The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-03
: THE iRRIoxii6v PROBLEM
why the Arid Lands shouid Ne Given 10
the states and Territories.


WASHINGTON. Aug 2.-During the discussion
In tho Senate OF the various methods proposed
for retaining barren public lands, some in.
tcresting suggestions were made as to the
workwhich the general Government might do
In the storage and distribution Of water
senator Dolph. Tor example. presented a
memorandum on this subject. drawn IN Ivy
MT IL. j. Hinton. who has made a special study
OF 1t. ITO would begin by rGserving from CO.
cupation the sources Of all inter. State water
still remaining on the public lands west OF the
Tooth meridian. These sources and all needed
storage Sites with the forest reservations.
should lie held for all time as the water. gath
ering areas Then to each arid State or Tor
ritory he would transfer in trust for similar
public uses. the sources OF all streams rising
andremaining in flow within it's borders and all
needed storage sites now unoccdpied on pub
lie lands. Next. no would establish on the
public domain tho Spanish and Mexican law
OF accessibility to all natural springs. lakes or
running waters. both for man and domestic
animals rcservine such waters on all lands
suited chiefly for pastoral uses. especially II at
an altitude OF 5000 feet or more. He would
also allow land to he taken by q settler In ir-
regular share as well AZ in the present rec
tangular areas In arid valleys or broken
mountainous places.
Another suggestion OF Mr.. Hinton is to allow
colony or cooperation homestead settleme nts,
so that an advance guard can occupy an area
which needs irrigation processes. He would
also permit the taxation or holding to cost per
acre OF all public land entries for the cost OF
irrigation works and water distribution. just
as other lands. privately held. are rated: md
this cost could be made a lien to be inserted in
tho patent when issued. Having reserved oil
water supplies for pastoral or grazing rur-
poses. Mr. Hinton would lease the grazing
lands In suitable parcels. devotlng tho net in
come 10 developing all water supplies In and
underneath the area. At present he would not
permit the sale or ratHnting of pastoral area
above an altitude OF 1000 feet. giving these as
his reasons:
, TN. ngsessd because rrcsres, already mad. in
iio% h%"S 10 iSo5 above sea lew. !hsrs are ives.
land c"nsier.i as Mt only for grazing upon Witch
III sSSa:as ala.
anu other forage crops roots and vegetables and
IsS .ta +. r OF, & L sa:
acres indicated Another and more importan, reason.
hnnns nS and S p, i.Th" ~ the etc fern q
,Ids areas arc every where the cloud compeers and
domain. '''N '''"'
T., While these various proposals are interest
Ing, the simpler method Of settling the irriga-
tiun problem seems to be TINT Of granting the
nril public lands to tho States and Territories
irrigation works are within a proper time.
ana an In a. PROPER way c@nstrpetcd by the latter
Of .Sr STAIN MR. has
est. the security being the added value of the
opment to any one State or Territory for irr-
cation PURPOSES is Mt ,h TO- exceed S2.Oo0;QO0
rroyisiont are made in this plan Of loaninE the
credit OF the Treasury to the States and Terri
tories for this purpose.
to the states aud Territories. imposing upon
them the task OF providing the bitches and
the general Govern lnent. and. even il it we're.
tho pTodigious cost would make it out OF tho
question. An estimate made by a prominent
Government officer is that about 12O.OO0.OOp
acres o. the arid lands can be irrigated. and
thai that |l0OoC9o99, acres can be redeemed at
sIoo6oooo 600 In this lis work vast ens III err
ing enterprises must be undertaken" There
would. ALSO be the claims for damages in
consequence OF the bursting OF reservoir walls
here and there together with other sources Of
Senator Warren. Chairman Of the Com mittee
on Arid Lands and irrigation. properly con-
sidsrs TINT thc wsest plan II to allow the sew
for their reenmation. charginr to Settlers tbs
cost Of irrigation and thus saving the general
Government from expense. while largely in
The State would thus be substituted for the
general Government in disclosing of these
lan'ls. MS - SUBSTANTIALLY WIlhC was aSkcu
by the Irrigation Congress held 4 few months
ago at Salt Lake City. except that it seems to
lands with a view to this irrigation.
What makes II advisable to settle upon some
definite policy as soon rs possible Is that the
tons the substantial control OF the whole
water supply in vast areas Of the public do
main. Rather than trust to tho monopo!izing
Of these valuable privileges by private corpora
tions. it seems advisable at once to turn the
pins tk,in Ia
OF settling the question. there would be some
difficulties. 1t would be necessary to insure
the reclamation Of such lands by degrees. and
to prevent States at the headwaters of rivers
from cutting Of the supply OF Other States
the schem me could no worked out, II Congress
should once signify its desire, to make the