Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-12-04


and the navy
Irrigation.
Irrigation in connection with the waste
lands Of the west is a question TO which
the president gives considerable attention,
and makes strong recommendations for
government assistance in retaining the
waste lands by assisting in their irriga-
ton and the control of water rights wher-
ever that is possible. and of this ne says:
In the arid region it is water, not land,
winch measures production. The western
population greater than that of our whole
country to-day If the waters that now run
ton. The forest and water problems are
perhaps the most vital internal questions
of the United States.
In cases where natural conditions have
Deen restored Tor a few years vegetation
mas again carpeted the ground, birds and
deer are coming back, and hundreds of
persons, especially from the immediate
nelghborhood, come each summer to enjoy
the privilege of camping. Some at lea st
of the forest reserves Should AFFORD per
petual protection to the native fauna and
flora, safe Ravens of refuge to our rapidly
diminishing wild animals of the larger
KINDS and free camping grounds for the
eVer-increasing numbers OF men and wom-
and recreation in the splendid forests and
nower-clad meadows of our mountains.
Ihe 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 a few
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters of the
aria region Great storage works are nee
essary to equalize the flow of streams and
to save the flood waters. Their construc-
ton has been concIusive1y shown to be an
undertaking too vast for private effort.
Nor can it be best accomplished by the in
d1vidual 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.
1t is as right for the national government
to make the streams and rivers of the
arid region useful by engineering works
rivers and harbors of the humid region by
engineering works of another kind. The
storing of the foods 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 it does other
public works Where their purpose is to
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
Giles will stimulate Industrial production,
while wider home markets and the trade
of Asia will consume the larger food sup
plies and enectualIy prevent western
competition 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
at all Our people as a whole will profit,
for successful homemaking is but another
name for the upbuilding of the nation"
He counseIs against attempting too much
experience on a small plan teach the pos
sibilities of greater undertakings. He also
cites the conditions under which the set
tiers Of the west are attempting 10 pulIo
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
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 it possible to establish rights
to water in excess of actual uses or ne
cessities and many streams have already
passed into private ownership or a control
equivalent to ownership.
whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land it renders productive. and
the doctrine of private ownership of water
causing = enduring md wrong. The recognition
of such ownership, which has been per-
mitted to groW up IN the arid regions
larger recognition of the rights of the pub
lie in the control and disposal of the pub
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.
the land reclaimed and be inseparable
t tihgIrefrom. Granting nE perpetual water
the objections which apply to giving away
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
The Colonies.
Considerable attention is given the col
H. :,
section of the message begins by citing
the needs of Hawaii and Porto Rico, of
which he says:
''In 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 well
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
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:
''In the case of Cuba there are weighty |
reasons OF morality and OF national inter- |
est why the policy should be held to have |
peculiar application, and l most earnest /
~ ask your attention to the wisdom, indeed /
to the vital need, of providing for a sub |
ytantial reduction in the tariff duties on |
Cuban imports into the United States |
Cuba has in her constitution affirmed what |
we desired that she should stand in inter
rational matters in closer and more friend |
" relations with US than with any other |
power and we are bound by eVeryconsid- |
Grafton of honor and expediency to pass
commercial measures in the interest of |
her material well being.
For the Philippines he recommends much /
n the way OF legislation, but again cour- |
with too great haste. He says: I'VE hope
TO make our administration of the islands
honorable to our nation by making it of the
highest benefit to the FilipinoS themselves
md as an earnest CT what we intend to do |
We point to what we have done.
Already a greater measure Of material
prosperity and of governmental honesty
md efficiency has been attained in the
Philippines than ever before in their his
Dry"
He says we do not desire to DO for the
lone for tropic peoples by even the best
oreign governments. We hope to do for
hem what has never before been done for
my people of the tropics-to make them |
it for Seif-goVernmeEt after the fashion of
he really free nations
But the IDEA of the president is that we |
cannot leave the Islands at this time, of |
which he SAYS: ITO leave the islands at |
his time would mean that they would
all into Welter OF nuroerous anarchy
such q Gesertion of Guty on cur part
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