Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-07-02
IRRIGATION LEGISLATION.
Status of the All Important Subject
What the WestHas Now as
the Result of Powell's
Policy.
The California SaIution and Senator Stew
arts Pending Bll-Readable
Letter on a Timely
Subject.
Special Correspondence New Mexican.

SuulCJk'
Special Correspondence New Mexican.
WASHINGTON, D. c. June 27, 1891
The position of irrigation legislation at
the present time is as follows: Under
the action of the last session of the 51st
congress, the agricultural department is
entrusted with the completion of the
artesian wells and underhow location in
vestigation, which was first authorized
April 4, 1890, and continued by the ses-
sion just passed, to be completed by Jan
uary l, 1892. This investigation is located
between the foothills of the Rocky Noun
tains and the 9th meridian Of west longi-
tude. The first appropriation made was
$4,000. Under the influence of the
director OF the U. S. geological survey,
exercised through the appropriation COM
mittee of the house, this $4,000 was to
be expended, and the report thereof to be
submitted by the 1st of July 1890, or as
soon thereafter as possible. The investi.
cation was completed so far as that pro-
vision OF law required by the middle of
July, and the report was made ready
within six weeks thereafter. 1t was not
published, however, until congress assem-
bled for the session of 1901, when the
senate called for it and printed the same.
An additional $4,000 was voted to con-
tinue the investigation to completion.
And again through the influence of the
director of the geological survey, the re-
port was required to be made by the 1st
of July 1891. After long contest, con-
gress at its last session decided to con-
tinue the investigation until the 1st OF
January next. They gave, however, no
additional funds, nor has it allowed any
experimentation as to the existence or
location OF artesian or other earth waters.
The change as to time of completing this
report will be OF great value. The officers
in charge of this inquiry are confident
that their reports will be of great service,
not only to the region to which their in
vestigation has been confined, but to the
whole of the arid portion of our continental
area. When congress authorized the
continuance of the time of the investga-
ton it also gave as an annual approprla-
ton the sum of $4,000, for an office of
irrigation inquiry, bearing upon the rela-
tions of irrigation to the cultivation of the
soil, under the department of agriculture.
This appropriation is operative on the 1st
of July next.
The United States geological survey
was positively relieved of all work con-
nected with irrigation by the distinct re-
fusal of the houses of congress, after full
examination in the appropriation COM
mittees and upon the floors OF both
houses. to appropriate any more money for
the same. The director, Major John W.
Powell, secured considerable addition
az DutiI oessions of tho last congI rss for
his typographical work. 1t has been
reported that the major or his subordi-
mates, with his approval, have termed
the western section of the U. S. topo-
graphical survey "the typographical sur
vey of ard lands" There is no warrant
in law for such action, and the only pur-
pose of it can be to make the majority
believe that he is still entrusted with
what was known as the Irrigation sur
vey."
So far as positive legislation is con-
cerned, after five years of continuous ag-
itation, the American congress, con-
trolled by eastern interests, has left this
vast irrigation field with an appropriation
of $4,000 for an inquiry into it's possi-
bilities and resources. This is not due
to the ill-will of the eastern people, or
the indifference of the south or central
west, but rather to the ambition and
pugnacity of the director of the U. S.
geological survey, who as an able man
and in possession of large powers and
patronage, has had great deal of inf1u-
ence upon the action of legislators.
He has proceeded so far as the arid west
is concerned upon the rule or ruin policy
and to that end, not being able to secure
appropriations for his own Office, lie has
personally opposed all appropriations for
the department of agriculture; and he has
also been able to prevent the proper
publication of reports made by that de-
partment on the subject. The growing
west will understand his course of action
and the hindrance of their interests it
has occasioned. They will not be apt to
forget him. Their power in the senate
has already been shown to that end.
The department of agriculture is doing
it's level best to bring forward the possi-
bilities, the problems and interests of the
arid sections Of the west. Its reports on
these subjects and its investigations into
kindred questions, are of the greatest in
terest to all our people. The transfer of
the weather service, which will take place
within month, will greatly tend to in
crease the usefulness of this department.
1t is the interest of all who represent the
New West to sustain this department and
enlarge its scope, especially in matters
connected with reclamation, irrigation,
forestry, climatology, etc.
The recent congress at Denver resolved
that the question of speedy irrigation de-
could be solved by transfer
of the public lands within the several
states and territories to the people thereof.
1t is policy which goes to the opposite
extreme of that which the geological sur
vey and it's director attempted to push |
down the throats of the people. The
geological survey wanted the control of
the arid west for eight years and the stop
page of all settlement thereon, with ST.