Natural Phenomena Related to Human History

Irrigation and Education By Professor O. W. Israelsen, of the Utah Agricultural College

V. Progress.

That Perseverance is essential to Progress was called to attention in the last number of the Era. But, although absolutely necessary, Perseverance is not sufficient. In irrigation practice the highest type of Progress is assured only to the irrigator who has obtained an early Priority; who has always used water for a beneficial Purpose; who has consistently maintained his Place of use; and who has Persevered, and will continue to Persevere in the improvement of his irrigation system and in his methods of applying water. Courts and legislatures have declared "beneficial use" to be "the basis, the measure and the limit of a water right." This declaration has never deprived a persistent irrigator of a plentiful water supply, nor is it likely to deprive one. On the contrary, it has always protected him in his right to plenty of water for reasonable use. The doctrine of "beneficial use" has contributed much to the Progress of the West. To hold a right to the use of water without continuously applying the water to beneficial use has happily been made impossible. The "dog in the manger" policy has no place in irrigation law. However, our foremost authorities in irrigation now assert that the "beneficial use" doctrine should be supplanted by a more rigid one, namely "economical use." It is, they maintain, no longer sufficient that the use of water should simply be of some benefit to society. It should, they argue, be of the greatest possible benefit under existing conditions, and therefore be economical. This claim is every year gaining many advocates. For all of the lands which need irrigation, the water supply will always be very inadequate. The public may, therefore, justly demand economy in the use of water. Again, irrigation fundamentals symbolize fundamentals in education. The man who ear/y began the development of his potential powers, who has always used his time for a beneficial Purpose, who has consistently remained in Place; and who has plodded persistently, has developed a sound basis for permanent educational Progress. Beneficial use of time is de-

804 IMPROVEMENT ERA _i

clared by nature to be the "basis, the measure and the limit" of the right to be in educational advancement. It has never resuled in privation, but has contributed to the acquirement of opportunity for eternal Progress, and to the advancement of civilization. To maintain a right to a proportional share of society's responsibility without beneficial use of one's opportunities is manifestly impossible. And very fortunately, beneficial use of time and opportunity is open to every one. Democracy and self-governing are abolishing the "dog in the manger" policy with respect to universal individual Progress, under which the common people of the world once suffered. However, with the increased opportunities now afforded every one, beneficial use of time and opportunity is no longer adequate. It is insufficient to simply "be doin' somethin'." Every moment must be made to bring the greatest possible benefit to self and to society. Such use of time is properly called economical, and the urgent need of every person making economical use of each moment is each day becoming more generally recognized. The universe in which we live is but partly understood. Many processes in our plant and animal life are yet unexplained. About other planets even less is known. For all of the truths which await unfolding, the work-supply will always be very inadequate. The individual who early decides upon a definite Purpose in life and who Perseveres persistently in making economical use of every moment and of every opportunity is invariably of genuine service to society, and genuine service to society is the ground-level of individual Progress. Logan, Utah

La Sierra Madre (The Mother Mountain)

O sweet is the breath of thy pine-robed hills, Thy fountains in sylvan bowers, So sparkling and cool, feed the hurrying rills,—- Refreshing, life-giving thy showers;

The deer in the glade, the eagle in air, The wild turkey, strutting with pride, The fierce timber-wolf, the panther and bear, The pools where the rainbow-trout hide.

Green are the grasses, sweet-scented the flowers, The shrub with its bird-song and bees, How sweet to my soul to linger for hours With the wild life 'neath sheltering trees. Colonia Juarez, Mexico. Joel H. Martineau.