The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-01-02
Looking After Arid Lands.

Looking After Arid Lands.
Hon. Willis Sweet is looking
after arid lands for Idaho. He ha,
prepared the draft of a bill as We
learn from the Statesman, which he
will introduce in case no other bill
shall cover the ground better. As
we understand the proposition, il
is the design of Mr.. Sweet to make
the state trustee for the general
government, the title remaining in
the government. The government
will be assured that the lands re-
claimed shall go to actual settlers,
and that the amount to each settler
shall be SO limited as to prevent
corporations and land grabbers
from securing possession of large
tracts, and also that actual settlers
shall get the water rights to which
they are entitled. Mr.. Sweet, in
explanation says, "Congress enter
tains fixed determination to pro-
tect those who want to make homes
on the land, and will not trust their
rights to the states"
Under Mr.. Sweets bill the arid
lands of Idaho are to be made
over to the state in trust, so that
they may be bonded to raise money
for their reclamation, but the fee
simple title remains in the govern
ment until such time as the land
shall be sold to actual settlers" A
commission of five citizens to be
appointed by the president will be
empowered to classify the arid lands
of the state; to determine the
amount of arid land in each county,
and by what means its reclamation
can be brought about, whether by
canals or reservoirs, the cost, &c.
Other details of a minor nature are
given, showing that the bill is in
tended by its author to provide for
the distribution of our arid lands
when reclaimed, in manner that
shall protect them against monop-
oily by the rich, and make it posi-
BILE for those who are not too poor
to secure homesteads, showing that
Congress is beginning to under
stand that the lands of this country
do not belong to any one class, nor
to Congress to be given bodily to
corporations as has long been its
custom. Twenty years ago Mr..
Sweets bill would have provided
for the chartering of corporations,
the interest on whose bonds would
have been guaranteed by the gov
eminent. These corporations would
have been empowered, upon the
payment to the government of a
and merely nominal sum
per acre, to reclaim large bodies of
land, and then to sell or lease it to-
settlers at such prices as the avarice
of the corporations might demand,
retaining to themselves the right to
the water as means of perpetually
taxing their victims.
But what we meant to say is that
while in many respects Mr.. Sweets
bill seems to be a good one, the
practicability of bonding lands by
the state, which belong to the gov
eminent, is not clear. Government
would, as it seems to us, be COM
PEELED to relinquish its title before
a sale of bonds could be effected. |
For in case the state refused or was
unable to pay the bonds when they |
come due, the holders would have
no real security, but would have to
depend upon the generosity of the
federal government for their money.
Besides it seems to us to be an at
tempt to do indirectly what Mr..
Dolph would do directly. Derive
money from the government to re-
leem the arid lands. OF the two
we prefer the direct one of
Mr.. Dolph.