, 1901-12-13

and the land desirable, there should
be no difficulty in enIisting abundant
capital in this kind Of investment.
From the settlers standpoint also
the returns in that section are also en-
couraging. Oats, which yield 40 bush
els per acre, We're selling at S1.2O per
hundred pounds, a figure which indi-
Gates an early liquidation of all debts
assumed for water rights.
In considering this and other large
projects now under way it appears
that many of the causes which opera
ted against the ucces of the earlier
schemes have bee removed or over.
come, but as an offset to the advantage
thus gained, it should not be lost sight
OF that the available water supply has
been considerably reduced. The state,
however, still offers many opportuni-
ties for which the natural and unas-
sisted flow of he stream will furnish
an adequate supply but each should
receive a careful investigation before
construction is undertaken.
The ordinary flow of the streams,
however, does not comprise all of our
water assets by any means, for when
these are all utilized there will still re-
main a large and unappropriated sur
plus in the annual spring floods. Some
OF the most vital questions of the day
are connected with the conservation
II use of these waters, and while the
total volume is not known, estimates
have been made which show the i'm.
portance to the west, of undertaking
their development. AS an indication
of what MAJ one day be accomplished
in Wyoming, it may be stated that the
flood waters of Green river alone, as
determined by accurate measure
ments,, will fully reclaim one million.
two hundred thousand acres of land.
The same class of waters now passing
out of the state from the North Platte
water shed. exclusive of the Laramie
liver drainage. will fully reclaim one
million. two hundred and forty-ive
thousand acres of land; or from both
streams there is now going to waste
sufficient water to reclaim in round
numbers. four thousand square miles.
The active interest of the Wyoming
people cannot be o strongly or too
early enlisted in the cause of seCur-
ing help to put this enormous power
for good into harness and employing
it in creating new wealth. new homes
and increased population for the state
The floods must be held back until
we are ready to use them. out how
shall this be secured?
Private capital has. at various times
and in different locations been engag-
ed in this work but it is much to be
regretted that the history of these en-
terprises is not sue as to encourage
future Investments. We seem, in fact,
to have arrived at a point in our de-
velopment where at least fifty million
acres of the arid west must remain I'M
reclaimed unless public assistance is
invoked and rendered.
Shall such help be state or national?
The arid states support by taxation
on about one-tenth the aSSessable
wealth. governments not only as COM
plete. in all essentials. but as eXpen-
sive as the states east of the Missouri
river having populations of from two
to six millions each. Many of these
arid states are prevented by cOnstltu-
tional provisions from raising revenue
above certain limits already reached
annually in making provision for state
expenses. Sc that there is no possible
way to raise means for building irri-
CATION works by the states themselves.
Wyoming is a conspicuous example of
this kind. and we are forced to the con-
cluSion that if our floods are to be
saved the general government must
enc a hand. If this much be granted
our next work should consist in deter
mining the channels along which our
greatest chances for success would lie.
If we are to profit by past experience
success is most likely to be secured
along lines involving the least posi-
BILE interference with present economi-
cal and commercial conditions. which
create no appreciate disturbance in
the operations of government depart
ments and carry no menace to inter-
ests not directly identified with the pur-
pose.
1t is believed that the net proceeds
from the sale of public lands will an
swer all these requirements and that
they are ample in mount. The ex-
penditure of this money involves
neither tax nor tribute upon the humid
farmer. and in its operation merely re-
turns to the sections whence obtained
for the further development of those
sections, what would otherwise become
so small an addition to II national
surplus as not to be worth consider
ing. The net proceeds from the sale
of public lands vas 81, 500. 900 for the
fiscal ear ending June Goth, 1900, and
$3.15S, 900 for the ear ending June
30th, 1901. Wyoming's share of the
latter FUND would have been over a
quarter of a million dollars.
Granting that the nation must furn-
ish the money there is still some di-
vergence of opinion as to the authori-
ty which should select the sites and
build these reservoirs. | am n of
those who hold hat state officials
should be intrusted with it for the
eason that | believe that state officers
are just as honest and in every way as
capable as any that can De found any
where. In addition to this, state lrri-
cation officers are especially fitted
through long experience and familiari-
ty with practical irrigation problems
to undertake this work. In their of.
ices alone. are found that informa,
ton which determines where a reser-
voir should be built to &c those
highest benefits which alone render
these undertakings proper and justi-
fable.
Important, however, as the control
of location and construction may be
to the west, continued state control
over the diversion and appropriation
of water to be rendered available is
OF vastly greater concern, ana IL is
greatly to be regretted that even
among the advocates of government
aid. a few may be found who claim
that government control should fol
low government construction. 1t is a
matter for felicitation however that
this class is small, and that it is not
found in the arid region. Had the con
troll over irrigation waters always been
eYerciSed by the payernment the wis.