Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-28

| government The two provisions are
absolutely distinct and are absolutely
| consistent.
The title and control OF the reser-
| voirs themselves and the works incl
| dent TO their maintenance, namely the
| dam and headgates, remains in the gem
| eral government precisely the same as
| the ownership Of a navigable lake or
| river remains in the public, but the can
| ais and the lateral bitches by which the
| water is diverted and applied 10 the
| land are under the control, ownership
and management OF the users Of the
! water just as the canals and bitches
| taken from q public lake or public river
would be under their control, and no
| more confusion can result in the one
case than has actually resulted In the
! other.
But II is said further, that the laws
| Of the state or territory relating 20 the
control. appropriation, and use OF the
water are not 10 be interfered with
and this will result in still further con-
! fusion. The confusion is IN the mind
of the objectOr and not In the bill. No.
| more confusion VIII result from the use
of these waters under the local laws
and regulations Of the state than have
resulted by the use Of other waters or
property.
The fact that the title to a lake is In
the public, the title and ownership and
control OF the canals leading from II Is
In the proprietors OF the water and
that the appropriation and use Of the
water IS under the State law has never
resulted IN any sort Of confusion. on
the contrary, II the appropriation and
use were not under the provisions OF the
state law the utmost confusion would
prevail The full domination and CONF
plete ownership OF tract Of land is In
no manner njurlousy affected, because
its title must be acquired and disposed
OF and II must be occupied and held
under and in accordance with the law
OF the state.
COMPETITION WITH EASTERN
FARMERS.
The most unworthy objection that Is
urged to this bin IS that 1t viii BRING
more lands under cultivation In the
west which will come into competition
with the farmers Of the east It Is the
old appeal to sefishness in a new form.
II is the old song Of the mossback set
to new music. 1t is the same Old mar
row cry based on the same old narrow
reasons that made the illiterate
freighter OF the "fortles" object TO the
railroad and the locomotive for fear OF
the competition with his mules and
horses. aud that caused the salmaker
to look upon Robert Fulton as a pub
lie enemy, The objection In the exact
language Of the minority report is as
follows; n
III we add millions Of acres Of produc-
tive land TO our national posse ons
we shall surely diminish the vaue OF
the present farming lands Throughout
the Union, and we shall open new areas
IN the far west 10 compete IN prodpe'
ton with the farmers IN the south, east
and middle west. The people n these
sections will not consent, and ought rot
to consent TO pay from the public
treasury for the construction OF sucl
public works. which even II successful,
will work injury 10 their interests
Such an objection is particularly un-
worthy upon the lips Of a Republican
who. has been taught that the unceasing
development OF all our resources Is the
very gospel Of his party No man need
fear the effect of developing the natural
resources Of this country.
/ commend 10 the minority of the ir-
rigation committee that famous quota
ton from English literature, the words
Of Dean Swift.
"And he gave as his opinion that
whoever could make two ears Of corn
or two blades OF grass to grow upon
spot of ground where only one grew be-
IRE would deserve better Of mankind
and do more essential service 10 his
country than the whole race OF poll
ticiGns put together
II he who makes two blades OF grass
90 grow where there was only one be-
fore Is better than a politician, surely
the nation which causes two fruitful
farms to flourish IN the desert where
before there was only one is entitled
10 our highest praise. There Is an old
and homely proverb Of the poor based
upon the simple faith OF humble folk,
that God never sends mouths into this
world without food 10 fill them My
-'--- -''"- O. 'hot the converse Of
that proposition Is more nearly accu
.,..ds food into this
world without mouths to consume IL,
SO long as children In the great tene-
ment districts OF our great cities con-
tinue 10 go I'm tears to supperless beds;
so long as the gaunt figure Of famine
continues 10 alright the millions or
India and Russia, there is no fear OF
any excessive production OF food stuffs
IN this country. Reduced 20 It's last
analysis. II is not only selfish but a
shameless argument.
But aside from the selfshness and
OF the argument there is
absolutely nothing I'm II. When the
facts are understood il ;ill be seen that
the lands cannot be brought under cul-
iiyatiOn 70 rapidly or In such bodies as
In constitute tho elfUbfaut fnapana In
he eastern former.
The arid west has an area greater In
extent than that Of the original thir-
teen states, but It's physical character
sites are such that under the most fav-
lrahle conditions not 1.-THE of the
ands can ever be brought under culti-
iati0n. My own judgment Is that Il Is
m eNtravagant estimate 10 say thar
more than 1900. 600 acres can ever be
supplied with water. and this can he
lone only In the course Of more than
lalf a century.
II Is estimated that the income from
he sale Of public lands Will be about
2, 900 900 per annum. The labor OF con
tructing these storage reservoirs and
he works incident thereto Is necessarily
ne which viii occupy many years. The
ties are to be surveyed, selected. des-
snated, plans are 10 be drawn, and ar
err that the works themselves con-
tructed. With q comparatively small
mount IN the 10 Of the secretary
Z the Interior al any one time there
an, OF course, not be many OF these
Enterprises under construction al the
anne time. After the works are con-
tructed, the lands themselves are 10
2 taken Up and 70 be prepared for IN.
lge. All this consumes time, and much
me
II Is perfectly safe 10 say that. under
he most favorable conditions lmagin.
Bile, after the work shall be begun
1ese lands can not be brought under
iluvatlon In greater quantity than
le-half million acres per annum.
here Is no menace IN this 10 the farm
Is Of the east This quantity OF land
III only partially take the place OF the
astly larger quantity that has been
ided TO the cultlvatable area by tho
GA tlOW upou lqpdc fu the humid va