Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-05
ABILENE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS DECEMBER 9w PAGES

hair OF the unitcd States would sustain
population greater lnan that OIL our whole
to-uay II the waters that now run
10 waste were s. we'd and USED Tor irriga-
lion. The forest GId water problems are
perhaps the most vital internal questions
VI the United States.
"In cases where natural conditions have
been restored for few years vegetation
has again carpeted the ground. BIRDS and
deer are coming back. and hundreds Of
persons, especially IRON the immediate
come each summer 10 enjoy
the privilege Of camping. Some at leCR
OF the forest reserves should AFFORD per-
petual protection to the native fauna and
fiora, safe havens Of refugeto our rapidly !
Wild animals Of the larger
kinds and free camping grounds for the
evsr-increaSlnI numbers OF men and wom- |
en- who have learned TO find rest. health
and recreation In the splendid forests and !
fiower-claf meadows Of our mountains.
The forest reserves should be set apart |
forever for the use and benefit Of our peo- |
pie as a whole and not sacrificed TO the |
shortsighted greed Of few"
''The forests alone cannot, however, fully |,
regulate and conserve the waters Of the |
arid region. Great storage works are nee |
essary 10 equalize the now Of streams and
to save the food 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-reachins
Interstate problems are involved, and the
resources OF single states would often be
Inadequate. II 10 properly national
function, at least In some Of Its features.
II 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.
1.-THE government should construct ana
maintain these reservoirs as It does other
public works Where their purpose 10 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 now.
1.-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. me m
creased demand for manufacturer arti-
cles will stimulate Industrial production,
while wider home markets ana the trade
of Asia will consume the larger food sup
plies and effectually prevent western
composition with eastern agriculture. In
deed. the products Of irrigation Will be
consumed chiefly In upbuilding local CEN
tiers of mining and other industries which
would otherwise not come Into existence
AZ all. Our people as whole will pront,
for successful homemaking Is but another
name for the upbuidEg Cl the nation.
lie counsels against attempting too mucn
al the beginning but ADVISES 'Lat we iet
experience on small plan teacn me pos
sibilities of greater undertakings re also
cites the conditions under Wnich tIe SOY,
tiers OF the west are attempting 10 bulio
homes on these arid lands, Grc says:
"The security and value OF tn, homes
created depend largely on the stability OF
titles to water, but the majority OF these
rest on the uncertain foundatlon Oh court
decisions rendered in ordinary suits at
law. With few creditable exceptions,
The arid states have failed 10 provide FOR
the certain ard 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 OF ne
cessities, and many streams nave ALREADY
equivalent to ownership.
"Whoever controls stream practically
controls the land II renders productive, and
the doctrine Of private ownership OF water
apart from lard 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 ana
larger recognition of the rights OF me pup
lie In the control and disposal OF the pub
lie water supplies, Laws founded upon
conditions obtaining n humid reglo ain.
where water Is too abundant 10 JUSTIFY
boarding It, nave no proper application In
q 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 ia
the land reclaimed and be inseparable
therefrom. Granting perpetual water
rights to other than users without
compensation to the public Is onen to all
the objections which apply to giving away
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
the doctrine of perpetual state ownership
Of water"
'i'he Colonies.
Considerable attention is given the col.
onies, and especially the Philippines. This
section Of the message begins by citing
the needs or iiaWah anG forto hlco, OF
which he says.
'In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional American
lines, We do not wish a region of large
estates titled by cheap labor We wish
healthy American community of mer
who themselves till the farms they own
xii our LEGISLATION for the Islands should
be shaped with this end in view The wei
being Of the average homemaker mus
afford the true test of the healthy devel
opment Of the islands. The land policy
should as nearly as possible be modelee
on our homestead system
OF Porto Rico he says the island is thriv
ins az never before, and Is being admins
tered efficiently and honestly. He deemi
mn legislation necessary except that con
earning the public lands of the Island.
ia calls attention to the fact that II
Cuba the independent government OF INT
Island will soon be in control, and In tn,
same connection urges strongly the neet
Of reciprocal trade relations with the new
nation, upon which subject he says:
'in the case Of Cuba there are weight
reasons Of morality and Of national inter
est why the policy, should be heid 10 nav
u
" AK your attention to the wisdom, indeet
ia the vital need, OF providing for q sub
stantial reduction In the tariff duties Oh
Cuban imports into the United States
| cuba has in her constitution affirmed wha
We desired that she should stand In inter
ratens mater. In closer s.s and more as, fr dens
mower, and We are bound by every consid
Grafton Of honor and expedlency to pas
commercial measures In the interest o
her material well being"
For the Philippines he recommends mucl
IN the way Of legislation, but again coun
sels caution that we 20 neither too far no
with too great haste. He says. I'VE hop
to make our administration Of the island
honorable to our nation by making II Of tn
highest benefit to the Fllplnos themselves
and as an earnest OF what we intend to
wa point to what We have done
Already greater measure OF materis
prosperity and Of e ornamental honest
and efficiency has heen attained In IN
Philippines than ever before In their his
tory"
ISLANDERS merely what has elsewhere bee
done for tropic peoples by even the bea
foreign govern ments. We hope TO do 70
,ben, what has never before been done 70
any people Of the t-oplcs--to make thsr
Az Tor government after the fashion Q
Inc really free nations"
Rur The idea OF the president is that "
cannot leave the Islands al this time, o
which he says: ITO leave the Islands .
lids time would mean that they woul
xxi into a weller of murderous anarchy
Such desertion OF duty on our par