The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-31
THE FIPTIETH CONGRESS.
The Senate Considers the Question of Re-
deeming Waste and Arid Lands.

The senate Considers tho question OF Re
deeming Waste and Arid Lands.
WASHINGTON, July 30.-The Senate resumed
consideration of the sundry civil bill. and several
unimportant amendments were offered from
the committee on appropriations and agreed to.
Mr.. Bowen offered an amendment appropriat-
ing $780, 600 for tie purpose of investigating
the extent to which the arid region of the
United States can be redeemed by irrigation,
and briefly addressed the Senate in its support.
Mr.. Bowen said be was not performing an act
of merely perfunctory character in offering the
amendment, because the very reverse was true.
He was very much in earnest about il, and
hoped it would have the fair and candid consid-
GRAFTON which it's great importance demanded.
The point had very nearly been reached when
the coun try would have no land surplus. By
arid lands he meant all land that was non-pro-
ductive, without irrigation. and that classifca-
ton embraced the eastern portions OF California,
Oregon. Washington Territory. and nearly the
whole Of Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona. New
Mexico, Colorado. Wyoming and Montana. while
the western portions Of Dakota. Nebraska and
Texas were, In some seasons. seriously affected
by drought. If nature had to be depended upon
for moisture there could not be raised, on all
this vast domain. a single bushel of wheat; while
whenever and wherever moisture was supplied
those verdureless deserts changed as II by
magic and became the garden spots OF the world.
A large part of the arid lands of the Uuited
States would, for various reasons, remain so
forever. but the proportion which could be re-
deemed and made useful was sutnclentiy large
to make their a matter OF profound
interest. The appropriation urged was strictly
within the line of economy, because IL was based
upon considerations of the highest national i'm
portance. The general reclamation of arid lands
could be accomplished-of that there could be
no reasonable douot-and the amount asked to
inaugurats the experiment was but e trifie.
Mr.. Allison thought this appropriation would
be but an entering wedge to much larger sums
yet to be appropriated before such q work can
be completed.
Mr.. Teller favored the amendment.
Mr.. Plumb opposed it. and said the measure
was conceived in utter disregard of the riparian
rights of those who dwelt on the lower Platte,
the Arkansas and the Mississippi rivers. He
saw In it a means of speculation In the PUBIC
domain. He was glad that the amount had
been put as low as $3.50. 900. for, il it had pro
posed an appropriation OF millions, there would
not be two votes against It. This was not the
time for such work.
The proposition was supported by Senators
Stewart, Voorhees, and Call.
MIR. Beck said that if the matter were entered
upon on the scale suggested t would take q
hundred million dollars. The survey alone
would take over So, 900. 600. 1t was a scheme
which ought not TO be goae into III that form
without more careful consideration. Tie effect
of the proposition would be in the inter
est OF SPECTATORS.
Mr.. Teller said the proposition was not 10 the
nature of q job, as the Senator from Kansas
would have it understood. 1t was in the inter
est OF the great toiling masses who lived on the
farms and in the interest of the Nation and
world. The men who lived on farms were never
Anarchists, never revolutiouists, but were the
safety-valve of the Nation ana OF the world.
Mr. Reagan called attention to the fact that
stcsrs was no provision In the amendment Tor
withdrawing the land designated as sites for
reservoirs, and that such land would be taken
up by those who watched the survey.
Mr.. Teller moved to add the following to the
amendment, and the motion was agreed TO: "And
as fast as such sites for reservoirs shall be sur
veyed, such sites shall be in q state of reserva-
ton until the President Of the United States
shall otherwise order"
Mr.. Allison thought there must be q misap-
prehension as to the full effect OF the PROPOSE
ton. IL il was not for the purpose solely OF
acquiring information. it was for the purpose OF
embarking the government Ia q new scheme OF
activity.
Mr.. Dawes spoke Of the fact that. under exist
ing laws, the whole region OF northern Dakota
was held In great land holdings, which were the
curse of the country. If il could be made clear
to him that when the plan was perfected il
would be for the advantage OF the settlers OF the
homesteads. he would favor it; but he did no,
want the attention OF spectators drawn to the
points where they could make the most profit
Mr.. Reagan offered as q substitute for Mr..
Teller's amendment to the Amendment the fol-
lowing, which was ayr eed TO: 'Apd all the lands
which may be designated for reservoirs and
canals for irrigation shall be reserved as the
property of the United States, and shall not be
subject TO entry or settlement. until hereafter
provided for by law"
Finally the discussion closed, and Mr.. Bowen's
amendment as amended was agreed to-yeas 29.
navs l8.
Mr.. Spooner offered al amendment appropriate
ing $75. 900 for q public building at Atchison.
Kan. Without action upon the amendment the
Senate adjourned.