48 THE IRRIGATION AGE 



tions and results in the two countries, In India everything has been 

 done under absolute and entire government control; while in America 

 private enterprise and speculation have largely had the whole field to 

 themselves. In India the progress has been slow and sure with every 

 precaution against a new project injuring the prospects of an estab- 

 lished work. In America the progress has been very rapid, but re- 

 sults have often failed to come up to what was expected, with numer- 

 ous conflicting interests, and heavy litigation, to hamper and obstruct 

 the smooth and due working of many projects. It seems advisable 

 now that government control should be increased in America in order 

 to conserve existing rights, and allow of future projects being de- 

 signed with a full prospect of permanent success. The great thing 

 to bear in mind is, that in arid countries, natural sources of water be- 

 long to the whole land, and are the property of the state, and not of 

 riparian owners only. The state can then make use of and distribute 

 the water, to the greatest good of the greatest number of its people. 

 In America the state means the people, and hence the majority of the 

 people should be able to derive the fullest possible benefit from the 

 natural resources of their state. 



(TO BE CONTINUED.) 



