Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-05-17
THE POWELL IRRIGATION BILL
A Syncps;s cf the RilL ss Introduced
 br Se-etcr Eesge-

One ot fine -cst interesting and in portant problems that f25es Arizona to- day, is the irrigation Of her arid lands, and anything touching u2on such mat ters is of material interest 10 all TAe following is synopsis of the bill intro duced by Senator Reagan of Texas. IL contains things that are of value to Ari- zonians, and some that would improve the bill by their absence: Tt provides for a typographical sur vey of all aid lands in the United Sta tes and divides them into: First class irrigation districts about the heads of rivers, streams: second class irrigation districts Or lands ady dyacent to rivers; third class irrigation districts ol lands drained into sinks.
 2-The United States irrigation Sur vey is to select and designate by maps, all irrigabie lands, and if there be not enough water to irrigate all the lands in district, they are to be selected so as | to secure the greatest area, most valua- ble lands by reason of climate, best soil and subscll, and the lands that can be most economically irrigated and culti- vated.
 3-All lands irrigated prior to act of October 2 1888. and all lands for which irrigation works had been constructed prior to that date are made irrigable lands, and all lands so designated by the United States Irrigation Survey. 4-The United States Irrigation Sur vey Is to designate trunk sections of and c+ra an1 lNant1nnC nf dams reservoirs, and canal lines, and it is to be unlawful for individuals or cor porations to construct dams. reservoirs, or canals within the limits of an Irriga-
 tion district.
 5-Water shall be divided among ir- rigaGion districts as follows: In first class district all running water shall be used only on lands designated as irrigable; in second class districts all the waters falling thereon shall be used on- ly on lands designated as irrigable lands and in third class districts all the wat CTS falling on or flown in such shall only be used on designated irrigable lands; and in no case shall these waters be ta- ken from trunk sections except at places designated by the United States Irriga- tion Survey.
 6-Sources of water supply, rates, etc, in another State or Territory from that irrigated shall be under jurisdiction on ly of the irrigation district owning and using them.
 7-All lands in irrigation districts shall belong to the United States, except that United States surveyed irrigation lands may be acquired by individuals in A-,, ,,,4- <,f 1,r lo - law.
 Mining lands, coal lands and town sites may be acquired under the present laws.
 All other lands in an irrigation dis trict remain property of the U. $. for the | use of the people of the irrigation dis trict wherein located and all hydraulic
 works selected by United States Irriga tion Survey shall likewise remain pro perty of the United States.
 S-Owners of land in an irrigation ais | trict shall have the right to buy water
 at cost determined by Commissioner
 of Irrigation district.
 | 9-Unlawful for person or corporations
 to construct hydraulic works in an fri gation district except authorized by dis | trict Commissioners.
 10-The qualified voters of an irriga- tion district may organize themselves
 into corporation with usual legal DO
 wers of such bodies by providing. | For the election of Board of District Commissioners of five persons to con,
 stitute the legislative body of the dis
 trict, subject to State, Territorial ana United States laws.
 ! For an irrigation court for adjUdica-
 tion of questions arising in the district
 and to provide for appeals from saic
 court to higher courts. 1 For Superintendent of irrigation anC | for the necessary assistance, engineers | water-masters, etc.
 For Superintendent of forestry anC necessary assistants.
 | For Superintendent Of pasturagG
 and necessary assistants and herders. l 1.-The Irrigation Commissioner!
 shall provide laws and rules for The use of all waters falling ;n tn, district, for the irrigation of lands, O. recovery of waters by drainage, how anC
 where waters Of the district may be used
 such regulation to conform to laws o
 State, Territory and United States. For the use and protection of timber
 and firewood.
 For the use and protection of p .stur | age.
 12-States or Territories may provide | a generel statute for purpose to-wit: For the use of waters m the det ignat | ed irrigation districts and for construc tion of irrigating works under authority
 of Commissioners of Irrigation, the co
 operation of the people, levying taxes | issuing district bonds. interest Of which
 is to be paid by taxes, or by granting
 persons or corporations the right to con
 struct works to supply waters 10 lands l and for other purposes for term ot twenty-seven years, at the end of which | time the works are to become the prop | erty of the district; such persons or cor | porations to be paid for use of water al
 reasonable rates for quantities of water | used.
 For the use of timber and firewoed
 within irrigation districts under the commissioners of irrigation. | For the use and protection of pastur
 age.
 Estates and Territories concerned are to provide Boards of State CT Ter.
 ritorial irrigation Commissioners of five
 persons to supervise and approve all
 contracts made by district comn.is
 sioners, approve bonds when issued, etc. | etc.
 | 14-States or Territories may define
 the bonds of cities and towns and de
 5ignate the waters to be used by them l and exclude them from irrigation dis 1 tricts.
 15-That befora the benefits in this
 act shall in any respect accrue to a State
 or Territory it shall first perform the following acts, to-wit:
 l Provide general statute for organlza-
 tion of irrigation district, by election oi
 commissioners, organization of irriga-
 tion courts, election or appointment of
 irrigation officers designated in this act Provide general statute for use of
 water, use and protection of timbsr and
 pasturage in conformity with provisions
 of this act.
 By joint resolution of both branches
 of its legislature to grant the rights
 and accept the duties conveyed by this
 act, the Governor to submit the resolu-
 tion to the President and the President to authorize the business of organiza-