Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-03-07
THE LAND CESSTONS ACT.


! WASHINGTON, March 7.--Tha house
committee on the irrigation Of arid lands
has been actively engaged since its first
meeting i'll the preparation OF bill to
meet the requirements OF this problem
which is ne of great interest in the west,
and as a result bill of which the follow
ing is the text has been faVoraby reported
to the house:
"Whereas, The proper irritation and
| reclamation of that portion of the public
domain of the United States known az
the arid regions and ly Dg vest of :he
9th meridian of longitude, present many
difficult questions relating TO the demarca.
ton of catChment areas aud basins, the
location and construction OF reservoirs for
the storing of storm and other waters and
the equitable distribution to the greatest
advantage of such waters for agricultural
purposes, which difficulties can only be
surmounted by laws, rules and regulations
made by those who are best acquainted
with and most interested in the problems
to be solved, and who, as they are to re-
ceive the greatest direct benefits, ought in
equity and justice to defray the vast ex-
pendltureS OF money necessary and reQui.
site to the improvement, reclamation aud
settlement of such of said lands as can be
reclaimed.
Nov, therefore, in order 10 turn over
and remit to the people OF the states and
territories in which such arid lands are
situated all questions relating to the irrl-
cation of the same land and to save
further expenditure of the moneys of the
United States thereon, be it enacted, etc,
That subject to all rights inchoate or per
fected thereto, all lands of whatever
nature or description and rights thereto,
including water rights now belonging or
appertaining to the United States, lying
and being situated in the states of
Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, North
Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon,
Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas and
and in the territories of New
Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah,
severally, with full and complete jlrisdic
ton thereover, be and hereby are
granted, ceded and confirmed to said
several states and territories. the grant to |
each OF such states and territories to be
Of the lands contained within its present
boundaries and territorial limits. And
the president of the United States shall
issue letters patent for the same to the
said several states and territories in this
section designated whenever any of said
states and territories shall, by an act of |
ts legislature, accept the disposition of
The lands as herein provided, within the
lime hereinafter specified. This act shall
n no manner affect any of the lands held
)y the United States for parks, naval,
military or other public purposes, nor any
indian lands, nor lands held in trust for
lse by Indians, nor mineral lands, nor
shall it apply in any manner to the terri
ory of Alaska.
Sec. 2. That the governors of the ter
'itories of Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma and
New Mexico shall, within reasonable
line after the passage of this act, call
special sessions if need be of their several
legislatures to take into consideration and
PASS upon the provisions of this act and
he questions herein submitted to them,
md may from time to time call such other
sessions of their respective legislature as
nay DE renueTeu nVuen1ary, anu tiIo r~--~
its of this act shall not accrue to any
'tate or territory which shall not have ac-
,epted the provisions thereof within four
Years from its approval.
"Sec. 8. That as soon as practicable
alter the issuance of letters patent TO any
state or territory herein mentioned for the
ands therein situated, and from time to
lime thereafter, as occasion may require,
t shall be the duty of the secretary of the
Interior, at the expense of the United
States, to cause to be delivered to the
proper authorities of such state or terri
ory all maps, records, books and papers,
or certified copies thereof, in case it may
De necessary to retain the originals in the
general land Office, which may be necessary
@ such state or territory for the proper
control, administration and disposition OF
such lands.
"Sec. 4. That no state or territory ac-
;epting the cession of lands as herein pro-
vided shall in any case sell, lease or dis
pose of said lands in greater quantity than
l60 acres to any one person, corporation
Or association, nor shall any such state or
territory in any manner impair or abridge
the homestead privileges now granted to
soldiers and sailors under the land laws
Of the United States"