Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-13

survey submitted to congress by the d.
rector prior to the enactment of the law.
1t is strictly in compliance with the rep
reservations made by the director to the
committee on appropriations and pub
lished by that committee in its report to
the senate explaining the bill.
Three months after the passage
of the bill the director reported to
congress how this work had been organ
izsd and was being prosecuted, showing
that it was strictly in compliance with
the law and that topographic work had
been begun. The topographic work is
necessary, economical and legal.
So. The recommendation to disoon-
tinue the Topographic work of the irriga-
ton survey is believed to be unwise. 1t
is deemed that through this method
catchment areas, sites for divertinR
works, canal sites, reservoir sites, and
irrigable lands can be discovered with
the greatest economy and thoroughness.
1t is also believed to be the proper basis
for photographic survey.
81. The photographic branch of the
irrigation survey should not be turned
over to the signal service. The stations
of the signal service in the arid lands are
not at the places where the streams
should be gagged. A new corps of men
would be necessary, and it is believed
that the measuring of the waters to be
used for irrigation can be most economi-
cally and promptly done by the irrigation
survey through the topographic work.
SO. The two bills are Numerically op-
posed in theory, purpose and effect. The
bill recommended by the minority is in
the interest of the farmers themselves;
81 -, fv,ka 8
companies. The one proposes to con-
tinue the present irrigation survey, while.
the other proposes to create new burea&
of irrigation and second geologteaE sdr-
vey.
80. Director Powell does not suggest
that irrigation works should be con-
structed by the general government, but
he has consistently for long term of
years urged that the industry of agricul-
ture by irrigation should be under the
control of natural irrigation districts.
40. No delay in the operations of the
irrigation survey Is caused by the opera
tons of the geological survey, but wher-
ever maps are made in the arid and sub
humid regions for the geological survey
they serve the purposes of the irrigation
survey and forward its works.
Al. The legislation already accom-
plished by the act of October 2, 1888,
which reserves the sites for irrigation
works in the hands OF the general gov
eminent, and reserves the lands made
susceptible of irrigation thereby for
homestead settlement, is wise and should
not be repealed. The desert land laws,
the timber culture laws and the pre-
emption laws, which are in effect re-
pealed by this act, should not again be
made operative, for by their agency
large tracts OF land have heretofore been
aggregated in the hands of individuals
and corporations.
AZ. Experimental boring for the dis
covery of artesien waters Is unwise. The
experience of the world demonstrates
that the supply of artesian waters Ia al-
ways inadequate to the wants of agricsfs
ture and of Insignificant amount, th31gh
such fountains are valuable for domestic
| and horticultural purposes. Especially
is it unwise to create q new geological
survey to discover artesian waters.