New-York tribune., 1890-07-17
THE IRRIGATION QUESTION AGAIN.
SENATORS DISCUSS MAJOR PowELL's REsER'
VOIR SITE PLAN.

Washington, July 1G (speciaD-The irrigation queS
ton was again before the senate all day, ana thc
friends and opponents OF Major Powels scheme 10 oot
the arid regions with reservoir sites at the Govern
ments expense fought the old battle over again.
The advocates Of reservoirs at public cost seemed 10
get the worst Of IT, however. Senators Reagan Cali
and Jones OF Arkansas, for instance, proving no maNh
in argument against Messrs. spooner, PLUMP ana
Others who defended tho Appropriations Committees
action in curtalng the scope of the irrigation survey
operations Mr. Spooner forcibly and pertlnentS re
marked that the reservoir scheme was paternausm
pure and simple and was no tustfable than the
Governments sending out corps OF men 70 hunt loi
mineral deposits or natural gas wells senator Fluho
cave personal favor 10 the discussion by charging
that the men who wanted the Government TO rn6a'c
the West and protect it against entry seemed 10 come
chiefly from States where the public lands had been
Gwen away 10 railroads and big corporations more
recklcssIy and lavlshly than anywhere else In the
Union. 3ir. Call. of whose many ofatorlcaI
hobbies is the land grant question: hed the moor VI
the senate for two or three hours, ana "'o "o'
finished replying to Mr. Plumb when the 'cn"'o 1'
jOurncd
The Appropriations Committee will probably be suS-
tancd when il comes TO a vote but Mr.. Allison VIII
be lucky IL the bothcrsome irrigation question can Ue
laid aside before tomorrow evening.
The first amendment Of the sundry Civil bill consd-
cred bv the senate that increasing the Appropriation
for surveying tho public lands from S2Ooooo 10
$500 600. was agreed 10.
The amendment that provoked most discussion was
the one increasing the item for topographic surveys
from 5000 900 TO 100000. and adding these "oi'S
one half Of which sum shall be expended west oi the
1O1st meridian and 30 much Of the Sundry CNH a'l
Of october IL 1855 provides for the selection ana
locaton Of reservoirs and canals upon tn" pubHo
lands and the reservation Of rgablc lands IS hereby
rnealcd provdc that reservoir and canal sites mere
toforc located or selected shall remain segregated ana
reserved from entry or settlement until otherwise pro
vded by law -,
Mr. Allison said the object was 70 require the D'-
rector Of the Geological survey to extend MS npo
graphical work, that being the first step IN ascertain
ing proper places fnr the location Of reservoirs. etc
Mr. spooncr said he would vote for the amendment
The cost OF irrigation surveys hd been placed he
said AZ -. 900 900. his own opinion was that, II II
,rss N 90 on the cost would be nearer 10 =1Oo00ooO
he said that lands had been withdrawn NOM settle
meut covering two nfths of the area oi the hUH
-tafc, comprising 10000 square mile, or 71OOOD,
600 acres For wnat for how long were these LANDS
withdraWl In order that the Government might have
reservoir sites and canal sites markell out Tor Tgduo
nurno,es The Lord only knows how long u wOuh
lake 10 carry out that plan. lie thpusht 'IHl '."
grcSs had made a great mi~tthe when IL dppipPid'n
single dollar for tho irrigation survey ana n' -.pI
II rctrlccd that step the better IT would p" ior me
people Tie appropriation for ms year, III !'
House bill but which the seiat" committee on ~
propratiOus recommended to De struck 0ht WaS 80
600 Next wear. II the system went Oh. the app"
priaton would he 81 100000, and the next year per
hapS - 100000. , ,-,-..i., t.,.
lie said that its retention meant that pot ,lhEt a''
of tho pualic land, Affected by II Woah cN' "
entered by any home stead setter