The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-24
COLLAPSE OF TRE BUREAU
Why the Irrigation Branch of the
Agricultural Department Has
Suspended.
Important Report Forthcoming on
the Subject of Arid Land
Reclamation, ~. ~
Major POWeii's Persistent Efforts to Defeat
All Work Not Under His Control
Bitter Fight.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The report of the
bureau OF irrigation is now in the hands Of
the public printer, and will probably be
issued in short time. The Importance of
the report, which will make an immense
| book. full of colored maps showing natural
waterways and underfiow and artesian
wells, is emphasized by the fact that the
bureau Of irrigation practically ceased to
exist Saturday. Senator Stewart fought
last year to get liberal appropriation for
the bureau in tho snndry civil bill, but
failed. He afterward succeeded in the
agricultural appropriation bill, where Prof.
Hinton. the head Of the bureau, saws it
rlRhtfully belongs. In this bill there is o
doubt that an effort will be made to make
the bureau Of irrigation permanent insti-
tuition. IL had been considered only tenn
porary, and what little money it received
was secured only after hard fight with
Mai. Powell, of the geological survey, who
argued that the work belonged to his
bureau. Senator Stewards section in the
appropriation act. which in manner
caused the collapse Of the bureau, is as fol-
lows. IT was passed during night session
of the last few days Of the last congress-:
'"Time for the final completion of the re-
port of the extent and availability for irri-
CATION Of underflow and artesian waters
and collection and publication Of informa-
tomas to the best method of cultivating
soil by irrigation. limited to the lat of
July, 1881, by act of Sept. 90 1890. is hereby
extended to the 31st day of January, 1899;
and the sum of $4,000 is hereby appro-
priated to enable this secretary of agricul-
ture to collect and publish information as
to the best methods of cultivating soil by
irrigation
Ofthe 600 appropriated $5,4eO remains
u.nexpended, enough to run the bureau un-
til the end of the fiscal year. the publica-
ton OF reports having been otherwise pro-
vlded for. When Mr.. Cannon Gill; had
the bill in conference in the last hours Of
session, he objected to the sentence max
inc an aprropt tiation because, he said it
made the bureau Il permanent institution
The comptroller takes an opposite view,
saying that the semicolon after 1892 and the
fact that, in his judgment. the word "said''
should have been inserted between the
words publish and information
placed the last part of the paragraph under
direct control of the first part. Therefore
the appropriation expired Jan 1, 1892, when
the report was ready. and the unexpended |
balance is not available. Had period |
been inserted after 1892 instead of semi
colon the irrigation bureau would still be
doing business. Mr.. Hinton lays the |
blame for the suspension of the work on |
The geological survey.
Ihe senate committee on irrigation and |
The reclamation of arid lands held short
session last Friday morning to consider the
matter. Senator Warren. the chairman,
rays that the interference with the continu-
ance OF the bureau was caused by tech
nical oversight in the preparation of the
pill. AS result, however, the work is prac-
tically suspended, and the employees have
eighteen days of work in February to their
credit for which no provision of payment
aas YET been made. The committee deter
mined to submit the matter to the secretary
't agriculture and get from him an express
non of opinion. In return it is expected
hat he will offer some important suggest
ons which will direct the committee in it's
uture action with regard to the policy to
% pursued. The committee is disposed to
the Irrigation inquiry, and, more
'ver, to leave it in the hands of the agri-
cultural department. The organization will
ease to be known as a bureau, but will be
constituted into a division of that depart-
lent. just as soon as possible the hitch by
which the balance is now rendered unavail-
bic will be removed and the work con-
inued.
Maj. Powell's opposition, be claims. is
ol so much due to rivalry over the possess
ion of the irrigation projects as to q deep
aid scheme to rob the people of the United
tates Of their rights and the United States
T it's lands through the medium OF a prop
sition to cede arid lands. Prof. Hinton
eclares that if the plan is carried out it
ill place in the hands of few men water
ights covering 62O,OOO,0OO acres of arid
and, and that thousands of property own
RS will be completely at their mercy.
Without charging corruption or claiming
lie existence of conspiracy. he will illus
rate this in his report with figures, show
lg that IS per cent. of all the waters OF tho :
EASTERN atfluence of the Mississippi basin !,
se in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. !.
lnety-iiye per cent. of all the waters of 4
lie Pacitice slope which govern proprietary t
lterests of public land. as the report will 8
llege, have their rise in the same states. /
/ physical sense three states control the v
ydrology of twenty three or twenty. four r
tates east and west of the continental di-
de. A few men can thus control every !
ling. Maj Powell favors u plan to cedo i
le arid lands to the states and territories, y
I'd, besides. claims he is the right man to q
live the irrigation problem. Prof. Hinton b
,poses the plan. The fight has developed
ito personal one, and both men have ap- \
led hard terms to each other. y
THE DAY IN CONGRESS. .