Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-12-06
irrigation for Arid Regions.

Cd and for it's further extension
irrigation for Arid Regions.
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
rid regions OF the far west. good be-
ginning therein has been made, Now that
this policy of national irrigation has beer
adopted the need of thorough and scien-
tinc forest protection will grow more rap
IDLY than over throughout the public land
states.
Legislation should he provided for the
protection OF the game, and the Wild crea-
lures generally. on the forest reserves.
The scnscless slaughter of game. which
can by judiclous protection be permanent
ly preserved on our national reserves
for the people as a whole. should De
stopped at once. II Is. for instance. n SER
ious count against our national good
sense to permit the present practice OF
buto herring off such a stately and beauti-
full creature as the elk for Its antlers or
tusks.
Public Lands for Home Builders.
So far as they are available as agricul-
ture and 10 whatever extent they may be
reclaimed under the national irrigation
law, the remaining public lands should b.
held rgidly for the home builder, the
settler who lives on his land. and for no
one else. In their actual use the desert
land law, the timber and stone law. and
the communication clause of the homestead
law have been so perverted from the in
tention with which they were enacted as
to permit the acquisition Of large areas
L., Cor 81 tn actual
settlers and the consequent prevention OF
settlement. Moreover, the approaching
exhaustion of public ranges has OF late
led to much discussion ms to the best
manner OF using these public lands In the
west which are suitable chiefly or only
for grazing. The sound and steady devel-
opment OF the west depends upon the
building up OF homes therein. Much OF
our prosperity has been due to the opera
ton OF the homestead law. On the other
hand. we should recognize the fact that
| IN the grazing region the man who corre-
spends TO the homesteader may be unable
10 settle permanently " only allowed to
use the same amount OF pasture land that
his brother the homesteader. IN allowed
To use of arabic land. One hundred and
sixty acres OF fairly rich and well watered
ed land, may keep family In plenty
whereas no one could get living from
enc hundred and sixty acres of dry pas
turc land capable of supporting at the
outside only one head OF cattle to every
ten acres. In the past great tracts OF
the public domain have been fenced In by
persons having no title thereto, In direct
defiance of the law forbidding the main
| %, c.tnh
lawful Enclosure of public land. For var
ious reasons there has been little Interior
ence with such Enclosures In the past but
ample notice has now been given the
,rcspassers. and all the reso1.eys at the
command of the government Will hereaf-
ter be used TO put stop TO such trespass-
ing.
In view of the capital Importance OF
these matters, | commend them to the
earnest consideration of the congress
and II the congress hnds difficulty In
dealing with them from lack of thorough
knowledge OF the subject, ] recommend
that provision be made for commission
OF experts especially to investigate and
report upon the complicated questions In
volved.
Legislation Asked for Alaska.
I especially urge upon congress the need
of wise legislation for Alaska. II Is moi
to our credit AS nation that Alaska
which has been ours for thlrty-five years
should still have as poor system of laws
AS is the case. No country has a more
valuable possession-in mineral wealth
In fisheries. furs, forests and also in land
: available for certain Kinds OF farming
and stockgrowing. II Is Il territory Of
! great size and varied resources. well fitted
to support a large permanent population
} Alaska needs a good land law and such
; provisions for homesteads and preemp'
tions as will encourage permanent settle
mont. We should shape legislation with
: a view not to the exploiting and abandon
! ing OF the territory. but to the building OF
! the homes therein. The land laws should
} be liberal In type, so as to hold out In
: ducements to the actual settler whom WI
: most desire 10 see take possession of th'
country. The forests OF Alaska should
be protected, and rs IA secondary but still
important matter. the game also, and al
the same time II Is imperative that th'
settlers should be allowed 10 cut timber
under proper regulations, for their own
use. Laws should be enacted 10 protect
, the Alaskan salmon fisheries against tbs
greed which would destroy them. They
should be preserved AS permanent In
dustry and food supply, Their manage
, nent and control should be turned ovel
u the commission OF fish and fisheries
Alaska should have n delegate In tbs
congress. II would be well N a congress
icnal committee could visit Alaska and In
, vestigate .ts needs on the ground.
> The Noble Red Men.
In dealing with the Indians our ain
should be their ultimate absorption int
2 the body Of our people. But IN many cases
? this absorption must and should be yer,
! slow. In portions Of the Indian Territor,
/ the mixture OF blood has gone on at thu
same time with progress In wealth ant
I education. 20 chat there are plenty Of mel