The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-15
IDAHO In NO HURRY.
Death Of Senator Beck Delays
Admission Indefinitely.
4 NEW STORY ABOUT BLAINE.
MsJsr Pewsll's Irrigation Repers-What
Senators ssw o. the Araeaiaia Plans
Of Eastern washingson.

WASHINGTON CIrr. May A--The sudden
death OF Senator Beck. Of Kentucky. had
the effect OF keeping two territories, whose
representatives ars knocking for admission
to the onion, on the outside for some days.
Just how long they viii remain outside Is
because Senator Beck's death interfered
with the programme of the Senate. he
died on Saturday night 1t had been
been agreed that the bill fer the admission
OF Wyoming should be taken up IN the
Senate on the next Monday. and 1t was ex-
pected that IL would pass with little oppo-
sition. and with no more debate than could
be bad in one day. But on Monday fol-
lowing the distinguished mans sudden
death. the formal announcement was
made, and the Senate. "a is usual, adj
journed. On Tuesday, when the bill would
have come up. came the funeral OF the
dead senator, and no business was trans
acted The discussion Of the silver ques-
ton Was next in order, md this may be
prolonged nobody knows how long.
At Senator Beck's funeral the high off,
cials Of the governments we're present, and
while they sat in the Senate chamber At
tention was called by one of the newspaper
men present to the large number Of distin-
guished men present who were natives of
Maine. Speaker Reed, Of Maine. sat be-
side Vice President pro tenn ingalls,. Just
in front of the desk sat Secretary Blaine. OF
Maine, within. perhaps. ten feet Of the
speaker. In the first row of chairs behind
him was Chief Justice Fuller, OF the SUI
preme court, who was born in Maine, al
though appointed from Illinois, and just
across the aisle sat Senator's William p.
Frye and Eugene Hale. the representa-
tives of the Pine Tree state in the upper
House. Senator w. d. Washburn, of
Minnesota, who was born in Maine. was
only two or three chairs away. Taken al
together, it was . distinguished party TO
come from one state.
Ibid you know ?" said someone. THAT
Chief Justice Fuller and Secretary Blaine
were once newspaper reporters and got the
same assignment II lasted all winter
and was to do q session of the Maine leg
stature" This story may have been pub
lished before, but it is news TO most Of the
younger general ion. 1t was thirty-f
years ago. Blaine and Fuller s at at the
same desk and reported the speeches of
the statesmen who represented the Maine
legislative districts One of these
members was named Sidney Per-
ham, who was serving his
first term. He was tall raw-boned down
East Yankee. He got quite well acquainted
with the two reporters and the trio became
good friends. All Of them hare achieves
greater distinction than comes 70 most
ri he
legislature. Young PeThan was elected
speaker of the Maine Legislature. afterward
was sent TO congress and at last was chosen
governor Of the state. The three men did
not meet, it is said, after the adjournment
OF that session for thirty-dve years. which
brings 1t down to this year. The meeting
came at the capitol city on Tuesday last
week. Ex-Governor Perham came to the
state department to call on Mr.. Blaine.
While the two were talking colored man
brought in . card, and . moment later in
came little man with quick step and
big curling white mussache. 1t wss the
chief justice. who had laid aside his robe of
Office and his austere dignity, for . chat
with the two men whose acquaintance he
had formed thirty-five years ago IN the
Maine legislature. The three men grew
reminiscent for half an hour or more and
went over old times just exactly as any
three good fellows might who had been
newspaper reporters together many years
ago.
The object of irrigation Is receiving more
attention at the hands OF congress now in
session than ever before. Especial promi-
nence is given the subject in the present
g. 4 g. l. l. -
cal survey is just issuing its first annual
report. and the additional fact that almost
simultaneously with this comes an elabor-
ate report from the select committee on
irrigation. which made an extended visit
to most of the states in which any consid-
cradle area OF arid land Is situated. Major
Powell summarizes his work as follows:
The area OF the arid region Is about i,soo ooo
square miies-one-third OF the entire country.
Judge that OF this area there can be ecouomi.
cally reclaimed. by irrigation. within the pres-
ent generation. 1t least 15eooo square miles-an
empire one-hali rs large as the entire area now
cultivated In the United States Irrigated. this
land would he worth not less than $50 an scre.
adding s., $50 0oo,o 600 10 the wealth ef the
nation.
In expanding the $780, 900 appropriated by con.
eress on October ?, isss. and q portion Of the
-
interpreted the Law not ss authorizing the con.
struction OF works OF irrigation. but only as
directing comprehensive investigation OF pre-
vaiiug conditions: the whereabouts OF irri "a bic
land most eligible Tor redemption and its segre-
CATION for Homestead settlement. the amount OF
available water: the location OF reservoir sites
and canal sites the secpsge: the evaporation:
the vested rights and how TO maintain them:
and generally. the most economical method OF
bringing the land and the water together.
To this end have proceeded To expend the
money in such Q way a. TO obtain the in!orma-
tion required n the shortest time
The topographic work for making the neces-
ssry maps was placed ia charge of Professor A.
IT. thompson: the engineering ana hydraulic
work In charge of Captain c. Z Dalton. Work
was began IN October. isss. and carried on dur
ing ISIS and is9 in Montans, Idaho. Nevada,
California, Utah. New Mexico and Colorado
The topographic work consisted Of surveys
detine&Glng the topographic features OF the
country: the ayeas os oil drainage basins the
courses 81 streams: the situation Of iaxes.
springs and other bodies OF water: the positions
81 possible reservoir s,fss. the location Of dams
ana cana lines, and the altitude. position and
general character Of all irrssshle lands.
The hydraulic and engineering work consisted
Of the measurement Of rainfall aud the study
az general taetea-oiory. measurement. of river
Sos. evaporation and matter carried in xHsYen-
sion ~ water: the sscersainmens of the duty ol
water and the astermisatian OF she mode and
cost Of construction OF daas ard canals and
sAe arexs and contents Ct reservoir
The total aggregssions OF irrigshae lands
are.
Acres
saake river hsnsn-. ...,..@............ log-. ASa
Ss4z river --.--s... +-s-.---.~... Ca s1a
Upper Missouri and yellowss ne ..... ilIss, al
Owes rive. rxitey H.. .<.....4.s-..--. AIe.fxN