OCR Text |
Show IllRHiATION COBL'ORATtONS. All of the irrigation schemes presented to congress from tho we t Rocky Mountain Moun-tain region, ask the donation of a certain cer-tain amount of the public lands intend, cd to be irrigated, and the opposition to such schemes solely relates to the policy of making land grants in aid of them. Hut this is a cunning plan ol the applicants for some of these franchises fran-chises to divert attention from their chief purpose, which is to secure the right to appropriate the waters of our streams, in this region whero ivriga-. ivriga-. tiou is absolutely necessary, a monopoly monop-oly of water carries with it a monopoly of the land over which it is conveyed. The companies seeking these franchises only ask for a moderate amount ol land; for they know that possessed of tho water they will control all of the land subject to bo irrigated by it. It is thereforo very important that congress con-gress shall in any general or special laws they may pass with reference to irrigation companies, effectually guard against a monopoly by an individual or corporation of the water of our creeks and rivers. |