Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-07-08
Real Craftsmanship in Mexico.

President de la Barra of Mexico is.
proving himself a statesman Of the
first rank There could be no better
proof Of his craftsmanship than is
contained in his statement. THE irri-
cation of the public domain consu-
tutes the problem of greatest impor-
lance in Mexico" and in the policy
of national irrigation which he has
undertaken to establish.
BY direction Of the president, we
learn from the press of Mexico City,
the department of gobernacion has
sent to the governor of each state
and TO jefes politicos generally, a
telegram setting forth the urgent ne
cessity of retaining Mexican public
lands by irrigation as a national pol
icy. and requesting these officials to
forward all available data regarding
feasible irrigation projects of which
they may have knowledge. The tele-
gram points out that there are doubt
less many places where water can be
stored by the construction of reser-
voir dams. and many sections Of
country which can be irrigated by the
mere diversion of water.
It is further explained in the tele
gram that the depleted condition of
the national treasury makes it i'm
At
ent for the payment of wages to large
numbers of laborers. so that construc-
ton work in connection with irriga-
ton projects must, if possible. be done
by prisoners. Or. as set forth in de
tail:
There are in the republic, confined
I'm the various jails. a great number
of men, who, with no labor provided
for them, are held in darkness and
idIeness. while the cost of maintain
ing them is a heavy charge upon the
several states and the federal gov
eminent.
The problem of irrigation, at little
cost. would be solved speedily and eff
ficaciously. by forming groups Of la
DptRIS lIolU llltSt luliltlpuS pllSpiAti
that are found in the jails and peni-
tentiaries. 1t is proposed that, in
addition to providing the prisoners SO
employed with sustenance, they shall
be properly compensated for their
work. the sum of their compensation
earned to be given to them when
they have completed their respective
sentences. so that they may return
TO their homes and thereafter be use
full members Of society
Then follows a suggestion in line
with the enlightened policy which
Arizona was the pioneer in adopting.
and which is fast gaining favor in
other states-the policy of granting
TO prisoners a Communication of time
for faithful labor on public works:
ct would be a great incentive for
prisoners to grant to them commu
tation of time amounting 10 one-half
of the period for which they have
been sentenced. in consideration Of
good conduct and faithful labor in
public work"
The Arizona plan, it will be re-
membered. is to give to each prisoner
one day off his time for each day
that he labors satisfactorily. The
telegram from which we have quoted
concludes:
This department, by direction of
the president, aware of the patriotism
Of the several provisional governors,
urgently directs their attention TO the
IL,
provisional government to which for
the time being is committed the des-
TIMES of the country. of taking the
first steps in solving the problem Of
irrigation. You are therefore request
ed to transmit TO this department full
information concerning the number
of prisoners available in your juris-
diction. together with a complete ac-
count of feasible irrigation projects
within your knowledge"
We congratulate President de Ia
Barra. He is taking steps which will
continue to make for the prosperity
and peace of Mexico long after he has
passed from earth. The basis of per-
manent prosperity in any country is
agriculture. Moreover, tillers of the
soil always want peace. The back
ward condition of agricultural devel-
opment in Mexico. and the consequent
lack of steady employment for the
vast number of unskilled laborers in
that country. present at all times a
situation pregnant with danger for
this or that section. and danger Of
political disturbances because of the
idleness and poverty of the people.
There are immense possibilities for