The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-25

new problems with a bold and clear state
ment, which In the struggle for economic
freedom VIII prove 10 be- OF The same nm
portance as the Magma Charta and the
Declaration OF Independence have been In
securing political and social freedom, "rhe
WAFER OF an natural streams, springs and
lakes within the boundaries OF the State
are hereby declared to be the property of
the State BY the simple provision that
the right 10 water depends on its use. tina,
iand and water are inseparabe Wyoming
has been saved most OF the Utilization
States
other problems In which the political
element is an Important factor are tho
location OF storage reservoirs and forests,
Both these serve In part the same pur-
pote. OF Keeping the water from running
away from the mountains in spring foods
ana letting 1t come down gradually during
the growing season.
AS II Is now the water from the melting
Ice caps OF the Rocky mountains, instead
of being kept where IL Is needed plunges
down through the arid region in steep and
rocky channels, dry for the rest of the year,
washes away farms In Kansas and Ne
braska, breaks the levees in Mississippi
and Louisiana and finally chokes the har-
Dor at the mouth of the river by its de-
posits of silt Thus the preservation OF
deep water harbors on the gulf and of the
farms on the low lands is dependent on
iorestration OF the mountains and irriga-
ton OF the arid regions. T, is not a Sec
tlonal question. The interests of North
and South, highland and lowlaud noun
tain and plain are identical, and the prob
lens of the arid region, apparently nu-
merous, are really one. the proper control
OF water. 1t does no good to dredge out
deep water harhors in the gulf if they are
allowed to be filled UP with farms stolen
from the Northwest,
~
The land laws Of the National govern
ment are not al all applicable to the con-
ditions of the arid region. The minimum
price of s1.25 per acre is too high for
mere pasture and a small allotment is
useless. The individual settler can not
take up homestead whenever he pleases
and begin farming independently as he did
} IN the East unless his land happens to
be so situated that he can irrigate it by
! small private ditch The settlement OF
the arid region must be by colonies cor
porations and municipalities controlling
} large amount OF land and capital Co
operation instead of indivdualism must be
the leading principle in the western half
OF the United States. This will involve
considerable extension of legislative ac-
ton and the problem OF the proper utiliza-
ton of the land in each State should b.
studied and the results embodied in suita-
| BILE laws before the conditions become more
complicated. The adoption Of wise laws
now Will save an incalculable amount OF
, litigation and boodshed in the future.
Among these questions are the preserva-
ton OF forest areas properly located and
, sufficiently large, the establishment OF
storage reservoirs and the control of water
so that 1t may be utilized as completely
n as possible, the allotment of riparian lands
4 so that the open range may not be shut
out from water, the leasing of the pasture
; land in such a way that the forage may
I be preserved and both sheep and cattle
} feed in peace and quietness
> The question whether the development
7 of the arid region can best be carried out
under State or National control Is now
being holly debated. The principal argu-
ment in favor of Federal management is
the fact that the problems are to large
extent interstate and even international in
some cases. This Bear river. for example,
rises in Utah, crosses the southwest cor
ner of Wyoming, returns to Utah, returns
again to Wyoming leaves Wyoming and
enters Idaho, where 1t makes an abrupt
loop, returning again to Utah, where 1t
empties into the Great Salt lake, at a
! point but a little over 100 miles from its
There are over ESQ distinct appropriations.
i one representing an outlay of $1,000, 900,
on this river by citizens of the three States,
t yet they are without any legal protection
against loss Of their water and destruc-
: ton of their farms except the slow and
t uncertain action of the Federal courts.
h However wise may be the laws OF one State
= it does not afford complete protection, for
t rivers will flow across State lines and in
e such cases only Federal control or inter-
s state agreement will insure equity.
: The argument for Federal control Of
e important forest areas is also a strong
one for the establishment of a forest
e reserve in Colorado or Wyoming is of as
= much or more Importance 10 the people
{ of Louisiana or Texas as 1t is to the inhab-
: itants of the mountain States.
On the other hand there is natural
a and not unjustihable dislike of local gov
e eminent from Washington feeling which
y is quite as strong in the North as in the
South whenever any practical question
II comes up. Eastern men, who form the
majority in congress are always indit-
e ferent generally ignorant and sometimes
hostile in regard to the Interests OF the
:, West They do not understand the pecu-
u liar conditions OF the arid region and they
J have no desire to bring any more land
9 into competition with their own abandoned
. farms. They DO not realize that the graz
c ing land of the arid region can neither be
appropriated under the present land laws
nor remain open to be fed over and Tough
: over until it is ruined and usless.
v TEXAS has its unsold lands in its own
!, hands and its management of them VIII
be watched with interest by the Other
states to see If The cession of public lands
= to the States is wise or otherwise II ne
. public land is ceded to the several ststP'
:, their wlsest course, in the opinion OF lhe
y writer would be not TO sell it at all, but
:. 10 lease il gu long time and easy terms
. TO those who would use and improve i
), The watching and cultivation of forests
2 the preservation and Improvement OF me
d range must be by a general system o
J, im;b1ic control and not left to tne arp.
u trary action OF individual interests. Ca.uS
. men wou.d prefer definite rights et 'oN
q rental 10 the present grab" plan and th'
II ~, would receive a considerable rev
e enue hy an easier method than taxation