The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-11-29

scientific bureaus generally should be put
Z under the department Of agriculture The
president should have by law the power
/ OF transferring lands for use as forest re-
serves to the department OF agrieultuFe:
He already has such power in the case OF
lands needed BY the departments Of war
Irrigation.
Irrigation in connection with the waste
] lands Of the west is a question TO which
/ the president gives considerable attenuon,
and makes strong recommendations Tor
government assistance in retaining the
{ waste lanes BY assisting IN their lrriga-
ton and the control OF water rights Nher-
ever that is possible, and of this he says
In the arid region il is water, not land,
! which measures production. The western
/ half Of the United States would sustain a
I population greater than that OF our whole
/ country to-day II the waters that now run
/ 70 waste were saved and used for irriga-
| tion. The forest and water problems are
\ perhaps the most vital internal questions
| OF the United States.
In cases where natural conditions have
| been restored for a few years vegetation
has again carpeted the ground, birds and
| deer are coming back, and hundreds of
( persons, especially from the immediate
! the privilege OF camping. Some at least
/ or the forest reserves should afford per-
! Pelual protection to the native fauna and
4 norai safe havens of refuge to our rapidly
/ diminishing wild animals of the larger
l kinds and free camping grounds for the
1 eVer-lncreasing numbers OF men and wom-
1 en- who have learned TO find rest, health
\ and recreation in the splendid forests and
/ hower-clad meadows Of our mountains
| The forest reserves should be set apart
| forever for the use and benefit Of our peo-
\ pie as whole and not sacrificed to the
| shortsighted greed of q few"
| The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters of the
arid region. Great storage works are nee
| eSsary to equalize the flow of streams and
\ TO save the flood waters. Their construc-
| ton has been conclusively shown to be an
undertaking too vast for private effort.
| Nor can II be best accomplished by the in
! diVidual states acting alone. Far-reaching
interstate problems are involved, and the
resources Of single states would often be
inadequate. 1t is properly a national
function, at least in some of its features,
It is as right for the national government
to make the streams and rivers of the
arid region useful 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 floods in reservoirs at the
headwaters of our rivers is but an en-
largement of our present policy of river
| control under which levees are built on
the lower reaches of the same streams
THE government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs as 1t does other
public works. Where their purpose is to
regulate the flow of streams the water
should be turned freely into the channels
in the dry season to take the same course
under the same laws as the natural flow.
The reclamation and settlement of the
arid lands will enrich every portion of
our country, just as the settlement of the
Ohio and Mississippi valleys brought pros
perity to the Atlantic states The in
creased demand for manufactured arti-
cles will stimulate industrial production,
while wider home markets and the trade
of Asia will consume the larger food sup
plies and effectually prevent western
competition with eastern agriculture. In
deed, the products of irrigation Will be
consumed chiefly in upbunding local CEN
ters Of mining and other industries which
would otherwise not come into existence
at ALL Our people as whole will profit,
for successful homemaking is but another
name for the upbuilding of the nation"
He counsels against attempting too much
at the beginning but advises that we let
experience on a small plan teach the pos
sibilities of greater undertakings. tie also
cites the conditions under which the SCI SET,
tiers of the west are attempting TO bulld
homes on these arid lands, and says;
THE security and value Of the homes
created depend largely on 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 credttable 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 1t possible to establish rights
to water In excess of actual uses or me-
cessities, and many streams. have already
passed into private ownership or a control
equivalent to ownership.
'Whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land IL renders productive, and
the doctrine OF private ownership of water
apart from land cannot prevail without
causing enduring wrong. The recognition
OF such ownership, which has been per-
mitted TO grow up In the arid regions,
should give way to more enlightened and |
larger recognition OF the rights of the pub
lie in the control and disposal of the pub |
lie water supplies. Laws founded upon
conditions obtaining IN humid regions,
where water is too abundant to justify |
boarding IT, have no proper application in
a dry country.
TN 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 other than users without |
TO the public is open to all |
perpetual franchises TO the public utili- /
ties of the cities. A few of the western /
states have already recognized this and /
have Incorporated In their constitutions |
of water"
The Colonies.
Considerable attention is given the col
ones, and especially the Philippines This
section of the mes sage begins by citing
the needs Of Hawaii and Porto Rico, Of
which he says
I'm Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional American
estates titled by cheap labor. We wish a
healthy American community Of men
who themselves till the farms they own,
All our legislation for the islands should
be shaped with this end in view The we'll
being of the average homemaker must
afford the true test of the healthy devel-
opment of the islands, The land policy
should as nearly as possible be modelled
on our homestead system"
OF Porto Rico he says the island is thriv-
ing as never before, and is being admins
tered efficiently and honestly. He deems
no legislation necessary except that con-
corning the public lands OF the island.
He calls attention to the fact that In
Cuba the independent government Of the
island will soon be in control and In the
same connection urges strongly the need
Of reciprocal trade relations with the new
nation. upon which subject he says:
I'm the case of Cuba there are weighty
reasons of morality and Of national inter-
sst why the policy. should be held TO have
a peculiar application, and / most earnest
y ask your attention to the wisdom, indeed
q the vital need, of providing for a sub
stantial reduction in the tariff duties on
Cuban imports into the United States
Cuba has III her constitution affirmed what
VIC desired that she should stand in inter-
national matters in closer and more friend
N relations with US than with any other |
power and we are bound by every consid- |
sration of honor and expediency to pass
commercial measures In the interest of |
Ter material well being"
For the Philippines he recommends much
n the way Of legislation, but again coun-
;els caution that we 60 neither too far nor
With too great haste. He says I'VE hone
10 make our administration OF the islands
honorable to our nation by making II Of the !
.ttx.r4 hawaii N thu Jfi1fnfsCr cel,tar