The San Francisco call., 1899-10-17
WATER STORAGE.

as the California organ OF the National IrTiga-
ton Congress, says OF the coming water stor-
age convention in this city: This movement appears
TO have been conceived in error and born OF ignor
ance OF the real needs Of California and the irrigation
situation ii the West
We believe that the real need OF California and the
irrigation situation II tae West Is need OF more
water for irrigation, and that i be had quickly
possible.
The Times favors Al irrigation system undertaken
and carried out and administered BY the Federal
Government at the expense OF the national treasury
This scheme has is origin in the Territories, where
the people are accustomed 10 pray toward Washing
ton Tor what they want.
In the recent session OF the National Irrigation
Congress Al Ai:ssoula, in Montana Ex-Governor Nc
Cord OF Arizona was selected this Territorial
aspiration He IS reported IN the Times 70 this ei
tect: State ownership he opposed as being liable
20 bring about great abuses He advocated eioquenty
and warmly national system OF irrigation the
most reasonable and logical OF all systems The edu-
cation Of the people o the East Is the first thing
Be accomplished. They must be brought to under
stand the real significance Of this reclamation OF
vast empire q rleasureless possibilities No one n
California has any objection TO TINS missionary move
rent 70 convince the Eastern landowners that the
Western lands should be improved al their expense 70
the Eastern gra--aiser who often sells his crop at
less than the cost O: production, may be educated I'D
10 the point OF charging the mortgage his land 70
pay for national irrigation system which viii in
crease the product OF the Western grain-raiser Cali
tor1ia has no objection 10 such test OF rural unse
;shness But while this educational movement IS il
progress the food waters Of this State running to
waste and the land they should rrigate lies untitled
and truitless. The gentlemen who have called the
coming convention in their error and ignorance
Of the opinion that il wait for the East be edu-
Gated up TO doing something Tor Us, in the time
Qured 10 DO il California will have lost enough to
have constructed several times over the needed
vors Tor storage Il is simple economic question
Having the power 10 save this waste water and make
fruitful this waste land and make California the one
spot on earth that suffers no loss from food or
drought shall We use that power Tor our own bene-
fl OF wait for somebody TO do il for Us?
The situation OF this State IS peculiar. The other
States and Territories this side the hundrcdth
meridian which need irrigation, have certain inter
state problems which they cannot settle for them
selves. Streams head in one jurisdiction and flow
through one or more other Jurisdictions. This IS the
case with the Arkansas North Platte. Snake, Colo
rado Bear Yellowstone. Columbia, Rio Grande and
ether streams. which carry the drainage and water
the land OF more than one State The several inter
ests involved and n the case OF the Rio Grande they
are international IS well as interstate are rTeconc
able by single State action. They OF necessity i'm
pinge upon Federal authority. which must take the
seat Of judgment Al some stage OF the issues arising
in the use OF their foods OF their normal flow In
California this is not the case Our food waters are
poured from the clouds on our own mountains they
drain back 10 their source in the ocean through our
streams. The harm they DO IS to Us. Their potential
good IS tor Us and when We take i no one is de-
spoiled Il Is the opinion OF Governor McCord that
State effort will be subject 10 many abuses When
was Federal effort free from them? When was any
Government effort insured against abuses? The State
OF New York owns canal system. Il made New
York City the business and financial center Of the
continent But rs administration has never been free
from abuses. The Federal Government carries the
mails but that function has never been free from
abuses as the Star route frauds stand to testify.
After the Eastern farmer has been educated up to
spending his money 10 make the Western farmers
land fertile and the Federal Government acts as his
almoner there will be abuses. but they will not con
Germ the present generation OF men for they will BE
buried in soil so dry that i VIII nuity the hope OF
resurrection, for il won't raise anything
The Times fears that # California help herself the
West will be weakened and lis missionary effort will
wane This-s an unjustifable fear. The members OF
Congress from this State will not hold back in urg
ing any Federal irrigation policy that will help our
neighbors We do not say that such policy Is
Conceived in error and born in ignorance" for
hard words rrigate no land. We viii admit that like
faith, II IS the evidence OF things unseen the sub
stance OF things hoped for.
But California need not wait Tor those things 70
come, She can grid her loins and 90 out and fetch
them. That is what the convention Of November Ii
Is for and its deliberations the disciples OF Fed
erai irrigation bv missionary effort are invited