The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-17

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interests are different from theirs We saw
as they differ from theirs, so should they
extend the same protection to us as wa
have been willing hitherto to extend to
them, and therefore il is not asking too
much OF the east to look westward and give
US whatt Give US what they cannot sell
Inc government OF the United States in the
last year has not sold i've hundred thousand
acres OF arid land in the whole arid district.
mean actual arid lands-out Of this vast
territory. Some of it might be called arid.
but am informed by high authority, yes,
that OF actual arid land the government of
the United States has not sold five hundred
thousand acres in twelve months, and Thyl
Because the sale of it did not mean anv-
thing unless water went with tit did not
mean anything to the seller.
UNDER THE PRESENT LAW
Just look at it. A statute of the United
States passed on the 3rd of March. 1891.
provides that any settler Of the west may
nave water. Why he may have 800 acres
| OF arid lands if he does what! Why. if he
pays So an acre within three years towards
getting ditch on the land Now iust
imagine poor man coming west to settle.
10 you suppose he Is going to take up 800
acres OF arid land, Mr.. Chairman. provid-
ing he has 1850 to invest in irrigation In the
hrst three years. Can he do it If he has
S96O, why, he Is pretty independent man
and he would rather go and buy twenty or
thirty or forty acres with water on it than
take his chance Of getting water on an
arid 800 acres and loose his 1860. Now that Ia
the condition Of things. Hence the propo-
sition seems to me- to be this, first let us
ask for the donation of the arid lands of
the west and all of the timbered lands. OF
course L assume that the mineral lands
would be exempt Next let that donation
De made upon such trusts and upon such
protectloE, for the purpose of keeping it
from falling into the hands Of large owners
as may be wise in the minds of the national
Congress. For instance, l would provide
that no man could obtain a title to mora
than 800 acres OF desert land, either d.
rectly or Indirectly. Why 500 Why, be-
cause 800 acres, if he has got water on it
is more than any one man can begin to cul-
| tivate, and it will help those who need the
helping hand OF the government by giving
them small farms. The tendency of the
great west, and especially in some of our
part Of the west is the accumulation of vast
estates in land. The object Of good govern
ment is to stop this in 80 far as it can and to
GIVE THE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY
Of owning small farms all over the country.
giving the poor man a chance to own ten
| twenty, forty, sixty or hundred acres. If
it is in his power to cultivate il. because
the large owner of lands only own il for
speculative purposes and not tor practical
uses, while the small farmer own il for the
purpose OF cultivation and for sustaining
his family and building up the civilization
of the country. (Appause)
Gentlemen OF the convention, it was onIv
upon the single point then that | am in
favor, and l hope this convention will
adopt resolution recommending to the
general Congress the donation or appro-
priation or dedication, you may use auy
wo-d you please if you convey the idea Of
all the arid lands la the great west to the
various states and territories under such
trusts and guards as may be thought wise.
and also all the timber lands. | thank Won
for your attention. (Applause).
HOLSTERS RESOLUTION
MIR. HOLSTER, of Utah, introduced the
following:
Whereas, The arabic, irriagble lands in
this region so situated as to be easily and
cheaply watered are already disposed of to
settlers, and those remaining unsold are
worthless without water which has also
been appropriated, and the emaining lands
can not be reclaimed without great outlay;
and
Whereas, The arid states and territories
are not able to realize any considerable
school fund from those already gran ted as
in the case of the states of the old north
west;' and
Whereas, 1.-The grazing lands are a gen
eral common to which no one can secure
title and yield no revenue and have no care
or police; and
Whereas, The timber lands of said re-
gion are without supervision ana are being
devastated by fire and cut of at the head OF
streams, thus affecting the water supply;
and
Whereas, the government of these arid
states and territories can more effectuaIlY
administer such trust if granted to them.
than the craDoral
fore be it
"Resolved, That all the unsold land In
the arid region, together with the water.
be granted outright to the states and terri
tories respectively under such restrictions
as may be wise, in trust for the people OF
said region"
GREGoRY's WHEREAS.
Mr.. Gregory, of Kansas, offered the fol-
lowing:
Whereas, 1) the protection OF the for
ests of the western half of the United
States and the reforsstation Of large areas
are matters of great concern TO all the
people who are directly interested in the
reclamation Of the arid lands, and are In
fact, matters of great moment to tha
country at large, and we do most earnestly
insist that the Congress Of the United
States shall provide adequate means for
such protection and extension of the for
ests.
''The representatives of all the states and
territories of the United States which are
Immediately concerned with the subject Of
irrigation, urge upon Congress the neces-
sity Of providing, without delay, such leg
islation as may be necessary to affsrd the
means Of settling justly and amicsbly all
Interstate questions growing out OF the
system of irrigation.
1.-THE representatives of the states and
territories which are concerned with the
subject of reclamation Of arid land, for thu
uses of agriculture, hereby recommend tbs
following
"1-That the states and territories SHAH
ascertain by accurate survey what lands
are susceptible of irrigation, public or prj-
vate, together with the resources for water
supply, and shall divide such lands into
irrigation districts.
''2-That suchs states may issue upon
such lands long term bonds bearing law
rate of interest to such an amount per AGRA
as may be necessary to reclaim all such
lands at an expense within practicable lin,
its, the interest being guaranteed
''3-Upon the Issue and negotiation of
such ponds and depositing the same with