The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03


government should make clear. beyond
shadow OF doubt. its intention 20 pursue
this policy on lines of the broadest public
interest.
No reservoir or canal should ever be
built 10 satisfy selfish personal or local
interests. but only I'm accordance with
the advice OF trained experts, after long
investigation has shown the locality
where all the conditions combine 10 make
the work most needed and fraught with
ar shl rhan ,a ~ me eon,,'us
gance, and the believers In the need of
rrigation will most benefit their cause
by seeing 70 II that g Is free from The
.pcnditure OF the public moneys.
Whatever the nation does for the ex-
tension of irrigation should hsrmonize
WITH, aud tend 10 improve, the condition
OF those now living on irrigated land. We
are not at the starting point OF this de-
veiopment. over two hundred millions
OF private capital has already been ex-
pended In the construction OF irrigation
works, and many million acres OF arid
land reclaimed. a hieh degree of enter
prise and ability has been shown In the
work itself hut as much cannot be said
I'm reference 10 the laws relating thereto.
The security and value OF the homes ere
ated 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 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 IL possible 10 establish
rights To water In excess OF actual uses or
necessities, and many streams have al
ready passed into private ownership, or
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 3 cannot prevail
without CAUSING enduring wrong. The
recognition OF such ownership. which has
been permitted 10 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 con-
troll and disposal OF the public water
supplies. Laws founded upon conditions
obtaining In humid regions. where water
is too abundant tn Justify boarding IT,,
have no proper application in dry coun-
try
In the arid states the only right To wa
ter which should be recognized is that Of
use. In irrigation this right should at
tach TO the land reclaimed and he insep-
cradle therefrom. Granting perpetual wa
ter rights TO others than users. without
compen ensst,on to the pubic. is open 10 all
the objections which apply 10 giving
away perpetual franchises to the public
utilities of 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.
The benefits which have followed the
unaided development OF the past justify
the nations aid and cooperation In the
more difficult and important work yet
to be accomplished. Laws so vitally sf-
fecting homes a those which control the
water supply will only be effective when
they have the sanction OF the irrigators: {:
reforms can only be final and satisfactory
when they come through the enlighten-
ment Of the people most concerned The
larger development which national aid
insures should however awaken in every
arid state the determination TO make it's
irrigation system equal In justice and ef-
fectiveness that OF any country In the
civilized world Nothing could be more
unwise than for isolated communities TO
continue TO learn everything experiment
ally, instead Of pronting by what IL al
ready known elsewhere. We are dealing
with a new and momentous question. In
the pregnant years while institutions are
forming. and what We do will affect not
only the present but future generations.
our aim should be not simply to re-
claim the largest area OF land and pro-
vide homes for the largest number OF
people. but 10 create for this new In
dustry the best possible social aud indus
trial conditions: and this requires that
We not only understand the existing sit
uation. but avail ourselves OF the best
experience OF the time I'm 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 II will probably
be necessary for the nation TO cooperate
with the several arid states I'm proportion
as these states by their legislation and
administration show themselves At TO re-
ceive IL.
DEVELOPMENT or HAWAII.
In Hawaii our aim must be to develop
the territory on the traditional-American
lines. We do not wish region Of large
estates titled by cheap labor: we wish
healthy American community Of men who
themselves TIL the farms they own All
our legislation for the islands should he
shaped with this end I'm view: the we'll
being or the average home maker 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.
II is n pleasure To say that Il is hardly
more necessary 10 report as To Porto Rico
than as to any state or territory within
our continental limits The island Is
thriving as never before and II 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 welfare
must bc az carefully aud iesiousy com
sldcred a. the welfare Of any other por-
tion OF our country.
We have given them the great gift ot
free access for their products to The mar
kets OF the United States. I ask the at
tention of the congress to the need Of leg
islstion concerning the public lands OF
Porto Rico.
In cuba such progress has been made
toward putting the independent govern
mcnt or the island upon frm footing
that before the present session of the con-
gross closes this will he an accomplished
fact. cuba will then start as her own
mistress and To the beautiful queen Of
the Antilles as she uufolds this new page
OF her destiny We extend our hesrtiest
greetings and good wishes Elsewhere I
have discussed the question OF rcciproc-
ity.
In the case or Cuba, however, there
are welghty reasons Of morality and. OF
national interest why the policy should
he held To- have peculiar application.
and I most earnestly ask your attention
To the wisdom. indeed 60 the vital need.
Of providing for substantial reduction
In the tariff duties on Cuban imports into
the United states. cuba has I'm her con-