The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-09-08
WANTS OF IRRIGATIONISTS
Outlined in the Report Of the COM
ml,tee on Resolutions al
Denver
Propose That n Bill Bmbodying
Their Views Be Presented
TO Congress.
Majority aud Minority Reports Presented
aud no Action Yet Taksn-wni
wind mp To-day.

DEyyFR. Sept. T.-Aitsndhnce al tho Irri-
cation eoner0ls to-day vas smaller than
heretofore. some delegates having alfesdv
left for homo. The chairman announsed
that the committee on resolutions would
not bs rohdy TO report until two o'clock.
Thia raised storm Of rroteate,
On Motion OF Joel Shoemaker. OF Utah.
a committee whs appointed to whit on the
commit,Os on resolutions and demand
report AZ oacs. While waiting for the re-
port, Thos Il. CattoF. Of Utah. read a rapsr
on bsst sugar culture. after which Senior
Ubefolls. Of Mexico, spoke on the necessity
Of having an international water commits
sion TO settle dispuies between Mexico and
the United States regarding water plivi-
lsges. David Boyd. Of Greeley, Col.
read paper on the Mature and
Behavior OF ths Platte klvOf."
Judge Emery. Of Kansas nstional leo
turer OF the congress. spoks on tho Tue
Significance Of the Irrigation Movement
in Regard to Arid Land" The arid section
OF the United States. ns said, vas over half
the possessions Of tbs government. not in
cluding Alaska.
This section" he continued. "has not
over Eve million population. The greater
portion Of this vast traa. can be irrigated,
and II reclaimed will provide homes for
over 5000. 600 people," He denounced the
letter Of Secretary Morton to this congress.
In which the secretary said. Those meet
ings have nothing TO do with practical
irrigation" as absolutely untrue.
Judge Emery advocated small farms and
storage reservoirs. and an irrigation survey
for the purpose OF discovering and distrib.
uting the water Of the country for iirigs-
ton purposes.
Upon rsasssmbling tho committee on
| resolutions submitted majority and
minority report. The majority report was
% follows; The national executive cons
mittee OF The irrigation congress 10 hereby
instructed 90 prepare Q series OF bills for
presentation 70 she congress Of the United
States. embodJinR the following proposl-
tons;
| ~ Rsrssl Of the desert land Law.
(2.l Withdrawal from settlement OF all
arid lands within the arid region not found
TO be capable of irrigation. all such lands,
except mineral lands 10 be held for catch
msnt areas. pssturaRe and timber.
(3) Leasing psatursae lands. giving
preference 10 actual occupants ami eulti-
vators OF adjoining irrigsbls lands. and the
ssls Of sufpins timber, pfoossds arising
from such sources to be devoted TO the de-
velopmsnt Of the water supply for irrisa-
tion within the state, and when no longer
required Tor such purposes. to belong 10
the state.
a. Tha, the states be permitted to select
lands Tor reclamation aud make them the
basis OF security for the construction Of
irrigation works. title 30 suoh lands TO re-
mnin In the federal government until such
time ss il passes through the state 10 actual
settle 9, no one individual being permitted
10 acquie title TO more than forty sotes of
| 1 riRated land except IN the case OF lands
so situated that local conditions neoessitato
the enlargemsnt OF the home unit because
OF the smail value OF crops produced;
money received from such sources TO be re-
served foe the purpose OF disoha eiuR
obligations incurred in the work OF re-
claiming publie lands; this recon mends-
tion is independent Of the Carey Law, and
10 not intended TO conflict with OF modify
the provisions thereof.
(5.) That whom any state shall have res
claimed land under tho plan provided In
section o, - shall form irrigation divisions
soeordina TO photographic conditions. and
when a sntiolent number OF settlers shall
have sotuaily located apon the land within
such divisions the state shall. condition
ally. turn over ths local standardization 10
The authorities of said water division.
(6.l Taat before any state can avail IT.
self of these provisions IL shall have le-
gAlly constituted a state irrigation depart
ment. That there shall be appointed a
National irrigation commission, vested with
the naturalization Of the government OF
pastoral and forest lands, of such ilriga-
tien works 40 may be undertaken andsI
federal authority. aud be empowered 20
consider and authoriEs general plans OF
reclamation eubmittsd by the lrri-
The nstionsl irrigation commits
sion shall also be ehargsd with
the work of making immediate invsHtiga-
tion Of the problem OF Interstate streams.
and report TO congress a. early az possible
q measure providing means for the speed '
and nual adjudication OF questions between
siAtes. and a plan for the division OF
streams on q basis Of justice and equity.
| Ill That the ssvs nl territories be in-
eludsd in tho provisions Of the Carey law.
(6) That al International commission
be constituted. composed of representative
OF the United States Canada and MsIioo,
whose purpose u shall DO to thoroughly ex-
amino into and afLitrats questions arising
between rAii nations bsuause Of the waters
OF rivers partly In each OF the two countries.
OF serving as a boundary between tAe two,
aud 10 settle upon basis and method for
the equitAble division OF the waters Of such
streams when used for irrigation.
(a) That suiloisnt appropriations be
secured for carrying on the work OF Raug-
ina streams, selecting and aeersRAtinR res
srvoir sites. and for prosecuting surveys "a
determine tho location OF lands suscs ptiblO
Of reclamation. and such other work 10 tbs
line Of investigation and experiment Al
may be legiilmAtsly undertaken. such ap-
pIoprlAtions TO DO expended under dlrec.
tion of the national irrigation commission.
(l0l That ressrvoir sitss heieiofofo ro-
aeryea by the government. which may be-
come necessary for the use OF states under
tho operations OF the Carey law. shall bs
released and made available upon appliea-
tion therefor by states or territories.
The minority report favored ownership
By several states of arid lands Within theii
respective territories. and mentioned COM
ditions upon which ownership 10 20 be ao-
quired. The evening session was devoted
10 the discussion OF reports aud al II
o'clock further discussion was postponed
until Tomorrow morning.
1