Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-09
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Charles Il. EsatherWax, Postmaster
for PlacerVille.
TWO REPORTS ON ARID LANDS.
Appointment of officials for Okla
hcma-Railway Mail Service
-Tariff Debate.
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
TWO REPORTS ON ARID LANDS.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE REoosD-usios.l
ARID LANES.

tspzc1AL DISPATCHES TO THE REcoaD-uSloS.l
ARID LAMBS.
Majority and Minority Reports From the
senate Irrigation Committee.
WASHINGTON, May Sth.-Following is
synopsis OF the Senate majority report on
the bill for the irrigation of arid lends:
Before giving o detailed account sof the in
vestigsties of the C mmittee, some general OBJ
servations and Suggestions as to what action
should by taken by the Government 10 enable
the people to reclaim and settle Upon the arid
lands OF the United States are submitted. Over
twoffths of lfne area Of the United States, ex-
elusive of Alaska, requires irrigation to insure
regular crops and in a. least four-ffths of the
arid region irrigation3s necessity for the pro-
duction thereof.
This arid region comprises between 10 900
and l90, 600 square miles, being a third larger
than that of British India ard very similar to
il in its general characteristics. 1he amount
of land that may De brought under cultivation
in the arid region is variously estimated at from
5000, 600 TO 150, One' 900 acres.
1t is safe to predict at least 1000 600 acres
will ultimately be brought under cultivation by
irrigation, and that. too, by water in sight,
which, when properly utilized, viii reclaim at
least 10 per cent of the whole arid area.
The,question for consideration is: What ac
ton should be taken by the Government to
enable the people TO reclaim these desert
lands? Their reclamation must be initiated
and executed by the Poop and not by the Gov
eminent
monarchic or despotic rule, the work of irriga-
Iion has been carried on under Government
control, and largely with Government money
The Government of British India has already
expended several hundred millions of dollars
in constructing irrigation works, and is contin-
uing such expenditures on most magnificent
scale.
PROFITABLE INVESTMENT.
RpnOrtc -ehayv hat hac haa
profitable to the Government and of the great
est possible advantage to the people, but there
is no necessity for the United States to engage
in such expenditures. If an opportunity is fur
nished to the people OF this country, they will
reclaim these desert lands, SO far as reclamation
IS necessary. The most important action by the
Government in aid of the reclamation of these
desert lands was the passage of the Acts of
October ,, less, and of March 2 1889.
BY the first of these Acts Sl99,0 was appro-
Pviated for topographic surveys and sl0dooe
for surveys pertaining to irrigation; $50 900 was
diverted by the Director from that purpose and
added to the appropriation for topographic sur
veys: making sum of S259C00 for topography
and leaving only $4,000 for irrigation.
By the Act of March 2, 1859, $500 600 was APP
propriated for topographic surveys, and $751;
go for irrigation surveys. Of the sum appro-
verted from that purpose by the Director and
added to the 100000 for topographic surveys
making an aggregate of $500, 600 for topographic
and leaving only 900 for irrigation Surveys
VIOLATION OF THE STATUTE.
Your committee regards this as plain viola
ton of the statute and Misrepresentation of
money. 1t has been represented by the Director
that a general topographic map of the arid re-
gion is necessary Ior an irrigation survey, and
that unless it is made the cost of that survey
will be increased manifold. This statement it
is impossible to comprehend.
1t is, of course, easy 10 see that such q man
would give useful information of general kind.
and would be convenient for many minor pur-
poses, but the engineers, while admitting this,
testify with one voice that its usefulness goes no
iurther that such map is not at all necessary in
any imperative sense; that it will not save them
any important amount of labor or expense; that
the engineering surveys would be of the same
character and cost the same, whether they have
maps or not, and that no use has been made of
any topography by any OF the engineers en-
gagged In the irrigation survey except as q gen.
eral map of the country.
A provision was inserted in the Act of Octo-
Der ,lSSs, which is working a great hardship
TO the people OF all the arid States and Terri
tories. 1t was necessary to reserve all the lands
which may hereafter be designated or selected
by such United states surveys for sites for
reservoirs aid bitches canals for irrigation
purposes.
As matters now stand, no entries can be made
or titles perfected to any public lands of the
United States requiring irrigation. Attention is
called to this fact 10 show the importance of
action on Senate bill 2l04, as reported from this
committee.
UNAPPRoPRIA1ED WATERS.
The bill reserves the unappropriated waters
OF lakes and rivers on public lands for such
beneficial purposes as shall be determined by
the States and Territories where such waters
are situated, subject only 10 the paramount au-
thority of the United States
1t reserves the right OF way for bitches, canals
and other hydraulic works for irrigation pur-
poses, and allows the flowing TO be diverted
from their natural beds upon the arid areas
II also reserves to the United States the ad-
Indication of all questions that may arise in re-
Lot inn fr,
tribution of all natural waters located at the
boundary of States or Territories. 1t lepeals all
laws for the sale of lands where irrigation is
necessary. except the mineral and homestead
ing laws
The bill a so confers the power upon the Com
missioner of Irrigation to regulate the amount
of land which may be taken in a given locality
by homestead settlers, not exceeding leo acres.
II further provides that when reservoirs, canals
and other hydraulic works shall have been
completed 30 as to irrigate all the land in
given district, patents may be issued to claim
ants of public lands in such district upon COM
pliance with the laws in force at the time the
claims were made. And also provides that
when an irrigation district is formed in any
State or Territory, and the laws of such State or
Territory permit, legal voters residing in such
district may tax the land of the State and of
private individuals for the purpose of construct
ing such hydraulic works IS are for the common
benefit of all irrigable lands in such district
ALL LANDS MAY BE TAXED.
United States lands therein shall bear the
same burdens as are imposed on State lanes and
the lanes of private persons and homestead set
tiers who take such lands with irrigation works
constructed for their reclamation shall take
them subject to the payment OF the same charges
as have been paid by private parties for the
same purpose; provided. that the amount of Such
taxes shall be approved by the Commissioner OF
Irrigation. and that the United States shall not
in any case be liable tor any of such charges
1t further provides that the people OF dis
trict situated in two or more States or in State
and Territory may have the benefits of this Act
by the joint action of all the States and Terri
torities in which any portion of such district is
situated, or in case any of the States or Terri
tories refuse TO join, then the State or Territory
II which a large portion of the iIrigable land is
situated may perform all the acts necessary to
enable LEGAL voters to reclaim lands and secure
the benefits OF the Act
TRANSFERRED TO RUsK's DEPARTMENT.
The committee, believing that irrigation per
tains to agriculture, and not TO geology and
other subjects under charge of the Director OF
the Geological Survey, and differing from the
Direc.or to the mode of conducting such mat
ters relate to irrigation, has provided for the
transfer of the irrigation survey to the Agriclt-
ural department, and the appointment OF a
Commissioner of Irrigation in that department.
The passage of the bill. IL is believed will en-
able bona fde settlers and landowners TO de
velop the arid region by their united efforts Ii
wall give full play TO the enterprise OF the pio-
neers OF the West.
II avoids as far as possible Government inter-
ference and frees the Government from the
II
the United States should undertake to supervise
and control this vast region. as suggested by the
Director Of the Geological Survey. 1t also pre-
vents the delay which would be occasioned by
waiting for the expenditure OF many millions OF
dollars in geologic and topographic surveys and
in paleoniologic, chemical and physical re-
searches under the director of the Geological
Survey. and also avoids the embarrassment
which would be imposed upon irrigation by
charging to it the expenditures made by the
director of the Geological Survey for other pur-
poses.
MINORITY REPORT.
Senators Reagan. German and Jones of
Arkansas say that, finding themselves un.
able 70 agree with the majority of the Sem
ate Committee on Arid Lands, they submit
minority report. An analysis OF the bill
OF the minority is made by sections and the
effect of each section is pointed out. The
sections may here be characterized sum.
marty:
Section of the biz provides tor the survey of
arid lands into natural irrigation districts Sec.
ton PROVIDES for the segregation of irrigable
lands. Section provides that lands already
irrigated shall be declared irrigabIe for purposes
contemplated in the bill. Section provides
that certain offhe irrigation works shall be con-
structed only on sites designated and reserved
therefor, in order to protect water rights and 10
conserve waters for beneficial purposes
Sapfiop nroviias fo- fba Ss.-is;n -