The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-16

eral Government for Flood Pro.
lection and to Save for Use In
Aid of Navigation and Irriga-
ton the Flood Waters Which
Now Run to Waste.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15.-The
first step in the solution of the problem
of flood water storage and distributor
in California was taken tonight, Wher
| the convention at Metropolitan Temple
adopted the platform agreed upon by
majority of it's Committee on Resolu-
| tions The minority in that committee
agreed with all the findings of the ma
jority except that one providing for the
| leasing of public grazing lands.
The platform as adopted provides fol
a permanent organization to be known
as 1.-The California Water and Forest
Association" it's purpose being sci
forth as follows:
Whereas, The work Of retaining the
extensive arid public and private do
main of the State of California is one
of great magnitude, requiring eventu-
ally the expenditure of millions OF
money and the work of very many
years of time; and
, Whereas, There is great need of ar
extensive preliminary public education.
al work among the people of the State
! in laying solid the foundation of this
great State development, in order thai
we may be able to command the united
and intelligent cooperation of all the
people; and
| Whereas, The conservation and eco
nomical distribution of the waters OF
| the State is essential to human habita-
ton of the arid districts to reasonable
prosperity of the semi-arid districts
and to the full development of the
humid districts, including the conserva-
| ton of forests.
| To the attainment of this end this
convention proposes the establishment
of a permanent society, whose member
ship shall come from all parts of the
State, which may include as subordi-
mates or by amalgamatiOn all existing
societies organized for these purposes
and which shall be endowed by mem
| bership fees, the contribution of citi-
zens and public bodies, with a revenue
ample for it's purposes. The objects OF
such association shall be as follows:
We favor the preservation and de-
velopment of our natural resources by
the construction of storage reservoirs
by the Federal Government for flood
! protection, and to save for use in aid
| of navigation and irrigation the flood
waters which now run to waste and
| cause overflow and destruction.
| We favor the construction by the
Federal Government of storage reser-
voirs and irrigation works wherever
necessary, and furnish water for the
reclamation and actual settlement OF
the arid public lands.
| We favor the leasing of the public
grazing lands, at nominal rental in
| limited areas to settlers farming ad-
| jacent lands, the revenue from rentals
| to go to the States and Territories
wherein the lands are situated for irri-
cation development; leases to be sub
| ject to right of reclamation by irriga-
| ton and of settlement of lands actually
| cultivated title of land to remain in
Federal Government until actual set
tlement; the leasing of said lands to be
under the control of States where sit
uated, and the revenues arising there
from to be expended by the States un-
der the direction of their State Engi-
neering Bureaus; provided, that in any
State having no engineering bureau the
Federal Government may lease the
/ lands and expend the revenue in the
construction of irrigation works in that
State.
We urge upon the Congress of the
United States the importance of carry
ing into full effect the legislation en-
acted, with a view to securing the
broadcast and most effective action by
the National Government for the pres
ervation and re-forestation of the forest
lands of our country, and the resulting
conservation of our timber and water
supplies, and systematic utilization OF
our numbering resources.
! We favor the establishment of a ma
tional commission for the equitable ad-
ljustment of all differences arising from
the appropriation and use of the waters
of the interstate rivers.
| We desire and urge upon the Ma
tional Government that the public for
ests at and adjacent to the watersheds
of our streams be reserved as rapidly as
possible, and that pending such action
no forest lands be leased except from
| year to year.
| The State to assume such control OF
the public lands as may be delegated to
it by the Federal Government, and ex-
pend the revenues under the direction
of State Engineer to be provided fol
by law, supplementing the funds re-
ceived from Federal sources by suct
appropriations of its own for the stor.
age of flood waters as may be deemed
advisable as to drainage basin, after
due investigation and report by tho
State Engineer, which report shall show
the cost of the proposed improvement
the storage capacity to be created: the
average duty of water in the irrigation
basin; the number of acres to be irrf.
gated as the result of storage; the pres
ent ownership of and value of such
acreage; what such lands coulc
afford to pay for water delivered
thereon; what power would be devel
oped by the proposed Improvement, and
the purposes for which and the prices
at which such power could be sold.
| The society to be thus formed to worl