Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-14
DOMESTIC NEWS.
Affairs at the National Capital.

Affairs at the National Capital.
Especial to the REcoRD-UNIoN.I
WASHINGTON, February 18th Senator
Hill, of Colorado, has been authorized to sub
init to the Senate, in behalf of the Public
Lands Committee, very interesting report
which he has prepared in advocacy of the
passage of his bill looking to the reclamation
of arid public lands by means of artesian wells.
The report begins by stating that SOC, 600, 600
acres of land are embraced in the arid region
of the United States that not one per cent.
of this territory has been sold by the y United
States, and that it must remain unsold for
years to come, unless some means are found
to supply it with water. After deducing from
this aggregate the number of acres of land, as
ascertained from Government surveys and
other reliable data, to be unfit for agri-
culture, even if water were supplied to
them, because of their being broken and
mountainous, destitute of soil, covered with
lava deposit, or consisting of barren, drifting
sand, there remain, says the report. 800, 000,-
900 acres of lands of the great plains and val
leys, in a part of which valuable crops could
be raised if water was supplied for irrigation.
The report continues MANY thousand
acres have already been reclaimed by utiliz-
ing the waters of rivers and streams, and
spreading them over the land during the period
of growth of the crops. But owing to limited
supply of water, which can be made availa-
BILE from these sources under the most favor
able conditions, probably not more than
three per cent OF the 800, 000, 900 acres can
be reclaimed. What use can be made of the
$1,000, 600 remaining acres? They are not,
it is trde entirely valueless. They are now,
and will be hereafter, used still more for pas
turage lands, but they never can to any great
lo for This The
growth of grass is so scanty that it
requires from 10 to % acres for the support
of each head of cattle, and many thousand
acres are situated from 30 to 100 miles from
living water, and are thus unavailable even
for pasturage But little will ever be real
lied by the Government from the sale Of
these lands until it is demonstrated that
water can be supplied by artesian wells. In
the State of Colorado alone, on the great
plains east of the Rocky Mountains,
are 10000 900 acres of land. Much of
it will produce, if irrigated, % to 80
bushels of wheat per acre. 1t is in view of
she facts which have been given that Con-
,rress is asked to appropriate S50,O0 for
boring artesian wells. Private enterprise
will not undertake the work, which is of an
experimental character, the land Is all
owned by the Government but let 1t be
demonstrated that water can be supplied In
This way, anu clLlZenS Will puICLeioC Vic idhu
of the Government and wells will be bored
by individuals and corporations, and in time
vast tracts of land will thereby be reclaimed
Should it be found that artesian well water
can be made available, these lands, from be-
ing the most barren on the Continent, will
become the most attractive to farmers.
Their crops would not be subject to the vicis-
STUDIES of rainfall and drought. The chances
of failure of the crops would be greatly di-
minished, and the interest in agricultural
pursuits in that section would be
immensely stimulated. Although these
lands are as unproductive as much
ff the land which has been granted to other
States under the swamp land Acts, no grant
has been made to the States where the arid
lands are situated, to aid in their reclama-
ton. Had this been done there would have
been no occasion for an appropriation for the
purpose of boring artesian wells. Thus aided,
the States and Territories of the arid region
would themselves have made thorough ex-
ploration for water" Senator Hill then gives
some statistics as to the cost of boring
deep wells He remarks that some of the
ablest biologists in the country have expressed
the opinion that flowing wells can be obtained
in many localities on the plains east and west
of the Rocky mountains. He refers to the
official statements of the Secretary of the In
terror, who reports that the homestead and
presumption laws are not properly applicable
to this class of desert lands, and to the recent
recommendation of the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture for the sinking of artesian wells by
the Government, with view to the reclama-
ton of these deserts He calls attention to
the insigniiance of the amount of the appro-
priation proposed in comparison with the
magnitude of the expected results, and in
conclusion takes the ground that the bill I'M
der consideration is an experiment in the
right direction, and should receive the early
sanction of Congress
Imposing arguments on the Pulgas ranch
bill were heard by the House Private Lands
Committee to-day, and action will be taken
by the committee next week.
Louis Schloss and Claus Spreckles, of San
Francisco, have arrived here, the first on his
way to Europe, and the second on a sight
seeing visit from New York.
The Presidential Question.
AN OPEN, ACTIVE FIGHT.
CHICAGO, February 13th.-The Tribune,
Washington special says: Senator Blaines
friends had a conference at his house last
night, where it was decided that they shall
henceforth make an active, open fight for the
Republican nomination. General Albright,
of Pennsylvania, says he knows 20 of the 80
delegates from Pennsylvania who will not
respect the unit rule adopted at the Harris
burg Convention, and indignation meetings
are being held throughout Pennsylvania, pro-
testing against that rule and instructing
Blaine delegates to vote for Blaine.
TILDEN AND HANCOCK.
CHICAGO, February 13th.-The Journals
Washington special says: Senator Wallace's
friends say Speaker Randall is at work Sc
cretly trying to fix up some Congressional Dis
tricts in Pennsylvania in the interest OF Til
den. Wallace believes a majority of the dele
gates to the Democratic Convention will fla
vor Hancock's nomination.
IN FAVOR OF CHICAGO.
CHICAGO, February 18th. The Times
Washington special says that IIlden Is very
favorable to Chicago as the place to hold the
Democratic Convention. He is not out of the
race and is certain that he can control the
nomination if he cannot get it.
VIEWS OF HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
NEW YoRK. February 13th.-Beecher said
at the lincoln Club dinner last night +" Ii |
could have my OVID way L would vote for
Grant TO come back low applausel, partly
because I should wish to bear testimony
against that heresy of no third term, which
has taken such hold upon some people.
refuse to allow any party, or any political or
ganization. to take away from me the right
70 call again to office man who, while in
Office. has ably fulfilled its functions, who is
tbe choice of a majority of his countrymen.
and say that he shall not try again. Loud
applause 1 protest against going into an
SECTION handicapped. should select Grant,
because think rotstiou in office is the curse
of our affairs. What we want is more sta
bility and continuity. 1t is point of weak
ness that our President is elected every four
years. 1t is an unnecessary excitement and
siistu, bance of our community, and yet to
have any army officer elected for life would
he going to the other extreme. The best
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