THE PROGRESS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 



pie that water in natural channels and beds is pub- 

 lic property; and when, under the law of any State, 

 vested rights have been secured thereto, such rights, 

 like all other private property, may be supervised 

 for beneficial purposes and be condemned for public 

 uses, under the exercise of the power of eminent 

 domain.' 1 The Congress favored the leasing of the 

 pastural lands and the use of the army in preserving 

 the forests. It favored liberal appropriations for sci- 

 entific work in the semi-arid regions. 



Honest It will be remembered that previous to 

 tSe b DlstIct tne last con ress THE AGE made a stren- 

 L,a.w. uous effort to induce both the friends 

 and opponents of the District law of California to be 

 present at Los Angeles and discuss that measure to a 

 final result. Hon. C. C. Wright, author of the law, 

 was present and delivered a very notable speech, in 

 which the law was thoroughly analyzed and explained 

 from the standpoint of its friends. Not a single 

 critic of the law arose to discuss it. And yet there is 

 much criticism of the statute in California. Within 

 a few miles of the opera house in which the conven- 

 tion met prominent citizens were at that moment en- 

 gaged in an effort to disorganize a district, which would 

 seem to be the best possible type of a locality to 

 which such a law is adapted. We refer to the Ana- 

 heim district, which, according to the latest accounts, 

 is now a complete failure. In many other portions of 

 the State the law encounters vigorous criticism. The 

 declaration of the Los Angeles congress on this sub- 

 ject is as follows: " We endorse the principle of the 

 district irrigation law of California, commonly known 

 as the Wright law, as a wise step in the direction of 

 the public ownership of irrigation works. While we 

 do not assert that it is suited to the needs of unsettled 

 localities, or that it cannot be improved in some of 

 its minor details, we do declare that experience has 

 demonstrated its usefulness, its fairness and its econ- 

 omy.'' We believe this declaration, properly con- 

 strued, correctly represents the attitude of the friends 

 of irrigation. They approve the principle. They do 

 not believe law is suited to unsettled localities. They 

 do not deny that it can be improved in some of its 

 minor details. Now, many other States are seriously 

 considering the adoption of a law like that inaugu- 

 rated in California under the leadership of Mr. 

 Wright. It is not only desirable, but it is absolutely 

 necessary, that the subject should be discussed from 

 every standpoint at Denver. Mr. Weight will be 

 there to defend it and to answer all criticisms. But 

 if the discussion is to be profitable to the representa- 

 tives of States outside of California, it is essential 

 that some able critic of the law should stand up with 

 a list of the districts, the amount of bonds voted, the 

 amount of work done and all other details, and point 



out what weaknesses have developed in the system. 

 One of the ablest students of irrigation law is L. M. 

 Holt of Los Angeles, who has been" closely associated 

 with Mr. Wright in the championship of the District 

 system. Mr. Holt says there are vital points at which 

 the law must be strengthened in order to be thor- 

 oughly successful. The Denver congress should be 

 enlightened on this side of the question. The intrinsic 

 strength of the proposition of public ownership, to- 

 gether with the ability of Mr. Wright, may be trusted 

 to secure another triumphant vindication for the 

 principle involved in the District law. But if other 

 States are to have the full benefit of California's ex- 

 perience, every side of that experience should be 

 fairly and fully exhibited at Denver. 



Gov. Sfte7don The Committee on Resolutions of the last 

 Shouldbe Irrigation Congress was very fortunate 



&&tlt. IO . _ r-r** 



Denver, m its chairman. This important position 

 was occupied by Hon. Lionel A. Sheldon, of Pasadena, 

 California, a gentleman who has enjoyed a wide and 

 distinguished experience in public life. For six years 

 he represented New Orleans in the popular branch of 

 Congress, serving under Speaker Blaineon the Com- 

 mittee of Ways and Means and having the lamented 

 Garfield for a colleague. He was governor of New 

 Mexico at the time of the Lincoln county war and 

 won the highest credit for courageous and vigorous 

 conduct on that occasion. As chairman of the Com- 

 mittee on Resolutions at Los Angeles Governor Shel- 

 don kept the Congress on the best parliamentary basis 

 and gave to the committee itself the greatest dignity. 

 He is a man of broad views, deeply impressed with 

 the part which irrigation will play in the future life 

 of the Republic, and determined that our legislation 

 shall be in accord with conditions essential to the high- 

 est state of civilization. If Governor Markham sees fit 

 to name Mr. Sheldon as one of his delegates at large 

 the choice will be applauded by all the friends of the 

 movement, and the distinguished gentleman will cer- 

 tainly be as conspicuous at Denver as he was at Los 

 Angeles. 



Intelligent The colonization problems of the arid 



Plans for region demand more intelligent study 



Colonixa- . 



tion. than they have yet received. The colo- 

 nist is as essential to the success of an irrigation 

 project as water or land. Much stress has been laid 

 upon the need of educating the public to understand 

 the value of irrigation securities. It seems very plain 

 to us that time, money and effort could be more 

 wisely devoted to educating the public to understand 

 the advantages of homes on irrigated lands. When 

 it is possible to guarantee the speedy settlement of 

 land with industrious and thrifty families it will be 

 much easier to sell irrigation securities. No enter- 



