Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-28
RooseVeItian Theory Seems to Be
Favored More Than States
Rights at Pueblo
FOREST SERVICE is INDoRSED
Newell Describes Development in
the West Due to Gov
ernment Work
[Associated Pressl

VocateS in water distribution at today S
session of the eighteenth national irri-
cation congress was the address OF
Frank c. Goudy of Denver who advo-
Gated larger private and state holdings
in irrigation projects.
Further than this, the day was not
encouraging to supporters Of this pol
icy, even in the caucus of the Colorado
delegation this morning, when 1t was
decided by a surprisingly close vote to
carry the contest to the resolutions
committee and later to the floor Of the
convention.
Determined opposition developed to
the proposed recommendation for an
appropriation Of $1,000,000 annually to
the fund of the reclamation service for
use in gauging streams.
Like obstacles were encountered by
sponsors for the resolution recommend
ing a redistribution of water along the
Rio Grande in Southern Colorado, New
Mexico and Western Texas.
With the split of the Colorado dele
cations, ADVOCATES of the new nation
alism and supporters of the federal
reclamation service are jubilant, and
consider their victory already won.
New evidences OF the favor with
which this policy is regarded appeared
today in the meeting of the forestry
service and stockmen. Though merely
a sidelight to the main congress, this
meeting demonstrated growing
friendly feeling and ended in an In
dorsement Of the forest rangers and
forestry service by the stockmen.
The "water pirate was scored today
by Mr. Goudy, who said In part:
believe irrigation as a private en-
terprise should be fostered. While much
has been accomplished under the fed
eraI reclamation aot, far more land mas
been reclaimed by private enterprise and
CAPITAL. and tho one criticism I have to
make of the federal reclamation service
is that In some instances it has serious
iy interfered with the reclamation work
attempted by private enterprises. The
greatest asset Of the arid section is its
irrigated lands, but several state govern
ments have seemingly never fully appre-
ciated the value OF this great wealth
- producing resource. In Colorado 1t has
been extremely difficult and often tmpos-
sible to obtain appropriations sunlcient
to enable the state engineer and other
officers charged with the duty of properly
distributing the waters of a natural
stream to carry their work.
Some, If not all, of the states have
neglected to enact a code of irrigation
laws that will protect against those who
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streams and reservoirs without doing any
thing more, and by that means prevent
legitimate enterprises from obtaining such
sites and proceeding with the construc-
tion of a system of works that would tend
to reclaim new lands.
The construction of a system of water
works for irrigation should not be au-
thorized until the same has been inves-
tigated and approved by the state engi-
neer No investor in irrigation district
bonds should be misled, and so far as
the banks and large corporations dealing
in such bonds are concerned, they al
ways have the means of acquiring full
information as to what is behind an ir-
rigation security before they purchase the
same, and II any of them are duped or
misled 1t will be because they have not
exercised good business judgment In prop
erly advising themselves.
Appreciation of the improvement in
the character and stability of irrigation
projects was voiced by George e. Bar
stow of Texas, who urged the necessity
of fostering all legitimate efforts to CO.
ordinate the investments of the nation
with the great work of irrigation by
private enterprises.
APPEALS FOR IRRIGATION
Mr.. Barstow made a strong appeal
for irrigation, not only as an economic
project, but as an aid to civilization
and a potent factor in the world s
progress. His speech in part follows;
"The first essential for a successful
issue of irrigation is sufficient sup
ply of good water. One may possess
twenty, fifty or one hundred thousand
acres OF fine alluvial land, splendid eli
mate, nearby markets, ETC., and yet II
lacking a proper supply of water he
need not look for successful issue.
/ regret to say that there are men in
different parts of our country, who
having gained possession of land, have
made the innocent to suffer, and also
brought some disrepute on a great and
most important national industry.
1--WE cannot too strongly condemn
operations of this kind, and / trust
that the committee on resolutions of
this congress will present for our
adoption a resolution on this matter,
setting the subject before the country
in no uncertain manner. If we are to
continue In irrigation by private enter
prise in the great arid and semi-arid
parts of our nation we must constant
ly draw and hold tie confidence of our
moneyed interests and investing
classes. We cannot hope for such most
desirable results IL for one moment we
countenance those irrigation operations
that are designed to filch the public.
''TIistory discovers to US that irriga-
tion by private enterprise has always
been in the van. This has been true
in India, Syria, Babylon, Egypt, Java,
under the subjects and successors of
Montezuma; in Chile, Peru, Argentina
and the United States. Before the
English imperial government began its
great work in irrigation in India the
people of India by private enterprise
had constructed works of various types
capable of. irrigating 25,0OO0OO acres of
land This acreage has been increased
to over 100000 acres by private en-
terprise; and over 20,000,000 acres by
imperial government.
IT have many times advocated the
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