus the
actual pro expense OF the reclamation OF the land
and the water distribution" This may we'll apply
to the States and Territories where the land is vet
part OF the public domain But in California the land
that is suffering for a constant supply lies in the
valleys OF Southern California and in the valleys
OF the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers
and the rim OF those valleys in the foothills
Where, within those areas, the millions of acres
of public land that be made fruitful by water and
sold with the OF the supply added to the Govern
nent price? The need OF California is water TO rri-
gate constantly, in all years dry, the land now
! in private ownership, which the Government has
already sold. Here is just where the Federal idea
perhaps on the Colorado Desert and no one opposes
| its operation there wherever it will apply The
point to the whole matter is that the policy of Fed
eral irrigation has for its sole reason the reca-
nation of Government lands Federal policy 10
make them valuable and secure their sale and settle
nent In that view of it alone can Congress be asked
interfere. That policy may be entered upon at any
time and perhaps ought to be The argument for it
is the same that warrants the river and harbor ap-
preparation for securing the navgabilty OF mean
dered streams, and to keep harbors open for deep