The Van Buren press., 1901-12-07


The government should see to it that
within its Jurisdiction this Is so and
should provide a speedy, inexpensive and
effective remedy to that end. At the same
time it must not be forgotten that our
railways are the arteries through which
the commercial lifeblood of this nation
flows. Nothing could be more foolish than
the enactment Of legislation which would
unnecessarily interfere with the develop,
ment and operation of these commercial
agencies"
Agricultural Interests.
The president cites the forest legislation
of the past and the great good OF forest
preserves to the people, ana says they VIII
inevitably be Of still greater value. Con-
TAT present the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the general land office,
the mapping and description OF their TIM
Der with the United States geological sur
vey and the preparation OF plans Tor their
conservative use with the bureau of for
estry, which is also charged with the gen
eral advancement OF practical forestry IN
the United States. These various func-
lions should be united in the bureau of
forestry, TO which they properly belorg.
The present diffusion of responsibility is
bad from every standpoint. II prevents
that effective cooperation between the
government and the men who utilize the
resources of the reserves, without which
the interests of both must suffer. The
scientific bureaus generally should be put
under the department of agriculture The
president should have by law the power
of transferring lands for use as forest re-
serves to- the department Of agriculture;
He already has such power in the case OF
lands needed by the departments OF war
and the navy"
Irrigation.
Irrigation in connection with the waste
lands OF the west is a question TO when
the president gives considerable attention,
and makes strong recommendations Tor
government assistance in retaining the
waste lands by assisting in their irrlga-
ton and the control OF water rights Wher-
ever that is possible, and of this he says:
In the arid region 1t is water, not land
Whlch measures production. The western
half Of the United States would sustain a
population greater than that Of our whole
country to-day II the waters that now run
TO waste were saved and used for irriga-
ton. The forest and water problems are
perhaps the most vital internal questions
of the United States.
In cases where natural conditions have
been restored for few years vegetation
has again carpeted the ground, birds and
deer are coming back and hundreds OF
persons, especially from the immediate
neighborhood come each summer TO enjoy
the privilege of camping. Some at least
OF the forest reserves should afford per-
petual protection to the native fauna and
flora, safe Ravens OF refuge to our rapidly
diminishing wild animals of the larger
ever-lncreasing numbers OF men and wom-
en- who have learned to find rest, health
and recreation in the splendid forests and
fiower-clad meadows of our mountains
The forest reserves should be set apart
forever for the use and benefit of our peo-
pie as whole and not sacrificed to the
shortsighted greed of a few"
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters Of the
arid region. Great storage works are nee
essary to eQuali2e the flow of streams and
TO save the flood waters, Their construc-
ton has been conclusively shown to be an
undertaking too vast for private effort.
Nor can II be best accomplished by the in
dividual states acting alone. Far-reaching
interstate problems are involved, and the
resources of single states would often be
Inadequate. 1t is properly national
function, at least in some of its features.
1t is as right for the national government
to make the streams and rivers OF the
arid region useful by engineering works
for water storage as to make useful the
rivers and harbors Of the humid region by
engineering works Of another kind. The
storing Of the floods in reservoirs at the
headwaters Of our rivers is but an en-
largement Of our present policy OF river
control under which levees are built on
the lower reaches of the same streams.
1.-THE government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs as 1t does other
public works Where their purpose is TO
regulate the flow Of streams the water
should be turned freely into the channels
in the dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural now;
1.-The reclamation and settlement or the
arid lands will enrich every portion or
our country, just as the settlement OF the
Ohio and Mississippi valleys brought pros
perity to the Atlantic states. The IN
creased demand for manufacturer art-
cles will stimulate Industrial production,
while wider home markets and the trade
of Asia will consume the larger FOOD sup
plies and effectually prevent western
competition with eastern agriculture; IN
deed, the products Of irrigation VIII be
consumed chiefly in upbuildlng local CEN
tiers Of mining and other industries when
would otherwise not come into existence
at all Our people as whole VIII pront,
for successful homemaking Is but another
name for the upbuiding OF the nation
He counsels against attempting TOO nucn
at the beginning but advises that We let
experience on small plan teaeh tne pos,
sibilities Of greater Undertakings, lie also
cites the conditions under when the set,
tiers Of the west are attempting 10 Duiid
homes on these arid lands, and says:
1.-The security and value Of the homes
titles to water but the majority OF these
rest on the uncertain foundation OF court
decisions rendered In ordinary suits al
law. With a few credltable exceptions,
the arid states have failed to provide for
the certain and just division OF streams in
times OF scarcity. Lax and uncertain laws
have made II possible TO establish rights
TO water in excess OF actual uses or ne
cessities, and many streams have already
passed into private ownership or control
Equivalent to ownership
''Whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land II renders productive. and
the doctrine OF private ownership OF water
apart from land cannot prevail without
causing enduring wrong, The recognition
OF such ownership, which has been per
mlttsd to grow up In the ar ID regions,
should give way to a more enlightened and
larger recognition OF the rights Of the pub
lie In the control and disposal Of the pub
lie water supplies, Laws founded upon
conditions obtaining In humid regions
where water is too abundant 10 Justify
boarding II, have no proper application In
dry country,
'ln the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized is that OF use
In Irrigation this right should attach to
the land reclaimed and be insoparablc
therefrom, Granting perpetual water
rights to other than users without
compensation TO the public Is open to all
the obiections which apply to giving away