The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1901-12-05

to pursue this policy on lines of the
broadest public interest. No reser-
voir or canal should ever be built to
satisfy personal or local interests; but
only in accordance with the advice of
trained experts, after long investiga-
ton has shown the locality where all
the conditions combine to make the
| work mest needed and fraught with
the greatest usefulness to the com
munity whole. There should be
no extravaganza, and the believers in
the need of irrigation will most bene
fit their cause by seeing to it that it is
free from the least taint of excessive
and reckless expenditure of the public
moneys.
SHOULD BE HARMONY.
Whatever the nation does for the
extension of irrigation should har-
monize with, and tend to improve,
the condition of those now living on
irrigated land. We are not at the
starting point of this development
Over two hundred millions of private
capital has already been expended in
the construction of irrigation works,
and many million acres of arid land
reclaimed. A high degree of enter
prise and ability has been shown in
the work itself; but as much cannot
be said in reser ence to the laws re-
lating thereto. The security and
value of the homes created depen
largely on the stability of titles to
water; but the majority of these rest
on the uncertain foundations of court
decisions rendered in ordinary suits
at law. With few creditable ex-
ceptions, the arid states have failed
to provide for the certain and lust
division of streams in times of scarci-
ty. Lax and uncertain laws have
made it possible to establish rights to
water in excess of actual uses or ne
cessities, and many streams have al
ready passed into private ownership.
or control equivalent to ownership.
Public Ownership is the Proper SoIu-
ton of the Water Supply Question.
Whoever controls a stream practic-
ally controls the land it renders pro
ductlve, and the doctrine of private
ownership of water apart from land
cannot prevail without causing endur-
ing wrong. The recognition of such
ownership which has been permitted
tosgrow Up in the arid regions, should
give way to more enlightened and
larger recognition of the rights of the
public in the control and disposal of
the public water supplies. Laws
founded upon conditions obtaining in
I "a
abundant to justify boarding its have
no proper application in dry coun-
try.
In 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 inseparable therefrom. Grant
ing perpetual water rights to others
than users, without compensation to
the public, is open to all the objections
which apply to giving away perpetual
franchises to the public utilities of
cities. A few of the western states
have already recognized this and have
incorporated in their constitutions
the doctrine of perpetual state owner
ship of water.
NATIONS S AID JUSTIFIED.
The benefits which have followed
the unaided development of the past
Justify the nations aid and coopera-
ton in the more difficult and import
ant work yet to be accomplished.
Laws So vitality affecting homes as
those which control the water supply
viii only be effective when they have
the sanction of the irrig ators; reforms
can only be final and satisfactory
when they come through the enlight-
eminent of the people most concerned.
The larger development which ma