Las Vegas free press. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1891-1???, 1892-03-14
IRRIGATION LEGISLATION.

The Globe Democrat gives the
following interesting irrigation
news:
There is high tide of prospective
legislation on the subject of irriga-
ton. Mr.. Lanham has his ARID land
bill in the house, and Senator War
rem has introduced a similar meas
ure in the senate. Several minor
bills have been introduced touching
the irrigation question without going
to the extent of ceding the arid
lands; and still another bill was in
troduced today by Senator Dolph.
This bill approaches the problem
from another direction. 1t proposes
that the United States shall issue
funds to the order of any state or
territory for the purpose of provid-
ing for the requirement and con.
structon of dams, reservoirs, canals,
artesian and other wells, and any
and all other works and means to be
used for the development, conserva-
ton and furnishing of water supply
for irrigation in aid of agriculture,
etc.
The bill provides that such issue
shall bemade in any sum or sums not
exceeding a total of $2,OOO,OO0 in
any one year, and not exceeding
grand total of $lO,OOo,OOO to any one
state or territory. 1t obliges the
state or territory to issue debentures
in series not exceeding a total of 49,
100000 in one year, each to be an
evidence of Indebtedness in the prin-
cipal sum of 500, redeemable in five
years and maturing in fifty from date,
and providing for the payment of an
administrative charge of per cent
per annum on the principal sum of
each debenture, payable to the United
States annually. The proceeds of
the debentmes shall be judiciously !
expended under legal provisions for
means of irrigation, their care, man
agement and preservation, and the
Just and equitable division and dis
tribution of the waters thereby sup
piled, as well as for the levy md col
lection of water rentals or taxes from
land benefited. Water rentals or
taxes are made a fist lien upon all
the water rights and irrigation works
concerned, and upon all lands bene-
fted, whether private or state lands.
The secretary of the treasury is
authorized to prescribe the form of
the debentures, which shall be issued
by authority of the state or territory
upon specified portion of land that
will amount to $40 per acre on ordi-
nary farm lands and $50 per acre on
available garden or fruit lands. All I
occupied lands supplied by water I'M {
der the proposed system, title to ,
which has not passed from the {
United States, are rendered liable TO i
l pro rate share of the water rentals. $
The measure at length defines the d
egal formalities and obligations of I
he states and territories under the q
Ict, and prescribes the duty of the f
government IN ascertainng and fix O
ng values and securing itself from
oss. When the legal requirements
ave been complied with the presi-
lent shall then issue his order to the
ecretary of the treasury to accept 7
he debentures and cause their par
alue to be paid over to the treasurer -
{ the state or territory issuing the u
anne.
The treasury notes thus paid shall b
tate that their payment is secured y
y productive property examined p
nd approved by the United States kI
nd guaranteed by the state or terri
,ry therein named. Annual pay lie
tent by the states and territories 10