The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-12-06

president ShOulC nave DJ 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 Oh war
Irrigation.
Irrigation in connection with the waste !
lands OF the west is question TO which !
the president gives considerable attention, !
and makes strong recommendations lor |
government assistance In retaining the /
waste lands by assisting in their irriga- |
ton and the control of water rights wher- |
ever that is possible, and of this ne says:
In the arid region 1t Is water, not Iand, |
which measures production. The western |
half of the United States would sustain |
population greater than that OF our whole !
country Gay If the waters that now run |
to waste were saved and used Tor 1rrlSa-
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 a 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
kinds and free camping grounds for the
eVer-increasing numbers OF men and wom-
en- who have learned to find rest, health
and recreation in the splendid forests and
flower-clad meadows of our mountains.
The forest reserves should be set apart
forever for the use and benefit of our peo-
pie whole and not sacrificed to the
shortsighted greed of d few"
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters of the
arid region. Great storage works are nee
essary to equalize 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 it 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 IS right for the national government
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.
The government should construct ana
maintain these reservoirs as it does other
public works. Where their purpose is to
regulate the flow of streams the water
in the dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural flow:
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 manufactured 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
! deed, the products OF irrigation will be
| consumed chiefly in upbuilding local CEN
! tiers of mining and other industries which
| would otherwise not come into existence
! at all. Our people whole will profit,
for successful homemaking is but another
/ name for the upbuiIding of the nation
| He counsels against attempting too much
! at the beginning, but advises that we let
| experience on a small plan teach Inc pos
! sibilities of greater undertakings, He also
| cites the conditions under which the set
! homes on these arid lands, and says:
| 1.-The security and value of the homes
! created depend largely on the stability or
/ titles to water, but the majority of these
rest on the uncertain foundation of court
! decisions rendered in ordinary suits at
/ law. With a few creditable exceptions,
! the arid states have failed to provide for
| the certain and just division OF streams In
have made it possible to establish rights
| to water in excess of actual uses or ne
cessities, and many streams have already
| equivalent to ownership.
| whoever controls a stream practically
| controls the land 1t renders productive, and
! the doctrine of private ownership of water
| apart from land cannot prevail without
causing enduring wrong: The recognition
! mitted to grow up in the arid regions
| should give way TO a more enlightened and
! lie in the control and disposal of the pub
| lie water supplies Laws founded upon
where water is too abundant to justify
| boarding it, have no proper application in
dry country
I'm the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognize is that of use.
| In irrigation this right should attach to
| therefrom. Granting perpetual water
| rights to other than users without
| compensa tion TO the public is open to all
! the objections which apply to giving away
| perpe tual franchises to the public uttli-
| ties of the cities. A few of the western
| have incorporated in their constitutions
the doctrine of perpetual state ownership
| of water"
The Colonies.
Considerable attention is given the col
| onies and especially the Philippines. This
| section of the message begins by citing
| the needs of Hawaii and Porto Rico, of
! which he says:
| In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional American
| lines We do not wish a region Of large
estates titled by cheap labor: We wish a
| healthy American community of men
| All our Iegisiai:1,1 for the ISLANDS s..c.,id
| be shaped with this END in view. The well
afford the true test of the healthy devel-
| opment of the islands. The land policy
should as nearly as possible be modelled
| OF Porto Rico he says the island is thriv-
ing as never before, and is being admins
| no legislation necessary except that con-
! corning the public lands of the island.
| He calls attention to the fact that in
| Cuba the independent government of the
| island will soon be in control, and in the
| same connection urges strongly the need
| nation upon which subject he says:
| 'In the case of Cuba there are weighty
reasons of morality and of national inter
| est why the policy should be held 10 have
| a peculiar application, and most earnest
| " ask your attention to the wisdom indeed
| to the vital need, of providing for a sub
| stantial reduction in the tariff duties on
| Cuban imports into the United States.
Cuba has in her constitution affirmed what
| we desired that she should stand in inter
| national matters in closer and more friend
| " relations with US than with any other
! power, and we are bound by every consid-
| Grafton of honor and expediency to pass
! commercial measures in the interest of
| her material well being"
! For the Philippines he recommends much
! in the way of legislation, but again coun-
| sells caution that we go neither too far nor
| with too great haste. He says: I'VE hope
! to make our administrati ton of the islands
| honorable to our nation by making 1t of the
highest benefit to the FilipinoS themselves,
and as an earnest of what we intend to do
| Already a greater measure of material
! prosperity and sof governmental honesty
| and efficiency has been attained in the
| Philippines than ever before in their his
tory"
He says we do not desire to do for the
| islanders merely what has elsewhere been
| To- To- tronic neopIes NV even fhe hest
| foreign governments. We hope to do for
| them what has never before been done for
any people of the tropics-to make them
| fit for self-government after the fashion of
| the really free nations"
! But the idea of the president is that we
! cannot leave the islands at this time, of
| which he says: ITO leave the islands at
| this time would mean that they would
fan into a weller of murderOus anarchy.
| Such a desertion of duty our part
| would be a crime against humanity"
| But he believes sufficient progress has
been made along the lines under which We
have been working in the Islands to war
! rant in passing new legislation, but in
| this connection he urges the need of eau
ton. He believes the time has come when
/ industries which islands