372 THE IRRIGATION AGE 



the Government of the United States. It resembles in character the 

 old canals that were constructed years ago, or the interstate roads 

 that were constructed by the General Government, or those improve- 

 ments that have been made for a number of years in dredging our riv- 

 ers and improving our harbors public improvements intended for th&\ 

 general welfare; improvements from which the Government does not 

 expect a direct reimbursement, but simply the general advantage that 

 comes to the entire country and the general welfare from the promo- 

 tion of enterprises of this kind. And inasmuch as the rivers of the 

 arid region as a rule are not navigable rivers, and the only public use 

 to which we can put them is irrigation, not navigation, we claim that 

 a fair and equitable distribution of the benefits of Government requires 

 that these streams should be maintained in equal flow by the system 

 of reservoirs to which I have alluded. 



But we also claim that this is not simply a governmental matter 

 in the ordinary sense, buo that the Government itself occupies the 

 position of proprietor, pursuing the usual obligations of land proprie- 

 tors, it is its right and its duty to put these lands in condition for set- 

 tlement. 



By so doing it can continue the traditional policy of the 

 country, which has been to open up the public lands for settlement, 

 restricting the number of acres to be granted to each individual, the 

 purpose being to promote home building amongst a free people. And 

 these arid lands have particular advantages for that kind of settle- 

 ment; for if you will only see to it that moisture is applied to them by 

 these artifical methods, you have the most scientific system of agri- 

 culture that can be conceived. 



Mr. STEELE. Is there any timber at the head waters of those 

 streams that would protect the banks? 



Mr. NEWLANDS. Oh, yes; there are forests at the heads of these 

 streams, though in some cases th( forests have been largely cut down. 

 Still, they protect in a great degree the streams, and our whole 

 scheme involves not only the construction of reservoirs, but the pres- 

 ervation of forests by having a rational cutting of the trees instead of 

 an indiscriminate and destructive cutting. 



Mr. SHAFROTH. Allow me to state that the general character of 

 all the mountainous regions where it is proposed that these reservoirs 

 shall be constructed is that they are in timber. The snow which falls 

 there is retained somewhat, yet not sufficiently retained to let it fall 

 equally. 



Mr. STEELE. I understood that that was the case generally, but 

 I was not sure as to its being the case in Nevada. 



Mr. NEWLANDS. It is true of the three streams I have spoken of 

 in the western part of the State that have their source in the Sierra 



