The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-11
AN ARID LANDS BILL.
A Plan to Cede Them to the
States and Territories.
FOR THE Observation-Disclosures
Senator Warren Fathers the Measure-Maxi
mum Amount of Land That Can be
Taken-Reservoir Sites.

WASHINGTON, March Especial tele-
gram TO The HERALD. Senator Warren
TO day introduced bill asking for the ces-
sion of the arid public lands TO the states
and territories wherein situated. The bill
will be presented and lie on the table for
the present SO that some remarks may be
submitted at a later date, before the bill
goes to the irrigation committee. The bill
provides that practically all the lands west
of the goth meridian are to be ceded to the
states and territories, including mineral
lands not more valuable for mining
than agriculture, excluding lands
TO which claims are now made,
providing claims are proved up according
to law, otherwise these lands to revert to
the states. 1t is conditioned that each
state and territory accepting shall proceed
without unnecessary delay 10 prepare Tor
the distribution of public waters and Tor
irrigation and reclamation This In
good faith, but according to the financial
ability of each state only. The states may
sell the lands for TOWNSHIP and right Of
way purposes. Pasturage lands adjacent
TO irrigated lands and ways follow the irrt-
gated lands. The states or territories may
mortgage, or conditionally sell in large
areas to raise money for irrigation, but
eventually, when the sale is completed
il must be TO actual settlers and IN small
tracts, only 100 acres OF lrrlgable lands 10
one party, but an additional 100 acres nom
irrigable land can be sold to the same party
IN addition to his homestead right, and prior
use of homestead right under the United
States laws does not bar the party from
taking another homestead under the state
statutes, always providing, however, that
the state cannot sell to any one party more
Unan 800 acres altogether.
Non-irrigabie lands are to be sold at
price not exceeding Sl.25 per acre and as
much less as the states decide. Each
homesteRder or settler OF irrigable lands
may have appropriated to him or leased
contiguous grazing lands. This can be
with or without price as the states de-
eide. Each settler has the right to appro-
pirate land nearer him than other settlers.
In areas where no settler applies the state
may provide for temporary leasing. Tim
Der not necessary for the conservation of
snow and water may be sold by the state
as provided, all reservoirs, sites or timber
lands to remain the property of the state
for the benefit of all.
If any expense for reclamation is in
Cured on mining lands the party making
proof must pay for the irrigation if any has
been done. AIunsatistied soldiers claims,
land scrip certificates, ETC., shall be hon
ored, all funds from the sale, lease or
otherwise of land, timber, etc, to be used
for the reclamation OF lands, but il resi-
due remain it shall be added to the per
manent fund.
After ten years and due notice upor
proclamation of the President and legisla
ton by Congress certain lands may revert
to the government, but for the sole purpose
only of being reclaimed by the government
according TO the spirit Of this act. UpoI
the passage by Congress and the accept
snce by the state, the compact becomes ire
pealable except upon consent OF the United
States and the states or territory.
MIR. Warren SAID subsequently in ex
PLANTATION of his bill: Il have endeavoreC
TO incorporate all the restrictions that hsyI
been in good faith proposed by anybody
perhaps more restrictions than the bill
should contain. The subject of the reclams
ton of arid land must be presented as
matter of great necessity and great prals
is due to the western people, as it is a.
undertaking requiring a vast amount o
capital. If the United States government
would appropriate enough money to con
struct reservoirs, preserve forests, Collec
the waters and enter upon their reclama
ton for use, L would support such
measure. There being no reasonable pros
pect Of this, we of the arid region desire t
show our good faith by some propositio
by which Will lead to the Improvement G
this land and on which we make plain ou
proposition, that we desire the reclamatio
and disposal of the lands to bona I'D
settlers. l will not cling tenaciously 1
the propositions of my bill If better on
be introduced, either as to the bill in II
entirety, or as TO any of its provision:
There is no question that the governmer
should afford US help in solving the eri
land problem. In the rich and fertil
states settlers get very valuabl
land from the government at g
low prices and cheaper in man
instances, and under less vexatiou
conditions that we are held to. While tn
arid lands now left US are worth but fra
ton as much, the government should maE
US whole. Give the states that which
now nearly valueless TO the United State
and let them try to utilize it. l am col
fident if the lands are transferred TO tt
states, we can iaterest capital and procee
to large developments.