The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-05-15
IRRJl ON.
SYNOPSIS OF A IF THE SELECT
COMMITTEl fBE United
Stalls SENATE.
IRRJ
The Principal acts Relating to the Subject
of Urn .gatibn and Reclamation of Arid
Lands Set Out in Detail.

The following is synopsis of the
report made to congress on irrigation
| by the select committee of the senate
composed of Senators Reagan, OF
Texas; German, of Maryland, and
| Jones, OF Arkansas
The select committee on irrigation
and reclamation of arid lands, having
considered the matters referred to it
by the senate, and having made as ex.
haustive an examination of the gener.
al questions relating to irrigation in
the arid lands as the time would per.
nit, have reached conclusions which
they desire to submit to the senate
While the report of the majority Of
the committee contains valuable in
formation, we find ourselves unable to
agree with many OF its statements Of
fact and with some of its reasoning
and we wholly disagree with most OF
its important conclusions and recon-
mend congressional action which is
Numerically opposed to that recon-
mended by the majority.
The following report is arranged in
sections, each one of which treats of a
distinct topic. In them the principal
facts relating to the subject under in
vestigation by the committee are ar
ranged in order, so as to lead naturally
to the conclusions that are ultimately
reached. Then follow, numbered in
sections, the recommendations which
it is desired to make. And finally,
still in numbered sections, the bills
and the report submitted by the other
members of the committee are exam
ned in detail and The reasons set forth
for dissenting from the recommends
tions and views therein expressed.
An abstract of all the sections is here
given, numbered to correspond with
the sections themselves.
l. The arid lands embrace an area
of 1,340,000 square miles. OF this
amount 1O0,000,000 acres can be re-
deemed for agriculture through the
agency of irrigation by using the total
supply of the perennial streams.
2. The water supply of the arid
lands is to be derived from the
streams, which are the chief source ;
from the storage of storm waters,
which is the second source in impor-
lance; from pump wells, which are the
third source of Importance, and from
artesian wells, which have a slight
value for horticultural and stock rails
ing purposes.
3. The sub-humid region lies be-
tween the arid region of the west and
the humid region of the east, and en-
braces an area of about three degrees
in width, equal to 100000 square
miles. Disaster has always come to
farmers who have attempted to settle
in this region and carry on agricul-
ture without irrigation.
4. When the system of applying the
water is good and the cultivation is
thorough waters used in irrigation are
consumed.
5. 1t would be greatly to the advan-
tage of the farmers on the irrigable
lands if proper system of measuring
the waters with which they are sup.
piled were adopted, and great waste
would be avoided.
6. Experience proves that the arid
and sub-humid lands are very fertile
when irrigated.
7. The forest lands are of limited
extent and are being rapidly burned
and need protection. These forests
are distant from the irrigable lands
where the agricultural population
must be established in homes, but the
farmers are dependent upon them for
their supply of wood and lumber
They are also dependent upon them
for their full supply of water for ir-
rigation. Therefore, in the interest
of the farmers the forests should be
protected.
7. There are great areas of pastur
age lands which furnish scant but
valuable supply of food for flocks and
herds, and the farmers engaged in ir
rigation can utilize this pasturage to
the best advantage. But it is also
being destroyed and needs protection.
8. The lands that can be irrigated
are narrowly limited in area so that
only small portion can be redeemed
when all the waters are used. The
best lands lie at the foot of the mount
aims and near to them and should
be chosen for this purpose. The
lands are not good agricul- |
tural lands, and the lands far down |
the streams can be used only by a
great waste of water. The irrigable |
lands should be carefully selected.
10. The irrigable lands should be
and declared such, and the
right to use water on them should be
and a prohibition should |
be put to the use OF water on all other |
lands.
IL. Irrigated lands are of great
value, varying from $25 to $500 per
acre.
u. The size of the homestead |
should be reduced to so acres, and
perhaps 40 would be better, that the
public domain may be distributed
among the greatest number of people.
Ii. Water rights are often estab-
lished that impede the development
Of agriculture and are greatly obstruct-
i've.
IA. International conflicts in re-