Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-13

the use of water to the land generally,
fully and i~nalienably.
Therefore, the question of legislation
as affecting the public domain and its
water supply resolves itself into one
simply of degree, and it is just this
question of degree which determines
how far the beneficial occupation of our
lands may be assured, and conse-
quently to what extent exactly they
may be made to add to western pros
perity
This being the case, it would appear
that right to the use Of water will be
found to dominate rights to the use of
land, and by just so much as we can in
crease the duty of our water supply, to
such a degree can we insure the devel-
opment of all those which
derive their value from the beneficial
occupation Of the land.
"And, further, that n monopoly OF
this water supply, or any assertion OF a
right thereto which would restrict its
use as against such beneficial occupa-
ton, must be opposed to the public pol
icy, and therefore properly a subject for
general legislation.
Local laws could never be of general
benefit, and radical reform was imper-
alive.
|! eff the public domain be admins
tered by public land laws, it is certainly
consistent to expect some such applica.
ton of public control to any or all OF
| the conditions which render possible Its
beneficial occupation. And since the
water supply is one of these conditions
to demand federal control and admins,
tration thereof could hardly be deemed
an extravaganza.
Federal protection, both Of the pub
lie lands, the timber thereon, and the
settler who homesteads is taken fol
granted: there Is no question as to this
there should be none as to the other.
But in order that this may be eff
fective it must at once be conceded thai
western conditions be first thoroughly
understood, and no more empirical OIL
experimental legislation be attempted
Consequently, the first step in order
should be a thorough and exhaustive
inquiry as to these conditions, and theil
bearing upon and connection with ma
tional interests. This must be the dut,
of the federal government, and it is
duty which should be discharged with
out delay. Upon the results of this in
quiry should be based those reforms il
administration which the present eco
nomical crisis demands, and such re.
forms should be radical and immediate
ITO this end it must be insisted tina
all appropriations for the necessary
purposes of investigation be sufficiently
liberal to accomplish their purpose, and
once for all must the idea be %repudiated
that these are made as a sop to quiet
western demands, or as a bride to in.
sure the passage of appropriation bills
in other interests.
But above all must it be insisted tina
the interests of the great west are ma
tional interests; that the welfare of the
commonwealth is now dependent upor
the welfare of this greater number
thereof; that nothing which tends tC
keep back the development of prosper.
ity of the country west of the Missis.
sippi can be other than detrimental tC
the inhabitants east of that river; that
everything which tends to an extension
Of irrigation interests, whether east OF
west of the Father Of Waters, means ar
addition to the material wealth of gu
| country, and an encouragement of tina
patriotic feeling which cap only exis'
where men have homes and abiding
places. And also hat first, and all the
time, the loyal west is the royal west
and that any sighting of her industries
her needs, or her people, is a policy sui.
| cidal in it's shortsightedness, and a re.
proach to the craftsmanship of an en-.
lightened age.
Irrigation legislation, as affecting
the general welfare of the west, is {
national issue. AS a national issue, w
| present it, and as a national issue we
| assert it's claim to national attention.