Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-04-15
MAJOR POWELL's POLICY
Charged with Misappropriating Funds
Put up Jobs on Western Iands.

WASHINGTON, April J.-After all shoulc
me proposed bureau of immigration be
formed IN the department OF agriculture
MAJOR Io"elI is hardly likely to receive
the much coveted position of commits.
sloner OF such bureau. There is a radical
difference of opinion between Powell and
the majority OF the immigration commit
tees of both houses. Moreover. several
members Of these committees do NOT hesi-
tate to make very grave charges against
tic MAJOR, VINO has had charge of all the
surveys made in the arid regions so f,r
win view OF determining the best posi-
tiohs Tor storage reservoirs and the actual
heeds OF the several regions which it ls
proposed to irrigate.
1t appears that the plan of Powell is IN
subordinate irrigation to ethnoogy, geo-
oey ana typography, and exclude settlers
over the entire arid region from the riybt
TO enter lands or perfect their title to lands
already entered until the whole country
has been explored and its geological lor
nation thoroughly examined and demon.
strated. lie also contends that il is NEG
essary to ascertain the precise shape of all
the prOtuberances on the earth's surface
no matter how far the hill or mountain
may be from the itrlgable land to be sur |
veyed and mapped.
In iurtherance OF this purpose, it is
alleged that lie lnstlgaled the amendment
offered by Breckinrldge OF Kentucky.
Withdrawing all lands to be irrigated by |
reservoirs ana canals to ne surveyed under
the appropriation of loSS-S9 lie is en-
deaVurlng to obtain all order from the
commissioners of the general land Office
suspending the land laws in the country
wing west OF the Tooth meridian, except n
small strip lying along the Pacific ocean.
west OF the Cascade mountains, sothat M
person can enter or perfect title to land
uhuer any circumstances. Powell claims
authority Tor such an order under the
amendment OF Breckinrid e.
There have been $500 900 appropriated
1or irrigation surveys, but less than Sl5U.-
OOO have been used for that purpose.
Ihe balance has been diverted to topoy.
raphy aud other so-Caled scientific work.
Inc senate committee on irrga ion has
examined large number OF expert en-
all OF whom testify that the topo-
surveys have nothing to dol
With the location of reservoirs and rnn-
hlng lines OF bitches. This is engineering
work independent of topography. Topo-
surveys simply make maps.
Which are useful ior various purposes, Dut
lot Tor irrigation.
THIS nlsappropriation of money is
'harged to be made all the more apparent
~ al examination OF tie act making the
In that act and in,me.
liately preceding the Appropriation for
'rlsatioh there Is a distinct Item Of $780,
w lor toposfapllc surveys, and 1t Is
ialiheu that IL Was gross mlsappropra-
Ioh Vi The money appropriated tor irrlga-
oil To Use part vi the SUN for an entirely
lilerent purpose. Ine committee j.
onVlnced that no benefit viii ever be
efIVed, at least not in this generation,
ON What Major Powell viii 10 lor lrliya-
Oh, and That That gentleman finds him |.
ell standing entirely alone i'll his views -
pOn Lhis Very Important subject.