Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-28

EHf - 49, $50
stream gauging, that is, of measurinI
the quantity Of water that a stream
will supply. for irrigation purposes
has been woefully neglected.
Some. II not all, OF the states, hav'
neglected TO enact a system or cod'
Of irrigation laws that will protec
against what ] choose TO call tn
water rights. that Is, the man or meT
who file claims for water a%Dpropria'
tions from streams and for reservoirs
without doing anything more. and by
that means prevent legitimate enter
prises from obtaining such sites and
proceeding with the construction OF
a system of works that would tend To
reclaim new lands, and make II pos
sible for them to be utilized for the
home maker. Some of these specula-
tors have flied pretended claims on a
larger number Of the stream in some
Of the states, thus retarding and often
o%tstructing legitimate enterprises,
and in some instances such filings
have been used to EXPORT money from
good faith enterprises. all OF which
could have been prevented by q few
lines Of wholesome legislation. com
pelling the person r-nKing such filing
to diligently proceed with the work
OF construction. and defining what
would constitute diligence under such
circumstances, and providing a PEN
atty that a party falling to do SO much
work In each limited period should
forfeit all rights and an claims under
such filings, and that such parties
should have no right Of renewing such
filings. In other words, limit such
filings as homestead rights are linn
tied under the federal law.
Again. no adequate provision has
al H. .-..a - HEA fnfa for
protecting aud enforcing the decreed
aprable injury have been permitted
because our legislature has not seen
fit TO enact a code OF laws capable OF
being vigorously enforced and making
II the duty of either the governor or
the state engineer TO SO enforce such
laws. on the other hand. our courts
are sometimes presided over by men
seem to "a very little appreeia-
ton Of the value of a water right and
have. in some cases. Issued in
functions based upon misleading state
or upon statements not suffi-
cient 10 warrant the granting Of a
or permanent writ of in
junction, which orders have deprived
people Of the use OF water To which
they were lawfully entitled under such
DEGREES. until the case could be re-
moved to- our supreme court for cor
In spite Of all these things,
in spite Of lack Of proper projection,
irrigation by private enterprise has
made wonderful strides, and its
growth and development have done
more 20 make this part Of the west
wealthy and prosperous than all other
enterprises combined.
Now hat the reclamation of lands
- ~ -.41 AL-aH-A IL IgFaA fAaraNNH ~ D
by and through the instru-
Of irrigation districts. the
people Of this section OF the country
must see to Il that In the issuing and
.loatinE of such securities among peo-
Die in other sections of the country
hey are duly and properly safeguard
"a.
The construction Of "A system OF
works for irrigation purposes
lhould not be authorized until the
has been thoroughly investigated
approved 10y the state engineer or
ais representatives. No Investor in
irrigation district bonds should be
and so far as the banks and
arge corporations dealing In such
are concerned. shey always have
lie means OF acquiring full informa-
ion as to what Is behind an irrtga-
security before they purchase the
and " any OF them are duped
,r misled. IL will be because they have
rot exercised good business judgment
D properly advising themselves:
FIRST. as 20 whether there Is a
supply ample 10 the lands pro-
proposed to be reclaimed is fertile and
Second, as to whether the land
proposed TO eh reclaimed is fertile and
Of being reduced TO agricul-
ural purposes.
Third. whether the cost OF the sys-
EN- is excessive. that Is, whether II Is
ID great as To be beyond the ability of
farmers who will operate the lands
inder such system TO meet and pay.
ION the other hand. speaking for
he preservation OF the integrity n
honesty of the people Of the arid sec
desire 60 admonish all present
IL this great congress, that Il Is our
luty 10 see to II that proper safe
,uards arc thrown around the cren-
ion Of irrigation district, and for
matter the creation Of irrigation
companies. so that the investing pub
ic may not be misled or duped into
purchasing worthless securities. We
IN know that many INSCRIPTIONS men
made fortunes by selling broad
throughout the land mining
ana stocks supposed to be based
tpon good security-Wc all know that
many so-callcd land and Irrigation
companies have perpctrated swindles
hat ought to shame every American
.itizen. by buying up large tracts OF
worthless lands and sending Gu glow
ng prospcctuses, that have caused
many wage carners, many school
.eachcrs, many clerks and other pco-
Die with small salaries or small IN
.omes. to invest their all In such
schemes. hoping 10 increase then
worldly holdings by becoming the
owner Of n piece of land that Is sup
posed To he SO located n TO be OF
such quality and with sufficient water
.o justify the Investment. Without
desiring to criticise the postal service
II the United states government, do
not hesitate In saying hat many
,windline land schemes have been
operated through the use of the
.nitcd States mails, and which, be-
icve. could have been headed of.
and many people saved the loss OF
heir hard earned money, if the pos
.al authorities had forbidden any
drawing or any plan of advertising
land sales through the mails,
such as many of us have known of
n this and other western states
DEMANDS LICENSE