The morning call., 1894-09-08
WATER FOR LAND.
Two Platforms for the
Irrigationists.
BOTH SCORE MR.. MORTON.
Differing Only as to National
Ownership.
HOW TO SAVE ARID REGIONS.
Vast Tracts Which May Be Made Fer
tile by System of Res
ervoirs.
low To SAVE ARID REGIONS.

DENVER, Sept. THE attendance at
the Irrigation Congress to-day was smaiier
than heret fore, some delegates havlne
already left for their homes. The chalE-
man announced that the committee on
resolutions would not be ready 10 report
until Q o'clock. This raised storm OF
protests. and on motion of Joel Shoemaker
of Utah a committee was appointed TO
wait on the committee and demand re-
mort at once. While waiting for the re-
mort Thomas r. Cutler OF Utah read a
paper on 'sBeet-sugar Culture" after
which Sanor Yberella of Mexico spoke on
the necessity of having an International
water commission to settle disputes be-
tween Mexico snd the United States re-
parding water privileges. David Boyd of
! Greely Colo, read a paper on "Ihe
| Nature and Behavior of the Platte River.
! Judge Emery of Kansas, the national
| lecturer of the congress, spoke on The
| True Significance of the Irrigation Move
ment in Regard to Arid Lands"
s.The arid section of the United States,"
he said, "was over half the possessions Of
the Government, not including Alaska.
This section" he continued, has not over
5. 100000 population. The greater portion
of this vast tract can be irrigated and II
reclaimed will provide homes for over
rs, 600, 900 people"
He denounced the letter of Secretary
Morton TO the congress. in which he said
"lkese meetings have nothing to DO with
nractleal irrigation" as utterly untrue.
Judge Emery advocated small farms and
storage reservoirs and an irrigation survey
for the purpose of discovering and dis
tributing the water Of the county for irri-
cation purposes.
The congress took a recess until 2
O'Clock, and Immediately upon reassem-
bling the comm ttee on resolutions sub
mitted a majority and minority report.
The majority report was as follows:
The pational executive committee OF the Ir-
rigation Congress is hereby instructed to pre-
pare a series of bills for presentation to the
Congress Of the United States, embodying the
following propositions:
1. Repeal The desert land law.
2. Withdrawal from settlement of all arid
Ianos within The arid legion not found to be
capable OF Irrigation; all such lands, except
mineral lands, TO be held for catchment areas.
pasturage and timber.
1cdSiuS lhc iduuss BlfluH picl-
erence TO actual occupants and cutivators of
adjoining iIIigable land. and the sale of sur
plus timber. the proceeds arising from such
sources to lie devoted TO the development of
| water supply for irrigation within the State,
ana when no longer required for such purposes
| 10 belong to the State.
L. Tha ates be permitted 10 select lands for
reclamation and make them the basis OF secur.
! fly for the construction Of irrigation works,
! title 10 such lands 10 remain In The Federal
! Government until such time as il passes
through The State to the actual settlers, n one
individual being permitted TO acquire title 10
more than forty acres OF irriga' ed land except
in case Of lands so that local conditions n ces.
state the enlargement Of the home unit be-
! caus Of The small value of the crops produced.
| The money eeelved from such sources TO be
reserved for the purpose of dschargng obga-
tions incurred 10 the work OF reclaiming pub
lie lands. This recommendation is independent
! of the Carey law and Is not intended TO conflict
with or modify the provisions OF that law.
! 8. That when any State shall have reclaimed
| land under the plan provided In section 8 it
| shall form irrigation divisions according to
| hydrographc conditions. ana when a sufficient
number of settlers shall have actually located
! upon The land within such divisions the State
shall. cOnditionaly turn over the local admin
| istTaton TO the authorities OF said water dyI-
| sion.
6. That before any State can avail itself of
| these provisions 1t shall have legally constI.
tuted State Irrigation Department.; that there
shall be appointed a national Irrigation Com
mission, vested with the administration on
| Government, pastoral and forest lands OF such
! irrigation works as may be undertaken under
| Fed raj authority and be empowered to con-
slider and authorize general plans of reclama.
! lion submitted by the Irrigation Department nf
any Sate The national Irrigation Commits
sion shall also be charged with the work Of
making an immediate investigation of the
| problem OF Interstate streams and report TO the
! Congress Of the United States as early as possi-
BILE measure providing means for the speedy
and final adjudication of questions between
| Staies and plan for the division of streams on
a basis uf justice and equity.
z. That the several Territories be included In
the provisions of the Carey law.
8. That an International commission be con-
stituted, composed OF the representatives of
| the United States, Canada and Mexico whose
| purpose 1t shall be TO thoroughly examine into
and arbitrate questions arising between said
nations because OF the waters of rivers partly
| III each OF TWO countries or serving as a bound
| ary between the two, and TO settle uDon basis
and method for the equitable division of the
waters OF such streams when used for irrigation
0. That sufficient appropriations be secured
| for carrying on the work OF gauging streams
selecting and segregating reservoir sites and
for the prosecuting surveys TO determine the
location OF lands susceptible OF reclamation,
| and such other work in the line OF iuvestiga-
| ton and experiment as may be legtimafely
undertaken, such appropriations to be expend-
ed under the direction Of the National Irriga.
| tioD Commission
10. That reservoir sites heretofore reserved
by the Government which may become neces-
sary for the use OF States under the operations
| of the Carey law shall De released and made
available upon application therefor by States
or Territories.
The minority report favored the owner
ship by the several States of the arid lands
within their respective territories, aud
mentioned coDdi ions upon which owner
ship is TO be acquired.
The entire evening session was devoted
to the discussion of the reports and at IL