Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-03-12
AN IMPORTANT ARID LAND
 BILL

ONE of the most important bills says special to the St Louis Globe Democrat, that is likely to receive the attention of congress this session Is. that prepared
 by the committee on arid lands, cedirg such lands to the states in which they
 are located, and providing for theIr re- clamation. The bill will be reported to
 the full committee tomorrow, and Char
 man Lanham, of Texas, will ask for its early consideration by the house. The
 bill as prepared by the subcommittee
 recites that inasmuch as the proper ir
 rigation and reclamation of that portion
 of the public domain of the United States, known as the arid regions west of the ninety-seveuth meridian of lOngi
 tude, present many difficult questions
 relating to the location and demarka- ton of ca 3chment areas and basins, the Construction of reservoirs for the stor-
 ing or storm and other waters, and the
 equitable distribution to the greatest
 advantage of such waters fir agricul-
 tural purposes, wh;2h' difficulties can only be surm, uuted by
 laws, rules aod regulations
 made by those who are bess acquainted with and most lnJerest.i iu the prob lems t0 be solved. and as they are to re ceive the greatest dire;t benefits. they ought in equity and justice to defray the vast expenditures Cf mocey neces- sary and requisite to the improvement, reclamation and settlement of such of said lands as can be reclaimed. There fore, in order to turn over and remit to the people ofth states and territories in which such arid laads a-e situa.ed all questions relating to the irrigation of the same, and to save further expendh- ures of the moneys Of the United States thereon, the bill provides:
 That subject to all rights, inchoate or perfected thereto, all the lands of whatever nature or description and rights thereto, including water rights, now belonging or appertaining to the United States. lying and being situat- ed in the states of Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington. Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas and California. and IF the territories of New Mexico, Arizo- na, Oklahoma and Utah, severally, with full and complete jurisdiction thereover, be granted, ceded ard confirmed to said several states and territories to be of the lands contained within lts,present boun- daries and territorial limits The bill further provides that the president shall issue letters pat ent for the same U the several states and territories designated whenever any of said states and territories shall, by an act of its legislature, except the dis position of the lands as provided, with In four years fIom the time of the ap- proval of the act. The act shall in no manner affect any of the lands held by the United States for parks, naval mili- tary or other pubic purposes, any h. dian lands, or lands held in trust for use by Italians, nor mineral lands, nor shall it apply in any manner t. the territory of Alaska.s
 The governors of the territories of Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mex ico are required within a reasonable time after passage of the act to call special as need be, of their several leg- islatures to pass upon the provisions of this act and the questions submitted to- them. No state or territory accepting the ceesion of lands shall in any case sell, lease or dispose of the lands in greater quantity than 160 acres to any one person, corporation or associa~ tion, nor shall any such state or terri tory iL any manner impair or abridge the homestead privileges now granted to soldiers and sailors under the land laws Of the Urited Statess.