The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-06-25
REcLAIMING ARID LANDS.
The Bn Reported to the House By Rep
ressatAtiye sweet.

WLsumdroN. June ~. - Representative
Bwsst. OF Idaho has reported from the
house COMMITTEES on irrigation Of arid
land ,he bill agreed 10 by the western
mombsrs for tho survey of arid lands and
Tor ss.imsisa Of ths coat Of reclamation.
Ths surveys proposed aFsi
IdahO-The land and water IN tho Snake
river valley aud tributaries.
Montana-Ihs Mlssouh river aud hib..
utaflea and sources aud all lands In ,he
valley Of the river.
CoioTsdo-Iands subject 10 Irritation
from ths south Platte and It's tributaries
Noyade-1h0 valley ~ the Humbold
river, its sources aud ita tributaries.
Oregon -lhs Columbia river ysliey east
Of The Cascade mountains and tho valleys
and tributaries.
ngton-A system OF reservoirs along
lhs east bass OF the Cascade mountains.
and On investigation Of the aabtsrransan
Wator supply In landa fequifing irrigation
sast Of the mountains and Whefe The sink
log Of ATteslan wells can be pfontaby an
deTtAken.
Wyomina-To determine the irrigAble
lands nnd outline the different syatsIns OF
irrigation IN the vallsI Of Tho North Platte
and tributaries.
soath Dakoia-To construct dame for
diatTibution In the Black Hills country.
UtAh-The Duehesns and Green rivers
and tributaries,
Maps afs 70 be prepared showing the
ditohea. osnals or reservoirs necessary, aud
estimates showing 10 what extent the water
supply Ia sufficient, and estimates OF tho
areas possible Of reclamation. and OF the
cost. 1hs bill app opriatss $325.0OO aud
gives the right Of way on United States
lands for ditobes and reservoirs.
Representative hwoot assorla that II the
land and water OF ths arid regions nre
properly utilized and eeonomiz,d. millions
OF acres which are nov bat waste PLACES.
will b0coms fertile homes for thousands
Consideration OF tho quaslioa has been too
long delayed. be continues, and while all
conceds the importance. II mot the mecca
aitv. for prompt action, there is an inellna-
tion 10 lei the matter drift because the
east and south feel that 10 10 n question
requiring special knowledge aud that IL
congress attempts 70 handle 10 there 10
danger of serious mistakes.
Representatives from the older sections
fear that a national effort TO establish .
system of irrigation will Tesult In such
enc, nous expenditures az TO bring forth
the disApproval OF their constituents; aud
there Ia q fear among southern members aud
those from east OF the Missouri liver Of the
effect upon the prices Of farm products.
The prescnt low prices. or most or them,
srs said TO be attributable TO oyer-produc-
tion. and tho CRY is that development
OF the arid regions will result In
increased oompstition In an already
prohtless industry. These facts conld nos
stop the development Of the lands. Sweet
says. Railroad and telegraphic lines. the
opening OF mines and tho great pastoral
interests OF the osntral arid states have at
tsoted population which has taken all
the lands along the streams easy Of re-
clamation and found fairly good market
while the mountains teemed with Industrial
life.
The expenditures necessary. n the
government shoald enter upon the
policy of national reclamation. Sweet
says. have bssn greatly exaggerated. II
would not be necessary 10 complete the
wo K before beginning to return the money
expended to the treasury. Small tract.
could be irrigated aud disposed Of 10 sell
tiers az the actual cost Of reclamation. thus
establishing an income from the sale Of
tbs land.