10 



land and water must be under one control, and that opntrol must be 

 exercised in the location of ditches as well as in the division of water 

 between ditches. The present haphazard method of constructing 1 irri- 

 gating works is the exact counterpart of the primitive methods of dispos- 

 ing of land in the early history of this country when each settler went 

 into the woods and ''blazed" out his domain in any direction and to any 

 extent which inclination or interest might dictate. The long continued 

 and disastrous litigation which this entailed upon the southern States is 

 certain to have Us counterpart in water controversies if we do not take 

 adequate measures to secure a reform in present method-. 



PKOPOSED METHODS OF RECLAIMING ARID LANDS. 



Four plans for securing the reclamation of the arid lands are now 

 prominently before the countr}*. Two of these plans provide for the 

 exercise of jurisdiction and control over the work by the authorities of 

 the National -government. Two provide for the exercise of such control 

 by the authorities of the several State governments. The plans proposed 

 for the prosecution of this work by the National government are: First, 

 the building of ditches by direct appropriations from the treasury of the 

 United States, the work to be done according to plans provided by 

 government officers and under the supervision of such officers. The 

 second of these plans provides for the work being done by private parties 

 who are given a lien upon the land to be reclaimed as security for the 

 return of the money invested in their construction; but the supervision 

 of the work, the control of the land and the control of the water supplies 

 to be under the jurisdiction of the National government. 



The plans which provide for the prosecution of this work understate 

 control are: First, the preparation of plans and the construction of 

 ditches by the Sisito, the money to be provided by direct appropriations 

 from the treasury or by the sale of bonds. Second, the construction of 

 ditches and canal- by private enterprise under plans prepared by, or 

 accepted by ihe State authorities, the parties constructing the canals to 

 be secured by a lien on the land to be reclaimed. 



All of these plans agree in two particulars. First, that the object 

 of this reclamation is to provide homes for settlers, that the land must 

 be disposed of in small trac's to settlers who are to be cultivators of the 

 soil and users of water. Second, that the expense of such reclamation 

 is to be borne by the parties who receive the benefit, that ;s, the settlers 

 who occupy the land reclaimed. If either the State or national govern- 

 ment provides the money from its treasury, or from the sale of bonds, it 

 does HO with the expectation and understanding that the money is to be 

 returnpd from the sale of the land and the improvements placed thereon 

 by the expenditure of this money. If private parties furnish the money 

 for the construction of these works they expect to either receive their 

 compensation from the sale of the lands and improvements, by the State 

 or national government to settlers, or through the sale themselves of the 

 land and ditches, to settlers. 



Another plan for the carrying out of this work by congress has been 

 sometimes discussed and advocated by the press of this region. It is that 

 congress should make absolute appropriations or donations for the con- 

 struction of ditches exactly as it makes appropriations for the improve- 



