Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-16

recognized In the arid land Is the right
OF use. and even this must be restrict
ed TO beneficial and economical use,
In order that the water supply may
serve the needs OF the largest possible
number. Ownership OF water should
be vested, not In companies or indivi-
duals, but in the land itself. When
this principle is adopted. the control
Of the water IL divided precisely like
the land, among multitude OF pro-
prietors Reservoirs and canals are
then like the streets Of the town, sery-
Ing a public purpose and permitting
ready access to private property on ev-
cry hand. Water monopoly is imposs-
ible under this method, and no other
abuse is encouraged by II.
PUBLIC SUPERVISION AND CON-
troll OF IRRIGATION.
The entire discussion leads up TO one
inevitable conclusion: This is that
irrigation, over and above all other in
dustries, is a matter demanding pub
nc supervision and control Every
drop of water entering the head gate,
and every drop escaping at the end OF
the canal, Is matter Of public concern.
The public must determine, through
constitutions and statutes, the nature
Of water ownership. The public must
establish means for the measurement
of streams and for ascertaining how
much water may be taken for each
acre OF land under the principle OF
beneficial use. The public must see
that justice Is done In the distribution
Of water among those who have pro-
perly established their rightful claims
to II. We have thoroughly tried the
methods OF leaving all this TO private
initiative and management. and, along
with magnificent material progress. we
have reaped a large crop OF deplorable
financial results.
The national government alone can
make the best and broadcast study OF
the various economic questions relat-
ed TO tee development OF agriculture
on arid lands. This includes not only
the measurement OF streams and sur
yev OF reservoir sites, but also a con-
sideration OF practical methods OF APP
plying water to the soil and OF social
and Industrial institutions adapted 10
the environment Of the arid region.
The nation alone can deal with the con-
fiicting rights In interstate and inter-
national streams and with the con-
struction Of great reservoirs at their
head waters, with a view 10 benefting
the several states living along their
course. The national government IL
already active along all these line\
and the field for the expansion OF its
efforts Is wide and inviting.
INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION UPON
PEOPLE AND COUNTRY.
While a description Of existing con-
ditions In the far west necessarily in
cludes references 10 many evils and
disappointments there is a brighter
side 10 the picture. and the future Is
luminous with new hopes for human
lily. A vast population will make It's
homes In valleys now vacant and
voiceless. yet potentially the best OF our
national heritage. They will create In
situations which will realize higher
ideals Of society than the world has
Yet seen. Irrigation Is much more than
an affair OF bitches and acres IL not
only makes civilization possible where
men could not live without IL. but II
shapes that civilization after
Its own peculiar design Its underly-
Ing influence Is that which makes for
democracy and individual independ-
ence.
Where land can only be cultivated
by means Of the artificial application
OF water, and where that water Is not
under speculative control. Il Is owned
In small holdings This Is 50 because
irrigation intensifies the product OF the
land and so demands much labor. alt
II a kind Of labor which can not profit
ably be left 10 hired hands. The re-
suit Is a multitude Of small proprietors
working for themselves.
AS A TRAINING IN
sELF-GovERNMENT.
Another interesting feature OF irri.
cation Is the training II gives In self-
government. A farmer under irriga-
ton can not remain ignorant and Ia
different OF public questions. He has
70 consider bis intersst In the river