The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-09
IMMEDIATE LOTION NEEDED.

|
| Whether the plan finally adopted in the
| development of a system of national irri-
! cation be that which throws the entire
| jurisdiction and responsibility on the fed
eral government, or that which appeals
to state authority in the first instance,
making congress only a secondary
agency, the time is rapidly approaching
when well-defned and comprehensive
plan must be outlined and embodied in
the national system.
| Gen. Miles is reported as having said
within day or two that he finds the
fullest warrant for the assumption of
entire jurisdiction over the subject by
congress in the attiture assumed by the
| federal government toward the great con-
| tinental railroad projects toward which it
contributed money and land unstintingly.
He adds that he believes the results
will, in the case of irrigation, be as en-
coQraging and tend in as great a meas
ure toward the national development and
enrichment as did the policy of subsi-
dizing railroads by land and money
The irrigation congress recently held
declared in favor Of the assumption of
| the work by the several states within
which the irrigable lands were situated
| the necessary moneys to conduct the
same being advanced by congress. The
basis on which this policy seemed to have
been most favorably considered is that
the several state would have the more
| immediate interest, through the certain
resulting additions to their population
to carry on the work with promptitude
and completeness. The need of congress
sional appropriations to that end was
made manifest by the suggestion that the
states in which the largest proportion
| OF arid lands prevail are those which
would be less able to bear the expense,
while the resulting gain would be all the
greater to them, and they would be able
| readily, in time, to repay congress for
| the moneys so advanced
In determining the right of this matter
we are confronted at the outset by the
question, as old as the constitution itself,
of the relative rights and powers of the
states and of the general government.
The plan suggested by those Immediately
engaged in considering the several plans.
and that which will probably be laid
before congress at it's opening session.
is that which recognizes the interest and
jurisdiction of the several states. That
which the commanding general of the
army suggests would to all practical in
tents ignore the several states in the
undertaking. It may safely be predicted
that the several states will be regarded
| in any plan which is finally determined
! on.
Whatever views one may entertain as
to the relative rights and interests of
| the states and the national government
| in the great undertaking it is easy to
recognize the truth that a national sys-
tenn of reclamation of arid lands carried
| on under the immediate direction of the
national government-say of it's war de-
partment-would probably be productive
| of ideal results. All the irrigation sys-
| TENS of the past were conducted under
such auspices. The great works of an
tiquity whose ruins are to be seen on
both continents were the product of con-
tinuous and complete national effort. To
meet all the requirements of American
| life just such a plan will probably be
| found necessary in order to produce the
best possible results.
Whatever plan is adopted. however,
congress is looked to by the entire West
ern country to adopt some plan which
will leave the productive land now in
need of irrigation at the disposal of bona
fide settlers at the earliest day possible.