Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from page 9,

Continued from paSt ~
soupr. IT'S urenuon 10 pursue tr.s pohcy
IN lines OF the broadest public interest.
No reservoir or canal should ever be bui!t
10 satisfy selfish personal or local inter-
ests. but only in accordance with the ad-
vice of trained experts after long 1nVest-
ration 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 .
whole. There should be no extravagance.
snd the believers in the need of irriga-
tion will most benefit their cause by see
ing 10 It that II Is free from the least
faint of excessive or reckless expenditure
OF the public moneys.
Irrigation Laws.
Whatever the nation does for the extern
sion of irrigation should harmonfze with
and tend to improve the condition OF
those now living on irrigated land. We
are not at the starting point of this de-
velopment Over two hundred millions Of
private ca pital has already been expended
in the construction OF irrigation works
and many million acres OF arid land re-
claimed. A high degree Of enterprise and
ability has been shown in the work itself
but as much cannot be said in reference
to the laws relating thereto. The securi-
~ and value of the homes created depend
largely on the stability OF titles to water.
but the majority of these rest on the un-
certain foundation of court decisions rem
dered 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 times OF search
ty. 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 int"
private ownership or a control equivalent
TO ownership.
Whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land it renders productive
and the doctrine OF private ownership or
water apart from land cannot prevail
without causing enduring wrong. The rec
ognition Of such ownership. which has
been permitted To grow up in the arid
regions. should give way To a more en-
lightened and larger recognition Of the
rights OF the public in the control and
disposal Of the public wafer supplies
Laws founded upon conditions obtaining
In humid regions. where water is too
abundant to Justify boarding IT, have no
proper applca ton in a dry country.
The Only Right to Water.
In the arid states the only right to va
ter which should be recognized is thar OF
use. In irrigation this right should attach
to the land reclaimed and he insepardble
therefrom. Granting perpetual water
rights to others than users without COM
pensation to the public is open TO al the
objections which apply TO giving away
perpetual franchises to the public utilities
uf cities. \ few OF the western states
have already recognized this and have in
corporated in their constitutions the doe
trine Of perpetual state ownership of Wa
ter.
The benefits which have followed the
unaided development Of the past justify
the nations aid and cooperation in the
more difncult and important work Vet to
he accomplished. Laws go vitally affect
ing homes those which control the WA
ter supply will only be effective when
they have the sanction OF the irriga tors;
reforms can only be final and satisfa ctory
when they come through the cnlighten-
mcnt OF the people most concerned. The
larger development which national aid in
sures Should. however awaken In every
arid state the determination to make its
irrigation system equal in justice and ef
fectiveness that of any country in the civ
iized world. Nothing could be more TN
wise than for isolated communities to
continue to learn everything experiment
tally instead OF profting by what is al
ready known elsewhere. We are dealing
with new and momentous question in
the pregnant years while institutions are
forming and what we do will affect not
Our aim should be not simply to reclaim
the largest area of land and provide
homes for the largest number Of people
hut TO create for this new industry the
best possible social and Industrial condi-
tons. and this requires that we not only
understand the existing situation. b;::
avail ourselves of the best experience Of
the time in the solution of it's problems.
A careful study should be made both by
the nation and the states of the irrigation
laws and conditions here and abroad
Ultimately 1t will probably be necessary
for the nation to cooperate with the sew
eral arid states in proportion as these
states by their legislation and administra-
tion show themselves fit to receive it.
Hawaii and Porto Rico.
In Hawaii our aim must he to develop
the territory on the traditional American
lines. We do not wish region of large
estates TILED by cheap labor. We wish n
healthy American community of men
who themselves till the farms they own.
All our legislation for the isla nds should
he shaped with this end in view. The well
being OF the average homemaker must
afford the true test of the healthy devel-
opmcnt OF the islands. The land policy
should as nearly as possible be modelled
on our homestead system.
IT is n pleasure to say that IL is hardly
IftsiS IIetvSSiEN 10 report as 10 IOrtO fSIDO
than as to any state or territory within
our Contiuental limits. The island is
thriving as never before, ana it is being
administered efficiently and honestly. Its
people are now enjoying liberty and order
under the protection of the United States
and upon this fact We congratulate them
and ourselves Their material welfa ra
must be rs carefully and jealouSlv consid-
cred IS the welfare Of any other portion
Of our country. We have given them the
great gift OF free access for their proc. Icts
TO the markets of the United States | -;
the attention OF the congress 10 the need
OF legislation concerning the public lands
of Porto Rico.
CubR aud the Philippines.
In Cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the independent govern
ment of Ike island upon a firm footing
that before the present session OF the
congress closes this will be an accomplish
ed fact Cuba viii then start as her own
mistress and to the beautiful Queen OF
the Antilles she unfolds this new mage
OF her destiny we extend our heartiest
greetings and good wishes Elsewhere /
have discussed the question of recinroei-
~ In the ca Sc of Cuba however Their.
are wcishty reasons OF morality and Of
national interest why the policy should h,
held to have peculiar applica ton, and
most earnestly ask your attention to th.
wisdom ipla..I To ". ,-t..