Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-05-15
PUBLIC IRRIGATION.

hNp~rt OF the senate Irrfrast.a r.---
n'tte~ On the sahi.rt Of R~~Isua.sisa %
th~ Aria Lsssi~ ef tho West Mstsf.,.,. ~
t~r-- Wight 30 Brps<hs Uuss-r rast4..-
ttsa -Chsrx-- t<sEass the nsr~ss,r ~
the Geological >arv-y-ainsrsty vl~~.-
WAsHENaroS, May The irrigation
committee % the >euase viii make a
report u day % the senate On The sub
.ect q irrigation q the arid Lands >,
the West whirh it has hal unsIe- con
sisi"ratian for several months The re-
port prepared By the committee fog The
committee - divided in ia report On
party ltnesi says that usar~ than two
nfths q the area % the United states.
exciudin< Alaska. requires irrigation
- insure regular crops. In az least four
a-hs = the arid region irrigation =
necessary. This region cornprlses l.
-'Eaoso - 7, ~. .oo9 square niles. With
aAm, Aat reservoirs. al suitable PLACES.
a large extent % shis land could y.
made productive AMI the fools % .hc
Tower Mississippi could - aIleviatesg.
he pr'ocess % rriyatioa could -. aided
- boring arteSian wellS All the c.,un-
try vest - the eastern base % the
tsocSy mountains requires irrigation.
except the part % Washington. Oregon
AMI Northern California west % tho
Saseasie mountains. AMI snail a-cas n
Eastern Oregon. Washinrton aad North
ern Idaho
he report charges the director % the
theological >Srvey With tivertinx st~l.-
l'o of the money appropriated for i-ri-
vey- which the majority regard n
plain violation % the statue All mis-
appropriation % the money
The committee. in the bill herptofore
reported % she senate. have recon-
nlenasei th. transfer % the suhiect -
the lurtssliction of ths Department -
Agriculture. ant the establishment %,
an irrigation bgreau in that DEPART
nIenE
The committee submit in conclusion
an estimate of Rreas under cultivation.
Prom this q seems that the area ansIe-
ditch Is II 81. ooo acres. q which s.oea.
90 Is in California and :. 800 ae0 in Col
orado- The amount cultivated By irri
Cation Is 7.s'i.i eos. % which g s0l. Geo -
IN California and l. fsg.a Osq in Colorado.
Projects unsler way last year and par-
tally completed Sill bring the acreage
under ditch up % 4. 000. coo acres The
total value % the reclaimed land -
nearly Ssu.l. e'aa. 00a Allowing for the
recl1imability % ig0 001. co acres out %
the i..ao, oQo, o00 u arid land. ami 80
Rave A. a rysait a total reaf-eStata
value q g. ssti o,sl pg1. S..ven-tcnths .
this whole area il now the property q
the United Statcs
Mr.. Reagan. on behalf % the minor
t'y. submitted a report in which he
says tie minority fnd themselves una
bic % agree Sith the ma j0rity in many
u its statements % fact and with some
d its reasons, and they wholly disagree
with most of is important coas.I Igsia1s.
AMI recommend Congressional action
Numerically opposite - that recon-
nsended by 4he ma aIority. The minority
says that the ariI lands embrace an
area Of I.g40. go square miles. of Nhich
TOO, 0e'l. ESQ acres can b. redeemed for
agriculture By using the total supply q
the perennial streams The minority
recon mend the adoption Of a system of
measuring the waters used for
irrigation 70 prevent waste They
urge the necessity OF protecting
the forests which are being rapidly
burned. also the pastarc lands The
irrigahie lands should b. segregated
and declared such. aud the right 10 Hss
water on them established and pruhi-
bitioz put "a the use Of water on other
lands Irrigation districts should b.
established, composed q b..iies q lands
and the farmers on these lands should
control the catrhment areas with all
other values. These districts should 10
laid cut BY Government survey and nee
eSsary state legislation. and the
problem Of irrigation should BE- turned
over % the districts
The minority believes the recommen.
iatiOn to discontinue the topographic
work Of the survey unwiss. and they
think it would be unwiss To turn over
the photographic branch 20 the Signal
Service. The minority believe expert
mental boring for artesian waters IN
wise.