The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1902-12-02
OF IRRIGATION
IN TIE FAR WEST

/ Few subjects Of more Importance have
been taken up by the Congress in recent
/ years than the Inauguration Of the sys-
tenn OF nationally aided irrigation for the
arid regions OF the far West A good
| beginning therein has been made Now
that this policy OF national irrigation
has been adopted. the need on thorough
and scientific forest protactieH Will grow
more rapidly than ever throughout the
public land States.
Legislation should be provided for
the protection OF the game and the
wild creatures generally. on the forest
reserves. The scnseless slaughtr OK
game. which can by judicious protection
be permanently preserved on our na-
tiCnal reserves for the people as
whole should be stopped at once. IL IS,
for instance. a serious count against
our national good sense 20 permit the
present practice Of butcherins on such
a stately and beautiful creature as the
elk for us autIers or tusl1s- .
Lands for Home Builders.
So far as they are available for agri-
culture. and TO whatever extent they
may be reclaimed under the national ir-
rigation law. the remaining public lands
should be held rigidly for the home
builder. the settler who lives on his
land. and for no one else IN their ac-
tual use the desert-land law. the timber
and stone law. and the Communication
clause Of the homestead law have been
so perverted from the Intention with
which they were enacted CAS- 90 permit
90
public domain for other than actual set
tiers and the consequent prevention Of
settlement. Moreover. the approaching
exhaustion Of the public ranges has OF
late led 20 much discussion as to the
best manner of using these public lands
I'm the West which are suitable chiefly
or only for S===.ag The sound and
steady development CT the West depends
upon the building up Of homes therein.
Much of our prosperity as a nation has
been due To the operation of the home
stead law. on the other hand, We should
recognize the fact that in the grazing
region the man who corresponds 70 the
h.mtstCader me- = Unable 90 settle
permanently II only allowed 90 use the
same amount Of pasture land that his
brother the homesteader, is allowed 70
use Of arabic land. One hundred and
sixty acres Of fairly rich and well-wa-
tered soil or a much smaller aa-oi-nt OF
irrigated land. may keep a family IN
plenty. whereas no one could get a Nv
ing from one hundred and sixty acres OF
dry pasture land capable % supporting
at the outside only one head Of cattle
10 every ten acres.
T1espasse-s On Public Lands.
In the past great tracts OF the public
domain have been fenced in By persons
having no title thereto, in direct def
ance Of the law forbidding the mainten-
ence or construction OF any such unlaw-
ful Enclosure Of public land. For vari-
Gus reasons there has been little inter
ference with such Enclosures in The
past but ample notice has now been
given the t-espassers. and all the re-
sources at the command Of the Govern
ment will hereafter be used 20 put stop
TO such trespassiug.
I'm view OF che capital Importance OF
these matters. I commend them 20 the
earnest consideration OF the Congress.
and II che Congress finds difficulty in
dealing with them trcia lack Of thor
0uEh knowledge of the subject ! recon-
mend that provision be made for COM
mission Of experts specially 20 investi-
gate and report upon the complicated
Questions involved.