The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-11-29

unnecessarily interfere with the deveIop-
ment and operation Of these commercial
Agricultural Interests.
The president cites the forest legislation
Of the past and the great good or forest
preserves TO the peop-e, and says they will
inevitably be Of still greater value. Con-
cat present the protection Of the forest
reserves rests with the general land Office,
the mapping and description OF their tim
Der with the United States geological sur
vey and the preparation of plans for their
bisS is slso WtS S .. lop
the United States. These various func-
forestry. to which they properly belorg.
The present diffusion OF responsibility II
bad from every standpoint: It prevents
that effective cooperation between the
government and the men who utilize the
resources of the reserves, without which
scientific bureaus generally should be put
under the department of agriculture. The
president should have by law the power
serves to the department of agriculture.
He already has such power in the case of
lands AN 81 needed by the departments of war
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-
ever that is possible. and of this he says:
In the arid region 1t is water, not land.
winch measures production. The western
half OF the United States would sustain
population greater than that of our whole
country to-day If the waters that now run
TO waste were saved and Used for irriga-
md w. q q q
perhaps the most vital internal questions
Of the United States.
The forests alone cannot, however, fully
regulate and conserve the waters of the
arid region. Great storage works are nee
essary to equalize the flow of streams and
ton has been conclusively shown to be an
undertaking too vast for private effort
Nor can it be best accomplished by the in
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 Ks
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.
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 now;
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
creased demand for manufactured arti-
cles will stimulate industrial production.
while wider home markets and the trade
of Asia will consume the larger food sup
plies and effectually prevent western
competition with eastern agriculture. In
deed, the products of irrigation will be
ters of mining and other Industries winch
would otherwise not come into existence
for successful homemaking is but anolhsr
name for the upbuiiding of the nation
He counsels against attempting too mucn
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 TO pulIo
homes on these arid lands, and says:
THE security and value OF the homes
created depend Largely on the sta OF o.
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 unG SITtS laws
to water in excess of actual uses or ne
cessities, and many streams have already,
passed into private ownership or control
equivalent to ownership.
I'm the arid states the only right to water
which should be recognized Is that of use.
In irrigation this right should attach to
the land reclaimed and be inseparable
rights to other. than users without
the Objections which apply to giving away
perpetua! franchises to the public utili-
81 fho of A Of .
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
onies, and especially the Philippines This
the needs of Hawaii and Porto Rico. Of
I'm 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 a
healthy American community of men
who themselves till the farms they own
All our legislation for the islands should
| being of the average homemaker must
| AFFORD the true test of the healthy devel-
should as nearly as possible be modelled
| on our homestead system"
OF Porto Rico he says the island Is thriv.
| 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 viii soon be in control. and in the
| same connection urges strongly the need
nation upon which subject he says:
"In the case of Cuba there are weighty
reasons Of morality and OF national inter
| a peculiar application. and 1 most earnest
| ly ask your attention to the wisdom. indeed