The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-03

lie domain chose their homes along
streams from which they could them
selves divert the water to reclaim their
holdings. Such opportunities are prac-
tlcally gone. There remain, however
vast areas of public land which can be
made available for homestead settle
ment, but only by reservoirs and main
line canals impra C icable for private en-
terprise. These irrigation works should
be built by the national government.
The lands reclaimed by them should
be reserved by the government for
actual settlers, and the cost of construc-
ton should SO far possible be repaid
by the 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 sew
eral states and territories in such man
ner 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.
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The reclamation and settlement of the
arid lands win enrich every portion of
our country, just as the settlement of
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys
statas rb pl9SpTe.y 10 .ne AZ A.lanI,c
ufactured articles will stimulate in
dustrial production while wider home
markets and the trade of Asia will con-
sumo the larger food supplies and effec-
tually prevent western competition with
eastern agriculture. Indeed, the prod
ucts of irrigation will be consumed
chiefly in upbuilding local centers of
mining and other industries, which
would otherwise not come into exist
ence at all. Our people as a whole will
profit, for successful home-making is
but another name for the upbuilding of
the nation.
The necessary foundation has already
been laid for the inauguration of the
policy just described 1t would be I'M
wise 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 necessity be part
1y 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 personal or local inter
ests; but only in accordance with the
advice of trained experts, after long in
vestigation has shown the locality
where all the conditions combine to
make the work most needed and
fraught with the greatest usefulness to
the community a whole. There
should be no 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
the public moneys
SHOULD BE HARMONY.
Whatever the nation does for the ex-
tension of irrigation should harmonic
with, and tend to improve, the condi-
ton of those now living on irrigated
land We are not at the starting point
of this development. Over two hundred
millions of private capital has already
been expended in the construction of
irrigation works, and many million
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 the
laws relating thereto. The security
and value of the homes created depend
largely 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 a few creditable exceptions |
the arid states have failed to provide |
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 uses or necessities, and many |
streams have already passed into pri- |
vate ownership, or a control equivalent |
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