The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
est conservation is therefore an essential
condition OF water conservation.
National Function

National Function.
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters of the
arid region. Great storage works are
| necessary to equalize the flow OF streams
and to save the food waters Their con-
struction has been conclusively shown
to be an undertaking too vast for private
effort. Nor can it be best accomplished
by the individual States actitg alone.
Far-reaching interstate problems are in
| volved and the resources Of single States
would often be Inadequate. 1t is properly
J. national function, at least in some OF
its features. It is as right for the Ma
tional Government to make the streams
| and rivers of the arid region use1ut 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 foods
in reservoirs at the lleadwaters Of our
rivers is but an enlargement OF our pres
ent policy Of river control, under which
levels are built on the lower, reaches OF
the same streams.
Tho 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
should be turned freely into the chan
nels in the dry season to take the same
| course under the same laws as the natu-
raj flow.
The reclamation of the unsettled arid
public lands presents a different prob
| lem 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 mace available
| for homestead settlement, but only by
| reservoirs and mainline canals imprac-
| ticab1e for private enterprise. These lr-
| rigation works should be built by the
| National Government. The lands re-
! claimed by them should be reserved by
| the Government for actual settlers. and
| the cost of construction Should, so far
| as possible, be repaid by the land re-
claimed This distribution OF the water,
the division Of the streams among irri-
| gators, 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 am
| Territories in such manner as VIII en-
| able the people in. the local communities
to help themselves, and as Will stimuiaee
| needed reforms in the State laws ira
| regulations governing irrigation
Foundation Already Laid.
The reclamation and settlement Of the
arid lands will enrich every portion OF
orr country. lust as the settlement CT
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys brois 1t
prosperity to the Atlantic States. TIE
increased demand for manufactured ar
ticles will stimulate industrial prod''c-
ton while wider home markets ana NE
trade of asia will consume the larger
food supplies and effectually prevent
Western competition with Eastern "sfl-
culture Indeed, the products CT lrrlga-
ton 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
whole, will profit, for successful nome
making is but another name Tor the up
building of the nation.
The necessary foundation has '>'reaoy
been laid for the Inauguration OF the
policy Just described. It would be unwise
to begin W doing too much dor a great
deal will doubtless be learned, both as
to what can and what cannot be safely
attempted, by the early efforts, Wnlch
must of necessity 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 broadest pub
lie interest. No reservoir or canal should
ever be built to satisfy selfish, personal
or local interests; but only in accordance
with the advice of trained experts, after
long investigation, has shown the local
ity where all the conditions combine TO
make the work most needed and fraught
with the greatest usefulness to the COM
nlunity as a whole. There should be ! o
extravaganza, and the believers in the
need of irrigation will most benefit their
cause by seeing to it that it IS free from
the least faint of excessive or reckless
expenditure of the public moneys.