EDITORIAL 



573 



REGULATION OF TIMBER-CUTTING 



rights of private enterprise" in irriga- acre the total land value thus added to 



tion, and who apparently harbor a mor- the Nation will amount to $6,000,000,- 



bid dread of "the Government entering 000. 



into competition" with such enterprise. The Flint bill, which has been before 



Thus far, "legitimate private enter- the Senate for some time, provides for 

 prise," especially that which has passed a revolving fund similar to that by 

 the infantile stage, has somehow man- which arid lands are reclaimed by irri- 

 aged, in this country, to worry along, gation. Here again is an enterprise 

 It has discovered that "there is room which will cost the country nothing, for 

 at the top," and has headed that way. the lands reclaimed pay for themselves 

 The Spokane debate, however, reminds and more ; in addition they will add 

 one of the remark of old Ephraim in vastly to the national wealth, and in- 

 discussing the question of room. Said crease the opportunity of citizens to 

 he, "What we most need, 'pears to me, provide for themselves homes and earn 

 am a little moah room at de bottom." honest livelihoods. The 60,000,000 



This room, it has been fondly hoped acres above mentioned, if divided into 



by irrigationists, the Reclamation Serv- forty-acre farms as contemplated by the 



ice would aid in providing. Since all Flint bill, would provide for from 



it needs, apparently, is more money 7,000,000 to 8,000,000 additional farm 



and no brakes, the appropriation should population. Unless all "poor men's 



by all means be made, and the amount propositions" are to be turned down, 



asked is small enough. and the Government is to be permanent- 

 ly committed to the policy of refrain- 



GOVERNMENT DRAINAGE j^.^ f,0„^ ^-^-^^^ ^^^ ^-^-^^^^ -^ ^^^^^j^ 



The resolution in favor of drainage, seem difficult to find good ground for 



by Government, of the swamp and over- criticizing the drainage resolution, 

 flowed lands of the Union in the interest 

 of public health and the creation of 



homes, is eminently wise. In view of The Congress favored "the enact- 



work already in progress by states, ment of laws by the states regulating 



notably Florida, the cooperation of the cutting of timber on state and private 



states and the Federal Government is lands." 



very properly suggested. This proposed restriction of the 



The drainage question is one of far- "right" of the individual "to do as he 



reaching importance. We have in the will with his own" is another blow at 



United States 150,000,000 acres of that rampant "individualism" which has 



waste lands, capable of reclamation, gone so far to despoil the heritage of 



Such lands are among the most fertile, generations yet to come. In foreign 



if not absolutely the most fertile, on the countries, notably Germany, such regu- 



continent. The largest swamp area is lation is accepted as a matter of course, 



in Florida, where the region covers At the White House Conference, Presi- 



18,500,000 acres ; Louisiana follows dent Roosevelt, in his opening address, 



with 9,600,000 acres ; Arkansas is third called special attention to the need for 



with 5,700,000. Thirty-nine states have such legislation in the United States, 



swamp areas which may be figured in He said : 



the tens of thousands of acres. »„„ ,,• t,^. ^i,- k; r ^i ,. *i ^ 



. ,. rr • 1 • j^ ii ^^y rignt-tninking father earnestly de- 



Accordmg to official estimates the sires and strives to leave his son both an 



cost of reclamation by drainage will untarnished name and a reasonable equipment 



not, in most instances, exceed five or six for Jhe struggle of life. So this Nation as 



1 11 T 1 • ~ u 4-i,„ „^^^ s whole should earnestly desire and strive 



dollars per acre. Judging by the prep- ^^ ,^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^^^ generation the national 



ent value of drained lands, it is within honor unstained and the national resources 



litnits to estimate that these lands will unexhausted. There are signs that both the 



reach a value of from $50 to $200 per Nation and the states are waking to a reali- 



,f ,' 1 • J zation of this gfreat truth. On March 10, 1908. 



acre. If 60,000,000 acres are reclaimed ^he Supreme Court of Maine rendered an 



and reach an average value of $100 per exceedingly important judicial decision. * * * 



