The morning call., 1890-05-08

large portion OF the irrigable land Is situated
may perform all the acts necessary to enable
legal voters 10 reclaim lands and secure The
benefits OF the act.
TRANSFERRED TO RusK's DEPARTMENT
The committee, believing that irrigation per.
talns TO agriculture aud not to geology and other
subjects under charge OF the Director of the Ge-
ological Survey. and differing from the Director
as 10 the mod of conducting such matters as
relate 10 irrigation, has provided for the transfer
oil tile Irrigation survey TO the Agricultural De-
paitment, aud the appointment OF a Commits.
sionef OF Irrigation In that department
Ihe passage OF this bill, II Is believed, will en-
velop the arid region by their united efforts. IL
VIII give iul play 10 the enterprise of the pio-
neers Of the West.
AVOIDS GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.
ii avoids as far AS possible Government inter-
terence and frees the Government from the
enormous expense which would be involved if
The United States should undertake to supervise
and control this vast region as suggested by tie
Director OF the Geological Survey. II also pre-
vents the delay which would be occasioned by
waiting for the expenditure of many millions OF
dollars In geologic and Topographic surveys aud
In paleontoiogIc, chemical ana physical re-
searches under The Director OF the Geological
Survey, aud also avoids The embarrassment
which would be imposed upon irrigation by
charging 10 1t the expenditures made by lhe Di-
rector OF the Geological Survey for other pur-
poses.
MINORITY REPORT.
Senators Reagan, German and Jones of
Arkansas say that, finding themselves un-
able to agree with the majority of the SEN
ate Committee ON Arid Lands, submit a
minority report. An analysis of the bill of
the minority is made by sections and tho
effect of each section pointed out. The sec
tlons may here be characterized summarily:
section OF the bill provides for the survey of
afld lands into natural Irrigation districts. Sec
ZION provides for the segregation OF irIigabe
lands. Section 3 provides that lands already
irrigated shall be declared irIieable for purposes
contemplated in The bill. Section 4 provides
~ Ia Ian hall
stfueled only ou sites designated and reserved
therefor, In order 10 protect wafer tights and TO
conserve waters for beneficial purposes.
DIVISION OF WATERS
Section 5 provides for the division of waters
among districts. Section provides for the
ganiZation OF districts situated In two more
non-irrigabie lands shall remain in the possess
sion OF the general Government, as forests and
nasturaee reservations. and hal chment areas for
1rIlgable lands, but II provides for the disposal
of iri igable Lands TO hOmesea settlers In tracts
not greater than eighty acres. Section s at
taehes waIer-rights to the homesteads of irriga-
bic lands. Section 8 makes il unlawful TO con-
struct unauthorized irrigation works.
ORGANIZATION OF DISTRICTS.
section 10 provides IN general terms plan for
the organization of irrigation districts Section
IL gives 10 the Commissioners of Irrigation dis
tTicts authority to provide laws ana rules for tile
use OF waters belonging TO the districts and for
the protection and use OF forests, and the protec
ton and use of pasturaee. Section IL makes It
lawful for States and Territories TO provide
general legislation relating TO The use Of waters,
forests and pasturage, and provides methods by
which capital for the construction OF irrigation
works may be obtained.
IRRIGATION CoMMIss IoNERs PROVIDED.
Section l3 makes it lawful for States to pro-
vide a Board of Irrigation Commissioners TO
supervise ana approve the works authorized and
contracts made by the District Commissioners.
Section IA of the bill provides that cities and
towns may De excluded II ON irrigation districts,
and Civ es the 5 aes aud Territories authority to
designate the waters which such cities aud towns
may use. Section 8 provides method for OBJ
talhlng tae consent OF The States and Territories
TO the legislation proposed in the bill, aud re-
fuses The rights and benefits otherwise grant-d
10 any State or Territory which fails To give its
consent.
EFFECT OF THE BILL.
The general effect of the bill is to turn
over the control of irrigation to the States
and districts General statutes are to be
made by the States and specific rules by the
districts. Therefore, it will accomplish
local self-government in relation to irriga-
tion and forest and pasturase administra-
ton. 1t relieves the General Government
OF all subsequent legislative and admins
tratlve duties. except only to complete the
irrigation survey Of the whole and survey
OF the irrigable lands.
AN UNNECESSARY BUREAU.
The creation of a new bureau OF irrigation In
the Agriculture al Department Is unnecessary aud
unwise, therefore is not recommended. The Di-
rector OF the survey has expended a portion Of
Inc funds for necessary topographic work as
part OF the irrigation survey. This
IS strictly In compliance with the
Statute. The present irrigation survey
with The law and in an efficient and thorough
manner, and the work under IL should proceed at
a reasonable rate of progress until Il is finished.
IL Is estimated that the irrigation survey will
cost 81 ,Ooo,OOO but that In ma ing maps it Will
save 81, 600, 600 to the geological survey. Thus
me real cost oil an Irrigation survey Is but S3,-
100000 over and above the cost OF a geological
survey.