340 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



PROBLEMS IN THE IRRIGATION LAWS. 



The following is taken from the Denver Daily Re- 

 publican of August 8th: 



"Two questions of the utmost importance have 

 arisen in regard to the enormous irrigation enterprises 

 being started under the reclamation bureau of the Fed- 

 eral Governm'ent. Both involve the provisions of the 

 law itself. One of these is whether or not it would be 

 best for an independent commission to place and di- 

 rect the various enterprises. The other is the question 

 of what conditions will prevail when the purchaser of 

 land obtains full title." 



D. H. Anderson, publisher of THE IERIGATIION 

 AGE, of Chicago, raised these points in a discussion at 

 the Oxford Hotel last night. With Mr. Anderson were 

 C. M. Shultz, of the Associated Farm Press, compris- 

 ing fifty daily papers, and C. G. Rowley, of Jackson, 

 Miss., chairman of the committee on arid lands and 

 irrigation of the National Association of Implement 

 and Vehicle Manufacturers. All are interested in 

 irrigation and are in the West to obtain information. 



"It is claimed by many," continued Mr. Ander- 

 son, "that the law should be changed to provide for the 

 selection of a commission of men of the highest stand- 

 ing and representing all sections of the country; this 

 commission to select the places where reservoirs shall 

 be constructed. At present this is all done by the re- 

 clamation bureau, which is a part of the Interior De- 

 partment. 



"Many claim that, the present system permits of 

 the establishing of these great Government enterprises 

 in such a manner that corporations or individuals are 

 benefited. It is asserted that this was the case in 

 Arizona, that there a reservoir project that would have 

 reclaimed 350,000 acres of the public domain was 

 abandoned in favor of an irrigation system that will re- 

 claim 200.000 acres of land owned by private parties. 



"This is considered a very dangerous condition 

 by many men interested in irrigation. These main- 

 tain that the law should be so amended that there could 

 not be any chance for such results. A commission, 

 composed of men of recognized integrity, is believed 

 to be the best means of accomplishing this. 



"In the eliminating of what might be called all 

 chance for graft, another good result could be accom- 

 plished, it is maintained. This would consist in the 

 selection of reservoir sites in such a manner that the 

 best results would he obtained and the systems prove 

 valuable for all time. By these methods it is believed 

 the best possible results could be accomplished. 



"Probably more important than these points is the 

 question of the conditions that will exist in the future, 

 when the farmer owns the land the Government has 

 reclaimed. This question, which involves the opera- 

 tions of federal and State laws, especially with refer- 

 ence to the bearing one has upon the other, will be 

 up to every farmer some day unless a change is made 

 now. At least that is my opinion. 



"The individual who takes up Government land, 

 with the water privileges accorded by the national irri- 

 gation law, is bound to conform to the government of 

 the federal authorities until he has acquired an abso- 

 lute title to the land, and then he becomes subject to 

 the State sovereignty, the federal authorities having 

 no further dominion over him or his land or to control 

 the water. 



"All federal laws shall be of uniform, general ap- 



plication or operation, however special they may be 

 in their intent. Now, if the federal law is made gen- 

 eral it is bound to result in a contract with the buyer 

 of land in some State where there is a conflict with the 

 State law. But the buyer holds a title, clear, and the 

 Government has nothing more to do with him. He is 

 under the State laws. If his contract conflicts with 

 these, where will the controversy be adjusted? 



"To attempt to make a federal law that will con- 

 form with the laws of all the States in which it ope- 

 rates is impossible now. Some means should be found 

 to adjust these matters. Some body of men should be 

 legalized to bring about uniformity in the irrigation 

 systems before the effects of the present system are 

 felt. Such a body of men should be representative of 

 the persons directly concerned. The system that should 

 be adopted should make it possible for every man in 

 every State to receive his water right in the same legal 

 manner. 



"Colorado is the very heart of the irrigation move- 

 ment, both federal and by private capital. The State 

 has before it a wonderful future. With the develop- 

 menWif agriculture, even to its present state, Colorado 

 is beyond any disturbance of any kind that can give it 

 a permanent setback." 



Mr. Rowley is in the West to obtain information 

 for a special report that he will submit to the imple- 

 ment manufacturers at their next annual meeting in 

 Chattanooga. This report will cover the irrigation 

 question thoroughly. It will be the basis of bringing 

 the support of the association, which has invested in 

 plants $300,000,000, to the reclamation work from the 

 standpoint of business. With its influence gained, one 

 step will have been taken in educating the Eastern peo- 

 ple to the benefits of building up the West. 



IOWA DRAINAGE ASSOCIATION. 



The delegates present at the recent State Drainage 

 Convention held at the Agricultural College organized 

 the Iowa Drainage Association. The association was 

 formed by men who realize the urgent necessity for 

 state-wide organized effort in behalf of new drainage 

 laws which will adequately meet the needs of this State. 

 The members of this association propose to unite in 

 support of the drainage bill which will soon be drafted 

 and presented to the legislature by the strong legisla- 

 tive committee which was appointed by the chairman 

 of the Drainage Convention. 



Every owner of wet land in Iowa appreciates the 

 urgent need for a new drainage law ; he also knows that 

 such a law will not be passed unless he unites with his 

 neighbors and asks for and works for such a law. 

 Without a doubt every man's efforts will count for the 

 most if he will identify himself with the recently or- 

 ganized Drainage Association. Iowa's need is great 

 and therefore we do not hesitate to urge the land 

 owners of the State to join the association and thus aid 

 in solving this important problem of drainage legisla- 

 tion. 



The membership fee is one dollar, which entitles 

 the member to a printed copy of the full proceedings 

 of the Drainage Convention. These reports, as soon as 

 five cents per copy. Applications for membership or 

 for the reports of the convention should be addressed to 

 Prof. W. H. Stevenson, Agricultural College, Ames, 

 Iowa, secretary-treasurer of the Drainage Association. 



