East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-09-11

as the Utah doctrine of waters; that
water and use I during the so-called
summer-irrigation season, and an
other person may appropriate water
from the same stream for use in other
months in the year without conflict
as to prior rights.
The water of most of the streams
of the interior has long since been APP
propriated and applied to beneficial
use during the summer season. but
until recent years no part of the flow
has been appropriated for use during
the fall, winter and spring. BY the
adoption of this rule which is at once
salutary and of public interest the
area of cultivated lands will at least
be trebled, and no possible injury can
result to any interest.
There Must BE Harmony.
There should be no conflict between
parties who claim water rights for
power purposes and those who claim
for irrigation. If the source of power
is above the irrigated lands upon the
stream, the water is necessarily all re-
turned to the river bed for later use
by irrigators. and II irrigated lands
perchance are above the source of
power upon the stream, then the
power owner is benefited by the fact
that in the dry season the flow of
water is retarded by being turned into
bitches and therefrom in large degree
ultimately seeping back into the
stream.
Between these interests there should
be community of effort and an en-
deavor to cooperate in securing such
laws as will develop and foster every
industry in the state, whatever its
character, so far as the same is af-
fected by water.
There has been much misunder-
standing and much unnecessary fric-
ton between irrigationists and power
owners in the past Whenever legisla-
ton has been sought, hut more ex-
perimental phase of the situation is
presenting the truth to each. It Is
unfortunate perhaps that at the in
ception of the government its organic
law did not provide that all water
P'"ei V" 'u
PEI pe'uahs Wy 'ie s''.e' ''i. sam W "
as experience might dictate to be most
wise, but since most of II has long
since passed to private ownership, the
p'ea"t mp III iai iiio''lous auuo
ai"ohs 'ne piiNd'e ln'e,e es.S "ni'n
now must always control the waters
| of the state. They must be protected
III ''.e'r oWiieIs'lip anu III Ees'su rish'
out ''eS mus '''' oe P.i iiii'''u W ''io
VT USE auoh Plopei'S ~ manner u
re'aru the s'a'e ueNelopine"''
Help the Government.
The work of the federal government
through the reclamation service with
in our borders is entitled to the full
est encoura cement and support from
all our people for the work now be
gun, even II no other project were t
be attempted. will be of far-reachinj
benefit to the state, not only in addet
population. but ultimately in the es
tablishment of a home upon every 4
/ acres of land reclaimed.
1t is alike for the interest of stat
and nation that this work go forwar,
until the beneficent influence of tn
national irrigation act shall toucl
every possible waste acre and all pos
sible wasting waters. Before thi
work can be satisfactorily accom-
plished. the state must provide tina
the existing water rights are declare,
by proper tribunals, and the state cal
well afford to see to 1t that proceed
ings are instituted to have the court
declare existing rights in the waters o
lakes and streams in order that no
only the government, but private in
vestors may know what volume o
water. II any, is available for appro
prlarion.
Unacr existing conditions there ar
wha' their rish's are anu II Is no ui'