The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-21
CARTER ON ARID LANDS.
The Land Commissioner Favors
Their Transfer to the Control
Of States.
Subject to Restrictions That Would
Insure Their Acquisition
by Settlers.
Opposition to tho Policy That Would Ger
tainly Result in the Monopoly Of
Great Corporations.

In a letter to the Now York Recorder,
COMMISSIONS Garter, of the general land
office. says: Every little desirable land re-
mains u~nappropriated outside of the boun-
DIARIES of what may be termed the arid
region. That the demand for homes on
the public domain is greater than ever be-
fore in the country's history may reasonably
be inferred from recent experience in the
opening of Oklahoma territory for settle
ment. On an average there appeared upon
the ground, within twenty-four hours after
the land was thrown open for settlement by
the presidents proclamation, at least two
qualified sntrymen for every desirable quar-
ter section Of land in the territory. In con-
sequence of the abnormal demand and the
limited acreage conflicting claims arose.,
which have resulted in long, vexatious and
expensive contests. This unusual demand
for land in Oklahoma did not arise be-
cause of any special preference for
the climate or soil, but because of the very
limited area of public land remain
ing upon which a settler can raise crops
without artificial irrigation. There are
millions of acres of land in the arid region
with soil equal if not superior to that found
in Oklahoma, in sections of the country
where the climate ia equally desirable, upon
which no one attempts to settle, for the
reason that 4 water supply for irriRating
purposes annot be secured at such expense
as the settlers are able to undergo.
1t has been demonstrated that these arid
lands, when reclaimed by q sufficient water
supply proper for irrigation, produce album
dant crops for an indefinite period of time.
and with unfaiiing regularity. Water con-
Quoted from streams or reservoirs to the
land and distributed over its surface in the
process of irrigation seems to act as a pow
erful fertilizing agent.
Generally speaking, the water supply in
the flowing streams is inadequate during
the irrigating ~season-which usually covers
the months of Juno, July and August-to
irrigate any great extent Of country. The
supply thus available has been to a very
on what is termed the first or creek bottom
lands. In consequence it is manifestly
necessary, in order to secure a water supply
for the extensive plateaus which. stretch
many miles on either side of nearly every
stream, that tho flow of water through the
entire year should be stored and conducted
from the reservoirs in canals during the
irrigating season to the lands to be Guilt
waited.
lowing to the elevation of these plateaus
above tho level of the streams it is fire.
quently necessary to construct canals many
miles in length on a slight grade in order
to conduct the water of the stream to the
highest point on the land to be reclaimed.
Again. in order to store the water supply of
tho entire year for use during the season
when it is needed, reservoirs of great capa-
city must be constructed, and of suoh
strength as will insure the safety of persons
residing in the valley below. Until such
reservoirs and canals have been constructed
the reclamation of the great body of arid
this is accomplished settlement and %cultiva-
ton cannot take place.
while an individual settler might re-
claim a small tract of land situated on the
first bottom, and little above the level of
the stream, he cannot with his limited
means successfully accomplish the same re-
suit on the bench or uplands. II is there
fore clear that persons contemplating set
Element cannot cope with the situation.
1t is equally clear to my mind that congress
can never be induced to appropriate money
from the public treasury to construct neces-
sary reservoirs and canals. Congress will
not pass any law likely to result in trans
ferring title to such large bodies of these
arid lands to corporations as would induce
private capital to embark in this stipend
GUS undertaking as an investment.
The genius of our institutions and the
NAA NSRhA - SSHAS W. -" AoAASo
stand alike in stubborn opposition to the
acquisition of title to extensive tracts of
land by corporations. Landlordism, as
known in other countries, can never expect
SYMPATHY or support in this country.
1.-The government should see to it that
every honest man devoted to the flag. who
is willing to make an industrious effort to
secure n home of his own should have
every encouragement, and as few impedi-
ments as possible left in his way. The pat
r.roA @S,~ l1-,rrtf - rAp& o~r,1 - H. --:..-
that it was a difficult thing to induce a man
to take up ashotgnn in defense of a board
ing house. But we have reached a point
where settlement on the public domain has
been checked by a great natural difficulty,
with which the individual settler cannot
successfully grapple and the general gov
ernment will not appropriate money to
overcome.
'Is it sound policy for the government to
remain inactive while home-seeking citi-
Zens are exhausting each Others strength
and substance in n fierce struggle to oil tain
title to the small remaining area on which
the rainfall is suf1icient-while it may be
possible, through a wise policy, to enable
every ono seeking a home to secure it on
the face of the reclaimed desert? There
can be- but one answer. The problem is a
serious one, and Its prompt solution is quite
as important as it's wise solution. There
are two ways oren: First, to pursue a
policy indicated in a recent act of congress,
encouraging private capital to engage in
the enterprise. This policy must neoes-
sarily result in passing the ownership of
water. and consequent control of the land. |
to corporations. A wiser plan. it seems to
me, would be the transfer of the land and
water to the direct control of the states,
subject to such limitations and restrictions
rs would insure the reclamation of the land
by the states. and the transfer of title from
the state in the first instance to actual set
tiers"
Excursion Rates to California.