Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-30

have worked out the great problems of
saving our forests, especially the forests
at the head waters of our irrigation
streams.
ITO save the forests, equalize the flow
of water and extend the period of direct
irrigation In every possible way Is
contamination that every practical lrrl-
gationist earnestly desires, because
when our mines Of precious metals are
worked out, when our coal treasurers
are exhausted and our iron mines are
closed forever there will be one re-
source that cannot be exhausted or
worn out, and that Is the soil and 1ts
products, for the soils fertility can be
maintained as long as the sun shines
and water continues to flow onto the
arid lands.
Creation and Control
-''I desire to bring before the conven-
ton the questions Of the creation and
regulation of irrigation districts. 1t is
better, in my judgment, wherever pos
sible for the people to provide their
own ways and means for the construc-
ton of irrigation enterprises rather
than depend on the central government
In time it may be deemed advisable to
create irrigation districts IN various
localities where the reclamation service
is engaged in irrigation work to enable
the people to acquire such projects from
the government.
.'I do not believe the central govern
ment will long continue in the business
of irrigation, neither do l believe that
the water users In each case will be
able to pay the cost of such enterprise
within the time fixed by the govern
ment, so some easy method OF obtaining
funds through loans must be found, and
l know of no better plan than that
which is known as the irrigation dis
trict plan.' This association should
work for uniformity in irrigation dis
trict laws and for projection therein, so
that bond buyers and investors may
feel sure of the validity of such bonds.
I'VE should demonstrate also the best
method for establishing bureaus of In
formation in the several states, with
suitable appropriations, and we should
cooperate with the general government
for the extension of geological survey
work and for the control of our forest
reserves and other public lands"
San Dieean's Address
William E. Smythe of San Diego
was Ill and could not be present. His
address was on "The Hopes of the
Little Lands" and was read. In part,
the paper said:
"Never in our history was there
moment when the nation stood in such
bitter need of the land as a safety
valve to prevent g. social explosion as
1t does now. The Industrial world Is
In the midst of process of transition
from old to new forms, and in every
community there is an element who
would seek relief by returning to the
land. But the existing system of large
holdings, wasteful cultivation. specula-
tive farming and lawful socialization
can never meet the ends"
Mr.. Smythes address declared the
nations hope is in the little lands" He
defined the latter term as the small
area under scientific intensive cultiva-
tion, titled by the proprietor and his
family. He said that the true mission
of irrigation is to demonstrate that the
real measure of values is not area,
but productive capacity.
L. Bradford Prince of New Mexico
related the story of the growth and
progress of modern irrigation which
had it's inception, he said. with the ao-
vent of the Mormons in Utah in 1847.
The subject of irrigation was forced
upon the attention of the population
which flowed into all parts of the So
called arid region, he continued, but
because of a prejudice against a sys-
tenn which was new to the people they
were loath to adopt irrigation, and
progress was necessarily slow.
Time Destroys Prejudice
Time was required to remove this
prejudice In time they became i'm
pressed with the necessity of construct
ing reservoirs and aqueducts to carry
the waters of the stream on to the
land. This required an expenditure far
beyond the means of individuals and
even communities, and so the thought
of the people turned to state and ma
tional action. From mere local meet
ings and association developed the ma
tional body.
Mr.. Prince compared the irrigation
congress and effect of it's work now
with that in 1895, when the fourth an
nual convention was he'd In Albu-
uuerque. He said