342 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



the ultimate end to be achieved. The declaration of the fundamental 

 principle is all the Irrigation Congress should undertake to formulate. 

 The principles it put forth in the last two sessions -of the Congress at' 

 Phoenix and Lincoln were broad and sound ground. It should adhere 

 to them closely. But there remain yet some other propositions to be 

 evolved, for instance, the problem of the forests and the grazing 

 lands. 



Why could not these principles be crystalized along the following 

 lines, and when so formulated have the united advocacy and support 

 of the Irrigation Congress. 



ARID LAND RECLAMATION. 



(Resolution of the Phoenix Irrigation Congress), 

 We favor the construction by the federal government of storage 

 reservoirs and irrigation works wherever necessary to furnish water 

 for the reclamation and actual settlement of the arid public lauds. 



UNITED OWNERSHIP OP LAND AND WATER. 



(Resolution of the Lincoln Irrigation Congress.} 

 The value of the irrigated farm and the security of the homes 

 thereby created are alike dependent upon sufficient public control of 

 the water supply, and the prevention of water becoming a speculative 

 commodity. We believe that the waters of all streams should forever 

 remain public property, and that the right to its use should inhere, 

 not in the individual or the ditch, but in the land reclaimed. 



CONDITIONAL STATE CESSION . 



(Resolution of the Phoenix Irrigation Congress.} 

 We favor the cession of the public lands of the nation to the re- 

 spective states and territories on]y upon conditions so strict that 

 they will insure the settlement of such lands by actual settlers in 

 small tracts, and absolutely prevent their monopoly in large bodies 

 under private ownership. 



FEDERAL STORAGE RESERVOIRS. 



(Endorsement of the Chittendcn Report.} 



We favor the preservation and development of our national re- 

 sources by the construction of storage reservoirs by the federal gov- 

 ernment for flood protection and to save for use in aid of navigation 

 and irrigation, the flood waters which now run to waste and cause 

 overflow and destruction. 



LEASING OF THE GRAZING LANDS. 

 (Endorsement of Recommendation -of Elivood Mead.} 

 We favor the leasing of trie public grazing lands at a nominal 

 rental in limited areas to settlers tilling adjacent lands, the revenue 

 from rentals to go to the states for irrigation development, leases to 

 be subject to right of reclamation by irrigation and of settlement on 

 lands actually cultivated, title to land to remain in federal government 

 until actual settlement. 



