THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



147 



vital problems of graft, monopoly, boss rule and frenzied 

 finance, which have come with us to stay, for such study, 

 and for a solution in the light of new ideals of politics 

 and legislation. But it is not alone in a study of the 

 achievements of graft at home and co-operation and 

 government ownership abroad, to which ws may look 

 for an influence that is to weld the mass of conflicting 

 ideals into working order. The experience of democracy 

 in America and the efforts of American legislators 

 to adapt the principles of the common law, which 



conceptions. Just now, the subject of irrigation is 

 uppermost in the mind of the American "West." This 

 subject is in its infancy and few understand much 

 about it. We may guess at its importance as a social 

 factor, but as yet have no clear understanding of the 

 economic conditions to grow out of it, for, irrigation 

 farming and the establishment of irrigation institutions 

 consequent upon it will alter the economic and social 

 conditions of our country, not only in states under 

 irrigation, but also in states where irrigation is not 



An Irrigation Ditch in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. 



makes the rights of private property subservient to the 

 public good, will also assist and the captain of industry, 

 conceived in socialism and nurtured into full fruition 

 under the latitude permitted by American institutions, 

 must look well to his hard-earned laurels and show his 

 right to live. 



practiced. The reconstruction of the State made pos- 

 sible by the approach of new economic conditions must 

 have a practical direction and come as a result of in- 

 stitutions upon the statute books registering the results 

 of experience and careful experiment. The principles 

 established hi r irrigation institutions are to the .point 



Harvesting Onions along the line of the St. Louis. Brownsville & Mexico Railway. 



From the West come new ideals of politics and 

 legislation, and the more so now that the West and 

 the East are brought closer together. Emigration has 

 since the dawn of history moved westward and ever 

 upon its course it has given back to the East new 



and may be summed up in the following order: 



1. The assertion of ownership of water by the 

 State. 



2. The necessary connection of water with land 

 (for the purposes of use and of transfer.) 



