Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1892-03-13
rhE: ARID LANDS.
F'r,,ViSIons OF u Hiii Providing For
Their CeSsion Io The Stntes.

One OF tho most important bills
that Ii likely To receive tho attention
OF Congress this session ia that pre-
pared by the House Committee on
the Irrigation OF Arid Lands, ceding
such lnnds TO the States 10 which
they ARE located, und providing for
their reclamation, and Chairman
Lnnham, OF Texas, will ask for it's
early consideration by the House.
Tho bill AS prepared by the sub
committee, recites that iuasmuch as
tho proper irrigation and recla nation
OF that portion VI the public domain
of thS United States known M the
arid region, lying west OF the ninety
seventh meridian Of longitude, pre-
sents many difficult questions relating
to the locating and demlrcation Of
catchment nreas and b;lsius, the con
B%truction Of reservoirs for tho storing
Of storm and other waters and the
equitable distribution To the greutest
advantage of such water for Rgricul-
tural PURPOSES, which difficulties can
ouly be surmounted by lava, rules
anil regulations made by those who
90 bost acquainted with and most in
iSrested in tho problems to be solved
ana who. as they are to receive the
grentest direct benefits, ought in
equity and justice, to defray the vast
expenditures ot money necessary aud
REQUESTS Ia tho improvement, recla-
nation and settlement OF such land ns
can be reclaimed, therefore, i'll order
to turn over and remit to the people
OF the States and Territories in which
such arid lands are situated all ques.
tons relating 10 the irrigation of the
same and to savo further expenditure
OF the money of the United States
thereon, the Till provides that sub
ect " all rights, inchoate or perfected
| thereto, all lands of whatever nature
or description and rights thereto. in
Guiding water rights, now i'alonging
to the United States in the Suites Of
Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota,
North Dakota, Montana, Washington,
Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado,
knns,s md California, and H. the
! Territories u! New Mexico, Arizona,
Oklahoma and Utah. shall severslly
iu granted. c.~ioI uld confirmed 10
these States and Territories, the
grant To each To be OF the lnnds cnn
tanned within its present boundaries
and territorial limits.
The bill further provides that the
President shuil issue letters pHten.
for tho same To- the several States and
Territories designats,l, whenever tao
States and Territories shnll, by net OF
Legislature, nccapt this possession Uf
the lun.ts IN provided, within sour
years from the time Of approval al
this act.
The act will in no manner affect
any Of the lands held by the United
Sinies for parks, naval, military OF
other public purposes, for nny lndian
or military lnnds, nor tho Territory
of Alaska. The Governors OF tho
Territories ~ Utah, Ariznnn, okla
homa and Now Mexico nre required,
within "a reasonable time after the
passage of the net, to call special ses.
aions, il need bs, Of their several
Legislatures, To pass upon the pro-
visions of tho net and tho questions
submitted to them.
No State or Territory accepting tho
cession OF lands .hnll in any u.se soil,
lease or dispose Of the lands in groatcr
quantity than 100 acres IN my one
person, corporation or association,
nor shall any such State or Territory
in any manner impair or abridHo the
homestead privileges now granted To
soldiers and sailors under the iund
laws Ut thu United States.