New-York tribune., 1901-12-04

and Territories in such maner as Will elidoie ''0
| people in the local communities to hep tnen1-
selves and will stimulate needed reforms III 'ie
| S+a+a laws and regulations governing irrigation
| The reclamation and settlement of the arid ianos
will enrich every portion of our country just aS
the settlement Of the Ohio and MISSISSIPPI VdiiesS
| brought prosperity the Atlantic States. Inc m
creased demand for manufactured articles WI"
| stimulate industrial production while wider home
| markets and the trade of Asia Will consume the
larger food supplies and effectualiy prevent west
| ern competition with Eastern agriculture iloeeu
tho nroducts of irrigation will be consumed chiefly
| IN ,nhuidfng local centres of mining and other
Industries. which would otherwise not come INTO
existence at all. our people as whole Will pront
! for successful home making is but another name
1 for the upbuilding of the nation.
| The necessary foundation has already been laid
for the inaugura ton of the policy just described
| # would be unwfse begin by doing too much
for great deal will doubtless he learned ooth as
| 70 what can and Irhat cannot he safely attempteu
hv the early efforts. which must or necessity De
party experimental in character At the very be-
| Ginning the government should make clear. Deyond
shadow of doubt its intention to pursue this policy
on lines of the broadest public interest NO reser-
voir or canal should be built to satisfy sehsh
personal local interests, but only IN accordance
with the advice of trained experts. after long In
yestisation has shown the locality Where ali the
conditions combine to make the work most needed
and fraught with the greatest usefulness 10 the
| community whole. There should De no eA
trayaeance and believers in the need or irrisa
tton will most benefit their cause by seeing to 1t
that it is free from the least tafnt of excessive or
reckless expenditure Of the public moneys
WATER CONTROL.
| Whatever the nation does for the extension OF
irrigation should harmonze with ana tend 10 I'M
nrove the condition of those living on irrigated
land We are not at the starting point OF this oe-
| ,-e1onn,ent Over two hundred millions of private
captaI has already been expended IN the con-
struction of irrigation works. and many Hiiilioh
| acres of arid land reclaimed. A high degree OF
enterprise and ability has been shown IN the WORK
itself. but as much cannot be said in reference TO
tho laws relating thereto. The security and Vaiue
Of the homes created depend largely on the staoty
of titles to water, but the majority OF THESE rest
on the uncertain foundation of court decisions
rendered in ordinary suits at law. with fe"
credtable exceptions. the arid States have faeo 10
nrovde for the certain and just division OF streams
in times of scarcity. Lax and uncertain laws
have made it possible to establish rights to water
in excess of actual necessities. and many
streams have already passed into private owner
shin. or a control equivalent to ownership.
Whoever controls 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 Inc
recognition of such ownership which has been
permtted grow up in the arid regions, shouid
give wav TO more enlightened and larger recogni-
ton the rights of the public in the contro ana
disnosaI of the public water supplies. Laws found
ed upon conditions obtaining in humid regions.
where water abundant to justify boarding
It, have proper application in dry country
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.. Granting perpetual
water rights to others than users without COM
pensaticn the public. is open TO all the oojec-
tions which apply 20 giving away perpetual fran
chises to the public utilities of cities few of the
Western States have already recognized this, and
have incorporated in their constitutions the doc
trne OF perpetual State ownership of water
The benefits which have followed the unaided de-
veIonuent of the past Justify the nations aid and
co-operation in the more difficult and important
work yet to be accomplished Laws so vitaHy
affecting homes those which control the water
supply will only be effective when they have the
sanction of the irrgators; reforms can only ne
final and satisfactory when they come through the
enlightenment OF the people most concerned The
larger development which national aid insures
should, however awaken In every arid state the
determination TO make its irrigation system equal
In Justice and effectiveness that Of any country in
the civilized world Nothing could be more unwIse
than for isolated communities to continue to learn
everything expermentally, instead OF prohting ny
what is already known elsewhere. We are dealing
with a new and momentous question. in the preg-
nant years while institutions are forming. and
what we do will affect not only the present but
future generations.
Our aim should be not simply TO reclaim the
largest area of land and provide homes for the
largest number Of people but 10 create for this new
Industry the best possible social and industrial
conditions: and this requires that we not only
understand the existing situation, but avail our
selves of the best experience of the time In the
solution of its problems. a careful study should
be made both by the nation and the States, of the
irritation laws and conditions here and abroad.
Ultimately VIII probably be necessary for the
nation to cooperate with the several arid States
in proportion these States by their legislation
and administration show themselves fit to
ceve 1t.