Arizona republican., 1890-08-10
IRRIGATION IN THE SENATE.

It is gratifying to the Chicago Inter Ocean that some one in official position is looking intelligently into the arid land question. The idea had begun to pre- vail in the West, it very truthiully says, that it was almost useless to attempt to influence either branch of Congress against anything advocated by Major Powell.
 In spite of the protests of the people in all the Territories where the arid lands are located, Congress, at the in stance of Major Powell, last year with, drew them from entry, suspending all laws in regard to them so that the settler could neither purchase nor home stead them. Nothing could have been done that could have more efiectually kept them arid lands and prevented them from ever being rendered tillable than this. This was done, too, just at a time when the subject of irrigation was uppermost with the people of those Ter, ritories, and practical efforts were being made TOT US lntrOuuctlOH.
 Especially was this the case in Arizona and New Mexico. In those Territories thousands of acres would have been "under water" and in bearing condition by this time but for this action, which not only does not encourage irrigation and the redemption of arid lanm, but practically iorbids it. Some of the mem bers of the Senate seem, finally, to have heard from the aggrieved people of the Territories where the arid lands are, Senators Spooner and Plumb, according to the reports of Wednesdays proceed, ings, are beginning to think that some things recommended by Major Powell may be questioned.
 Even that is a great way for Senator to go; for the idea prevails largely in the West that Major Powell is Senate rial pet. Report has it that there is nc end to the Senatorial families that have either sons, or nephews, or porteges ol some sort on Powells staff, or are in some way connected with his surveys. This may or may not be true, but it IS told in the West as reason why 1t IS impossible to prevail at Washington when Major Powell is on the other side. The debate on Wednesday is an encour- aging sign to the people of the West, and we hope to be able to record more of a similar character.
 The withdrawal of the arid lands from entry was ridiculous performance, and the Territories of Arizona and New Mex, co are especially suffering from it. Con gress ought not to adjourn until it un' does its former blind work, and restores the rule that prevailed before the arid lands were withdrawn from entry. The excuse doubtless was made that frauds were being committed by which some men were securing more land than they were entitled to. That should have been corrected by having the laws more rigidly enforced, and not by action that would retard the settlement of coun' try that, with water and energy, can be made to blossom like the rose and pro- duce in great abundance.
 The irrigation surveys are good things and should be encouraged, but not as they have been prosecuted within the last two or three years. They should be prosecuted for the purpose of develop ing and settling up the country, instead of retarding both development and set clement, as they have been. It is to be hoped that Messrs. Spooner and Plumt will continue their efforts, and that something will be done that will con vince the people of the distant West that Major Powell is not all-powerful al Washington.