Show THE ARID LAND QUESTION It Is II to b be regretted that the ap- ap approaching ap approaching Irrigation Congress Congre has bal no not aroused and ii is not arousing ai as much In interest In Utah ai as the importance ot of the subject and this thie Territory's prom prom- in it ought to require Per haps hapl there are good reasons for tor this the indifference NEWS Naw has bal beard numerous expressions of disappoint disappoint- disappointment disappoint ment dissatisfaction and disgust at 10 some ome iDe recent operations operation on the part of the conventions convention promoter ers erl er and managers from men who have bave heretofore been influential and active in the movement But Bot the oc- oc occa occasion oc ca casion lon seems leema to ui us to be one w where bere men mn should mould not be too technical or sensitive and where there should be beat beat beat at least a partial parnal linking sinking of 01 personal feelings in a wholesome and resolute endeavor for the public good As Ac a matter maer both of justice and of propriety U Utah h Is II entitled to the leading place and nd the principal part in the deliberations of ot any bod body that discusses tb the question of irrigation irrigation tion In order that this prestige may maybe maybe maybe be claimed and maintained it li is clear elbar- clearly ly evident t that there must be earnest earnest- earnestness neM ness neBI and unanimity on the part of Utah men no no matter whether in the past they think they have bare been properly treated in ID all aU respects or not One of ot the bl biggest gelt problems problem w with which past pall congresses have haTe sought ought to todeal todeal todeal deal and ono one which will no doubt be b prominent In future meetings meeting also alio Is isas as a to the cession cerion of the arid lands landi by bythe bythe t the e general gueral eueral government to the res- res respect re ve states and territories lei in which they may be found Like ery e-ery very other qu question this one has baa two sides lid Probably a ably inmost In t el of our nel the drift of public sentiment Is II In fn favor r of the tae th proposition proposition- Yet Its Ite U opponents are ey by no mean mn few or er The feeling in Utah u Is also aIM divided divided- divided more equally perhaps than la in other placer In this thia city there here appears appear to tobe tobe tobe be a strong Inclination In certain quarters tell to array Utah on the affirmative side Ida of the be question In the outer coun- coun counties tiei ties tiel tb the leading men with commend commend- commendable commendable able conservatism are re not read ready to be pledged to 0 that bat line Une of action while some IOme ome argue decidedly for tur the negative side id The NEWS think the matter ii Is altogether too Important to be disposed of off hand and aDd without due doe study tudy of all Its Ite aspects For ourselves we Ie KC see man many reasons reoul why the gover men went Itself ii Is I quite ai as able to look a after r rand and of of t its ite now arid landi Jandl to bona fide Settlers on the cheapest and easiest terms aa as any state tate can caD be We see lee much force foroe In inthe inthe the argument that in this matter geographical divisions DI and the contour ct cf the country rather than formal state boundary lines line must be considered In works for lor reclamation and aDd improve improve- improvement improvement Improvement ment We iodine incline favorably t to tb the logic that while tens enl of millions million out oot of the nations nation's nation treasury ar are expended for forthe forthe the Improvement of rive rivers riven and harbors barbona a share ebare aare might well b be spared for the Improvement and construction or of national reservoirs waterways etc ate An And we are pretty sure lore ure that while the beneficent purpose of tb the national land laws has bal at times time been evaded or de- de defeated de defeated in the interest of speculators and nd capitalists there ie is still lUll till more danger to fear tear such results with ID in- in increased creased expenses and nd probable corruption corruption tion In ID the case Ga e of state tate governments It will be seen 1880 from the foregoing that tb the NEWS NEW Is II not altogether converted to the plan plaD and ve ry many of our readers are in this same lame ame frame of mind Doesn't 10 somebody o meb dy want to argue the question tersely and plaIn plain- the general publics public's public Information Our columns are open for tor communications communication tion from either side ilde We only uk ask that they be short bort pithy and to the point |