El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-26
Adams Protest. Against Waste.

Colorado, Conquest and Conserva-
tion.'' was the subject of an address
delivered today by ex-governor Alva
Adams, of Colorado, before the Ma
tional Irrigation congress. He declared
himself in favor Of state control of ir-
risation PROJECTS, which would place
the development and conservation of
national resources close to the people
This, he said, would insure TRANQUIL
ity, promote the dignity of the states.
harm no one, strengthen the nation and
advance the welfare OF all the people,"
He said in part:
The economic malady Of the age Is
waste The prodigal son was almost
thrifty compared with the rfotous
prodigality Of the american people in
the use OF the virgin estate which God
bequeathed to them. A material wealth
unknown in history resources beyond
human computation have alone kept
the nation solvent For a hundred years
we have plowed and dug-cut and
robbed and burnt-like the fool in
fairy stories. we have chopped down
the tree that a generation has grown
that We may the easier pluck the fruit
Of season Just when we neared the
point of spoilation and danger. the
voice of Deity or some beneficient in
fluence startled the nation and touched
the mind OF president and statesman
conservation was born. OF this mighty
issue Of preservation and DEVELOPMENT
this National Irrigation congress is to
be the prophet and guide.
our country reverberates with the
pulmonary eloquence Of those material
messiahs who preach the new gospel OF
conservation After 100 years given to
cutting their own forests, corra1line
their water power and dispoiling their
coal measures our eastern brothers are
especially vigorous in demanding that
the national government stop the waste
and vandalism of the west. 1t is a sur
vfval Of the old Yankee spirit which a
generation ago organized indian So
cieties for the protection and reforma-
tion and salvation of the indians Of
the west
The western people, however, are
sound, sensible and just and recognizes
that the agitation for conservation is
timely and will result in good to courl-
try and people. We may differ as to
methods but there can be no debates
upon the prime issue that the time has
come to save and conserve"
Urges Stafe Control.
1t Is conceded that ali waters not
navisable belong to the state. Govern
mental assistance in conserving water
for irrigation is recognized and well
coined as benevolent Interference in
AOC-A dl1dkISS OUl, dS 20 the COntrOl or
these waters and their regulation OF
their distribution and OF power plants,
the states can be more efficient than
the general government States where
irrigation prevails are better fitted to
govern those matters than central
authority that is remote. holding only
general knowledge Of these concerns.
In the western semi-arid states the
public lands are an unjust cross They
represent an important percentage OF
the state area-it is an alien ana In
dependent estate.
In all the gospel OF conservation
there is nothing as important as the
saving and use Of the waters Of the
semi-arid region Irrigated lands do
not wear out The lands pIowed by the
Pharoah's are today as fertile and pro-
ductfve as they were 1000 years ago
When the seven lean years come to
our country the irrigated fields will
prove the granaries of the nation, de-
velop them, and the future historian
may write as did the prophet Of Egypt
In all the land of America there
was bread