Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-12

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 eff
fort. Nor can it be best accomplished by
the individual states acting alone. Far
reaching interstate problems are involved
and the resources Of single states would
often be Inadequate.
q = . . . . . . = q 80 - 80
. 1t Is properly a national function, .
q at least in some of its features 1t .
. Is as right for the national govern =
q ment to make the streams and rivers
q of the arid region useful by engineer =
q ing works for water storage as to y
q make useful the rivers and harbors
q Of the humid region by engineering
q works Of another kind. 3
<\<>% . ~ <>%%>
The storing of the floods III reservoirs
at the head waters of our rivers is but
an enlargement of our present policy of
river control under which levees are
built on the lower reaches of the same
streams.
The government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs as it does other
public works. Where their purpose is to
regulate the flow Of the 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 flow.
The reclamation of the unsettled arid
public lands presents different problem.
Here it is not enough to regulate the flow
of streams. The object Of the government
is to dispose of the land to settlers who
will build homes upon it. To accomplish
this object water must be brought within
their reach.
The pioneer settlers on the arid public
domain chose their homes along streams
from which they could themselves divert
the water to reclaim their holdings. Such
opportunities are practically gone. There
remain, however, vast areas of public
land which can be made available for
homestead ettlement, but only by reser-
voirs and main line canals impracticable
for private enterprise.
. These irrigation works should be =
j q built by the national government. q
. = 80 . q = - . . q = = = .
The lands reclaimed by them should be
| reserved by the government for actual
settlers, and the cost of construction
land reclaimed. The distribution of the
water, the division of the streams among
irrigators, should be left to the settlers
, themselves in conformity with state laws
and without interference with those laws
or with vested rights. The policy of the
national government should be to aid
irrigation in the several states and terri
tories in such manner as will enable the,
people in the local communities to help
themselves and as will stimulate needed
reforms in the state laws and regulations
governing irrigation.
. The reclamation and settlement of q
q the arid lands will enrich every por- q
. ton of our country, just as the set q
q Element of the Ohio and Mississippi q
= valleys brought prosperity to the At .
q lantic states. .
4
The increased demand for manufa ctured
articles will stimulate industrial produc-
ton, while wider home markets and the
trade Of Asia will consume the larger
food supplies and effectually prevent
Western competition with Eastern agri-
culture. Indeed the products of irriga-
tlen will be consumed chiefly in upbuild-
ing local centers of mining and other in
dustries which would otherwise not come
into existence at all. Our people as a
whole will profit, for successful home
making is but another>name for the up
building of the nation.
The necessary foundation has already
been laid for the Inauguration of the poll
cy just described. 1t would be unwise to
begin by doing too much, for great deal
Will doubtless be learned, both as to what
can and what cannot be safely attempted
by the early efforts, which must of neces-
slty be partly experimental in character
At the very beginning the government
should make clear, beyond shadow of
doubt, Its intention to pursue this policy
on lines of the broadcast public interest.
No reservoir or canal should ever be built
to satisfy selfish personal or local inter-
ests, but only In accordance with the adj
vice of trained experts after long investi-
cation has shown the locality where all
the conditions combine to make the work
most needed and fraught with the great
est usefulness to the community as a
yH,N14 rI,~,
and the believers. in the need of irriga-
ton will most benefit their cause by sec
ing to it that it is free from the least
faint of excessive or reckless expenditure
OF the public moneys.
- . 80 q . q q q . >>>>>%
q Whatever the nation does for the q
q extension of irrigation should har- q
q monize with and tend to improve the .
q condition of those now living on irri- q
q gated land. q
. q . 80 q q q . . 80 q q . ~
We are not at the starting point of this
development Over two hundred millions
OF private capital has already been eX-
pended in the construction of irrigation
works and many million acres of arid
land reclaimed. high degree of enter
prise and ability has been shown in the
work itself but as much cannot be said
in reference to the laws relating there
to. The security and value of the homes
created depend largely on the stability of
titles to water, but the majority of these
rest, on the uncertain foundation of court
decisions rendered in ordinary suits at
law With n few creditable exceptions,
tho arid states have failed to provide
for the certain and just division OF
streams In times of scarcity. Lax and
uncertain laws have made 1t possible
to establish rights to water In excess
OF actual uses or necessities, and many
streams have already passed into private
ownership or a control equivalent to OWN
ership.
Whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land 1t renders productive.