The sun., 1901-12-04

will build homes upon It, To accomplish
this object wat@ must toe brought within
| their reach.
The pioneer ss tiers on the arid public
| domain chose their homes along streams.
| from which they could themselves divert
the water to reclaim their holdings. Such
| There remain, however, vast are as Of public
| land which can be made available for home,
stead settlement, but only by reservoirs
and mainline canals impracticable for
| private enterprise. These irrigation works.
| should he built by the National Govern
ment. The lands reclaimed by them should
| be reserved by the Government for actual
| settlers, and the cost OF construction should
| 80 far as possible h. paid by the land re-
| claimed. The distribution OF tSe water.
| the division Of the streams among ifrigators,
| should be left to the settlers Themselves
| In conformity with State laws, and without
| interference with those laws or vested
| rights. TIE policy Of the National Cow
| ernnAnt should be TO aid irrigation in the
sever Al States and Territories in such man
ner as will enable the people in the local
| communities to help themselves, and az
will stimulate needed reforms In the State
laws and regulations governing irrigation.
The reclamation and settlement II 'he
arid lands will enrich every portion Of our
| country, just as the settlement of the Ohio
and Mississippi valleys brought prosperity
to the Atlantic States. The increased
demand for manufactured articles viii
stimulate indust rial production. while wider
consume the larger food supplies and
efectually prevent Western composition
with Eastern agriculture; Indeed, the
products of irrigation will be consumed
chiefly in upbuilding local centres of mining
and other Industries, which would other
wise not come into existence at all. Our
people as a whole will profit, for successful
home-making is but another name Tor me
upb,ilding of the nation.
The necessary foundation has already
been laid for the inauguration Of the policy
Just described. II would be unwise 10 begin
by doing too much, for great dcOl will
doubtless be learned, both a. 10 what can
and what cannot be safely attempted by
the early efforts, which must OF necessity
be partly experimental in character. At
the very beginning the Government should
Ne clear, beyond shadow OF Doubt, its
intention To pursue this policy on lines Of
the broadeet public interest. No reservoir
or canal should ever be built 10 satisfy se.f.
ish personal or local interests but only IN
accordance with the advice Of trained eN.
perts. after long Investigation has shown
the locality where all the conditions combine
to make the work most Needed and fraugs
with the greatest usefulness 10 the CONT
munity as a whole. There should be no
extra avaRance, and the believers in the need
of irrigation will most benefit their cause
by seeing TO il that il is free from The least
taint of excessive or reckless expenditure
OF the public moneva.
Whatever the Nation does for the exten-
sion OF irrigation should harmonize with
and tend to improve, the condition OF thosS
now living on irrigated land. We are not
at the starting point of this development
Over two hundred millions of private capital
has already been expended IN the construc-
ton Of irrigation works. and many million
acres Of arid land reclaimed. high degree
OF enterprise and ability has been shown
in the work itself; but as much cannot be
said in reference To the laws relating thereto.
The security and value of the homes created
depend largely on the stability OF titles 10
hut fhsa IN ptnYlf pf res nj
uncertain foundation of court decisions
rendered in ordinary suits at law With a
few crpdtable exceptions, the arid states
have failed TO provide for the cartain and
Just division Of streams in times Of scarcity.
lax and uncertain laws have made !, possi-
BILE to establish rights TO water in excess ~
actual uscs OF necessities. and many streams,
have already passed into priVa'e ownership
or y control eQu va lent Ia ownership.
Whoever controls a stream practically
controls the land II renders productive,
and the doctrine Of private ownership
Of water apart from land cannot prevail
without causing enduring wrong. The
recognition of such ownership, which has
been permitted TO grow up in the arid
regions. should give way To more enight.
encd and larger recognition of the rights of
the public in the control and disposal of
the public water supplies Laws founded
upon conditions obtaining in humid regions.
where water IL too abundant 20 justify
boarding IT, have no proper Application
In a dry country
In the arid States the only right TO water
which should be recognized Il that az use
In irrigation this ngh' should attach 20 Tia
land reclaimed and b" in-"parahle there
from. Granting perpet ual water rights TO
others than ussrs, Wi hout comp ensation
20 the public. IL open 10 all objections which
apply 10 giving asaV perpetual iIanchlses
% the public utilities u cltlrs few -
the western States hav" already reoog-
nizad this, and have incpUDraisd in their
constitutions tie doctrine of perpetual
State Ownership - water.
The benefits which have followed tha
unAided doyelopm' ~ - the past Justify
the Nations aid Hnd cuui GRAFTON tn tho
more dificu' and imp tbii work yet % DO
accomplished Lave ~ vitally affecting
homes a. those which control the water
supply Will only L.. rfcsfiNs Nhen they
have the sanction - ths irrigation, reforms
can only H. nual and 80 ii-iHctufy when
they come through the enlightenment
~ The re pie u..-' oYnurrussi The larger
deyrll lpm-ut vhirh national AID insur,-
should lus ever aSAkrn iu sVery hnd Stals
the d"'"fminAflun iu make o. inns
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