Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-19

''2S The present irrigation survey Is per-
forming its duties in compliance with law and
in an efficient and thorough manner, and the
work under IL should proceed at reasonable
rate OF progress until IL is finished. IL Is es-
timated that the irrigation survey will cost
sGOO0,OOO, but that In making the maps twill
save Sl,OOO, 600 TO the geological survey. Thus
the real cost of the irrigation survey Is but
s3,OO0,OOO over and above the cost of the geo
logical survey. The work performed in two
years demonstrates that this estimate was
reasonable
'29. The survey needed for the sub.humid
region OF the great plains is purely geOlogi-
cal survey based on topography IL should
be ma de as rapidly as possible, in order to
serve the wants of the farmers of that region,
who are already suffering by reason of their
neglect OF irrigation Another reason for its
prompt completion is to give TO new settlers
in these regions necessary information of the
conditions under which success and prosper
ity may be secured
$50 To accomplish the solution Of the prob
lens by the methods proposed, bill has
been drafted, which is printed with this re-
port
''31 An analysis of the bill is made by sec
tions and the effect of each section pointed out.
The sections may here be characterized sum-
marily. Section of the bill provides for a
survey of the arid lands into natural irriga-
tion districts Section of the bill provides
for the segl egation of the irrigable lands.
Section 3 Of the bill provides that lands al
ready irrigated shall be declared irrigable for
the purposes contemplated in the bill Sec
tion of the bill provides that certain of the
irrigation works shall be constructed only on
sites designated and reserved therefor in order
to protect water rights and to conserve the
waters for beneficial purposes Section OF
the bill provides for the division of the waters
among the districts. Section of the bill
provides for the organization of districts situ-
atcd in two or more states or territories. Sec
tion of the bill provides that the non-irrga-
BILE lands shall remain in the possession of
the general government-as forests, and pas
turage reservations and catchment areas for
the irrgable lands, but it provides for the
disposal of the irrigable lands to homestead
settlers in tracts not greater than eighty
acres. Section of the bill attaches the
water rights to the homesteads of the irrga-
BILE lands. Section 9 of the bill makes it un-
lawful to construct unauthorized irrigation
works. Section 10 of the bill provides in
general terms plan for the organization of
irrigation districts. Section II of the bill
gives to the commissioners of the irrigation
districts the authority to provide laws and
rules for the use of the waters belonging to
the districts and for the protection and use
of the forests and the protection and use of
the pasturage. Section II of the bill makes
il lawful for the states and territories to pro-
vide general legislation relating to the use of
the waters and forests, and the pasturage,
and provides methods by which the capital for
the construction of irrigation works NAV be
obtained. Section 3 of the bill makes it law
full for the states to provide a board of irrga-
tion commissioners to supervise and approve
of the works authorized and the contracts
made by district commissioners. Section ii
of the bill provides that cities and towns may
be excluded from the irrigation districts, and
gives the states and territories authority to
designate the water which such cities and
towns may use Section 10 of the bill pro-
vides method for obtaining the consent of
the states and territories to the legislation
proposed in the BILL and refusessthe rights
and benefits otherwise granted to any state
or territory which fails to give its consent
1872. The general effect of the bill is to
turn over the control of irrigation to the
states and the districts, the general statutes
to be made by the states and the specific
rules by the districts. Therefore it will ac
complish local self government in relaxation
to irrigation and the forest and pasturage ad-
ministration. 1t relieves the general gov
ernment of all subsequent Legislative and
administrative duties except only to com
plete the irrigation survey of the whole
and the linear survey of the irIl-
ter the homestead laws, coal land laws, min
ing land laws and the townsite land laws
through the general land office.
-'33 The bill reported by the majority of
the committee is in the interest of the great
cattle companies that pasture their animals
on the public domain and opposed to the
interests of the farmers making homesteads
on the lands. Its effect is to give the com
panes access with their animals to all nat
ural waters, whether the same be running
streams, lakes, pools, ponds, springs or other
surface bodies of water, or subteranean
streams, pools or undertlows produced py
natural seepage or drainage in disregard of
the authority of the states. 1t is also in the
interest of the great irrigation companies
rapidly developing in the west turning over
all water rights for irrigation to them and
practically excluding the poor settler on the
land wishing to obtain homestead. There
fore it is disapproved.
''34 The creation of new bureau of irri-
cation in the agricultural department is un-
necessary aud unwise; therefore it is not rec
commended.
expended q portion of the fund for
necessary topographic work as part
of the irrigation survey. This is
strictly in compliance with the
statute. 1t is also in compliance with the
plan for the survey submitted to congress by
the director prior to the enactment of the
law 1t is strictly in compliance with the
representations made by the director to the
committee on appropriations and published
by that committee in its report to the senate
explaining the bill Three months after the
passage of the bill the director reported to
congress how his work had been organized
and was being prosecuted, showing that it
was strictly in compliance with the law and
that topographic work had been begun, The
topographic work is necessary, economical
and legal.
$50. The recommendation to discontinue
the topographic work of the irrigation survey
is believed to be unwise. 1t is deemed that
through this method catchmcnt areas, sites
for diverting works, canal sites and irrigable
lands can be discovered with the greatest
economy and thoroughness, 1t is also be
lieved to be the proper basis for hydro
graphic survey.
"37. The photographic branch of the iris
cation survey should not be turned over t.
the signal service. The stations 90
the signal service in the arid. landf
are not at the places where thcss
streams should be gauged. A new corpe
of men would be necessary, and it is believed
that the measuring of the waters to be used
for irrigation can be most economically and
promptly ydone by the irrigation survey through
the topographic work.
"3S. The two bills are diametrically op-
posed in theory, purpose and effect. The bill
recommended by the minority is in the inter-
est of the farmers themselves; the one by the
majority in the interest of companies. The
one proposes to continue the present irriga-
tion survey, while the other proposes to ere
atea new bureau of irrigation, and second
geological survey.
''39. Director Powell does not suggest that
irrigation works should he constructed by
the general government, but he has consist
entity for a long term of years urged that the
industry of agriculture by irrigation should
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