The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-09-04
AIMING At OUR VITALS.
All Of the Lands Of Yakima, NttitaS and
The South Half Of Douglas County
all Filings Since October, 1883, Dee
cIRTed InvRlId.A Tough Blow.

cIared invaIId-A TOugh BLOW.
As will be seen by the following copy
Of a circular letter received at the Yakima
land Office, the government has aimed q
staggering blow at central Washington
from the fifth standard parallel south. A
visit to the local land Office developed the
fact that this ruling withdrew from settle
ment all the lands Of Yakima and Kitti-
tas counties and the south half Of Doug
las county, and also invalidated all en-
tries Of whatsoever nature within this
limit. This tie-up can only be overcome
by proclamation Of the president, and our
citizens should allow no time to elapse
without presenting this deplorable condi-
ton Of affairs to the president and show
ing in its true colors the great and un-
necessary injustice done to this section.
The circular letter is as follows:
DEPT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LANDl
OFFICE, Washington, ID. c., Aug. 0, 80.
Registers and Receivers o. S. Land Offices:
GENTLEMEN On the 5th Of August,
1889, circular was addressed to you by
direction Of the honorable secretary Of the
interior calling your attention to the pro-
visions Of the act Of October, 1888, 25 stat.
526, relative to the lands in the arid re-
gions Of the United States and instructing
you Hereunder, which reads as follows,
viz:
Information having reached this de-
partment that parties are endeavoring to
make filings on arid lands reserved for
reservoirs, irrigating bitches and canals.
and for the purpose Of controlling the
waters Of lakes and rivers and their trib-
utaries in the arid regions, l am directed
by the honorable secretary Of the interior
to call your special attention to the act Of
congress approved October 2, 1888. U. S.
statutes at large, vol. 25, p. 526, as follows
For the purpose Of investigating the ex.
tent to which the arid region Of the United
States can be redeemed by irrigation, and
the segregation Of the irrigable lands in
such arid region, and for the selection Of
sites for reservoirs and other hydraulic
works necessary for the storage and utili.
cation Of water for irrigation and the pre-
vention Of foods and overhows, and Ia
make the necessary maps, including the
pay Of employees in field and in office, the
cost OF all instruments, apparatus and
materials, and all other necessary ex.
penses connected Herewith, the work to
be performed by the geological survey,
under the direction Of the secretary Of the
interior, the sum Of one hundred thousand
dollars or so much thereof as may be
necessary. And the director Of the geo
logical survey, under the supervision ol
the secretary Of the interior, shall make q
report to congress on the first Monday in
December Of each year, showing how the
said money has been expended, the
amount used for actual survey and engi.
neer work in the field in locating sites for
reservoirs, and an itemized account Of the
expenditures under this appropriation.
And all the lands which may hereafter be
designated or selected by such United
States surveys for sites for reservoirs,
bitches or canals for irrigation purposes
and all the lands made susceptible Of irri.
CATION by such reservoirs, ditcLes or canals
are from this time henceiorth hereby re.
served from sale as the property Of the
United States, and shall not be subject
after the passage Of this act to entry, set.
tlement or occupation until further pro.
vided by law: Provided, that the presi,
dent at any time in bis discretion, by
proclamation. may open any portion OIL
all Of the lands reserved by this provision
to settlement under the homestead laws
The object sought to be accomplished
by the foregoing provision is unmistak'
able. The water sources and the arid
lands that may be irrigated by the system
Of national irrigation are now reserved tC
be hereafter, when redeemed to agricul'
ture, transferred to the people Of the ter,
ritories in which they are situated fol
homesteads. The act Of congress and
common justice require that they should
be faithfully preserved for these declared
purposes.
Thestatute provides that all lands which
may hereafter be designated or selected by
the geological survey as sites for reservoirs,
bitches or canals for irrigating purposes,
and all lands made susceptible Of irriga.
ton by such reservoirs, bitches or canals
are since the passage Of said act absolutely
reserved from sale US property Of the
United States, and shall not be subject
after the passage Of the act to entry, set.
tlement or occupation until further pro.
vided by law, or the president, by procla-
nation, may open said lands to settle
ment.
Neither individuals nor corporations
have the right to make filings upon any
lands thus reserved, nor can they be per
mitted to obtain control Of the lakes and
streams that are susceptible Of uses for
irrigating purposes.
You will, therefore, Immediately cancel
all filings made since October, 1888, on
such sites for reservoirs, bitches or canals
for iTTigating purposes and all lands that
may be susceptible Of irrigation by such
reservoirs. bitches or canals, whether
made by individuals or corporations, and