, 1889-07-28
Wyoming Opposed to the Segrega-
ti0n of Its Lands
Until the Government Can Try Its
Irrigation Experiments.
Give the Lands to the State For
Reclamation.

legislation favorable to the development
OF our irrigation resources a committee of
three was appointed to communicate with
the authorities and others interested in
the several states and territories of the
and region with a view of securing an ex-
change of views and, if possible, a con-
cert of action and with the object of pre-
senting to the committee of the United
States senator's who will soon visit the states
and territories of the arid regions to in
vestieate the subject of irrigation such
system or systems for the reclamation OF
the ARID regions as would be most salts
factory to our people.
To this end we have taken the liberty
of presenting to you the views of this
committee and which seems to be he'd by
the people of the territory with substan-
tial unaminity.
Among the various propositions now
being advanced, one of the following
three seems likely to be adopted:
First. The general government to un-
dertake the reclamation OF the arid lands
and provide for their settlement snd
sale.
Second. That the desert land law be so
amended as to encourage individuals and
companies to construct the necessary
works for the reclamation OF large bodies
OF arid lands.
Third. That congress grant to each
state of the arid belt or to each territory
upon its becoming a state all the irrigable
lands within its borders held by the gen
eral government, such states to be charged
with the supervision of their reclamation
and with their disposal to actual settlers.
OF these we favor the last and would
state among the reasons for asking the
control of this matter and as iustifyinG
the donation the following:
The reclamation OF the lands Of this re-
gion lays upon the people engaged and
upon our local or state government re-
aulremeDts and expenses not encountered
by the pioneer of the humid portion of
the country. Not only does the construc
ton of bitches and other distributing
works add greatly to the first cost of a
farm, but with their multiplication comes
the necessity of the state assuming con
troll of the distribution of the water sup
ply and its failure to do so leads inevita-
bly, to expensive litigation or to personal
controversies which impairs both the sue
cess and growth of our agriculture. A
further incentive to prompt action Is the
fact hat the area of hud susceptible OF
reclamation exceeds the amount of the
water supply, the water therefore pos
sesses a greater value than the land and
on Its proper and economical distribution
rests the future OF our agricultural wealth.
1t is of the utmost importance therefore
that no wasteful or improper diversion be
submitted and that the state should con-
troll the appropriations of water as well as
its subsequent division among the various
claimants. The expenses of the work
must of necessity be heavy. In Wyo-
ming there are already $500 bitches
drawing their supplies from 400 water
courses and this work is yet in its infancy.
In Colorado with Its greater advancement
the single work of regulating the division
of the water supply requires the employ
ment by the state of nearly 100 men.
This regulation is a necessity not to be
avoided, but the preliminary examination
OF our streams and an efficient supervision
Of the construction of works to divert
water therefrom are equally important to
our future welfare. In our present condi-
ton it will however be a practical impos-
sibility Tor many of the states and terrific
ries to provide means for this work by
taxation, but the funds for its prosecu.
ton can be easily provided for in the dis
posal of the lands whose donation is asked.
Second. Our experience during the past
five years has also shown the evils grow
ing out of the control of the land being
under one authority and the water under
another. If this territory could, during
the past Eve years have controlled the
disposal of the irrigable lands within its
borders, it could while disposing Of it to
actual settlers only, have afforded such
protection to canal companies as would
have given our agriculture four times its
present importance and more than doubled
our population; instead of this, there
have been repeated instances where arbi,
trary and unreasonable rulings have sub
iected our people to heavy and wholly un,
necessary expense and caused the
whole land fpolicy to be regarded as
oppression. 1t was, however, the newt.
able result Of land laws wholly unsuited to
the needs of irrigation and of their en-
forcement by officials in Washington
whose experience had not qualified them
to deal with conditions which prevail here.
1t is also impossible for congress to pass
a general law which will operate with
equal Justice and success on the arid bell
as a whole; the conditions differ in differ
ent sections, as do our water laws, Wy
o,,ao d,Hara Frop, TTtoh an1 Ar1ono