The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-15
IN WASHINGTON CITY.

WASHINGTON, Dee i4-Specsai- The
necessity for legislation upon the subject
OF tire reclamation and disposal OF lands
a1aaan the arid regions forms one OF the
most important topics considered by Sec
ruaI report. and this - urged upon the
consideration OF congress IN the strongest
terms possible.
washington and Idaho are two states
most parccusarly interested IN khis SUBJ
3ect. when il = considered. says Sec
retag-y Frances, THAT hve-s1xtAs Of me
vacant public lands re within a region
where the rainfall IL not sufficient 20
produce agricultural crops without arts-
fics.si irrigation. that a comparatively
small per cent Of a1is territory can be
utilised by reason OF ille limited supply of
enc water subject 10 control. and that ex-
fst5ng laws are Intellectual TO secure TIE
reclamation OF the lands suscep 1bie or
srrs CATION. the demand tor congressional
action comes 10 Us with irresistible ros'ce-
IT IS eSrtEnsted By persons farEl-fsar Win
the subject that Of the 500, go acres OF
arid lands, about leo eao. 900 acres might De
acclaimed by the most conservative use
Of the water and by the judicEous selectlon
of the hands 20 bs irrigated But un4ess
some pan ss adopted by whloh the Wat
ers OF the perennial STRAINS *h,ca are
be stored and reservoirs CONSTRUCTED upon
aparopriate sites 10 in1pound the storm
waters" the percentage would De very
much reduced.
Secretary Francis says Il IS impossaule.
under the laws now IN operaesoil, % con-
troll the reclamation OF lands IN she ara
region 50 as 10 prevent the 1inproyadeht
txse OF water over winch the general gov
eminent has no conIxol. This can ofliy
"a ISL Lad hx- a
templates the reclamation OF the entare
terri tories from a common source or sup
ply and the UTILIZATION of that supply.
Secretary Hoke Smith, in his report
year ago, suggested in view or the faet
that the states control the water, when
ia moro valuable chiefly in the reclana-
ton of the arid lands that the practical
solution of this question would be TO place
the lands under the direct controi or the
states In which they lie, under sucn re-
strictions and limitations as viii insure
their reclamation 10 the benent o. the
actual settlers. TO the end that the states
may control both elements necessary 10
their development
The act OF August Is, 1894. known as the
Carey act, authorized the secretary OF the
irSerior. with the approval of the presi-
dent, and upon proper application OF each
of the states in which there may be situ-
ated desert lands, TO agree to donate and
patent to the state free OF cost such desert
lands. not exceeding 100. 00o.ooo acres TO
each state. conditioned upon the reclanla-
ton and settlement Of the land, before
title shall pass from the United States.
The Carey act. II properly amended so as
TO give 20 the state the power to pledge
the lands for their reclamation, might &C
complish the work of reclamation 10 the
extent OF the donation as sfectuaily as TX
the lands were granted 10 the states un-
con6itionaly: but unless the bill could be
so amended. Secretary Francis thinks II
would be better TO place the lands under
the direct control OF the states, only so
far as may be necessary to secure their
reclamation for the benefit OF actual set
tiers.
But the Carey act. using the language
of Secretary Smith in the report above re-
ferred to, falls to give to the state suffi-
Client control over the lands to enable 1t
TO contract for their reclamation on the
most favorable terms. because II is appar-
ent that the lands TO be reclaimed must In
every instance form the basis OF security
for repayment OF the money expended in
the reclamation, and with such certificate
of donation as Is provided by the bill
capital will not easily be- induced TO as
sumo such risks"
Carey act have been remedled by a pro-
vision in the last sundry civil bill, which
authorized liens to be created by the state
for the expenses or retaining said lands
Another bill IS still pending before con-
fress. drawn in accordance with the recon-
mendation OF the interior department, to
the effect that. after the lands have been
segregated as now provided for. the sec
rotary OF the interior shall cause an In
vesdsation TO be made as 70 their charac-
ter, and all lands embraced IN such segre-
cation which are found 70 be desert lands
within the meaning of the act of March
8. 1871, and TO which no adverse claim ex-
listed at the date OF the fling of the map
provided for. shall be certified 10 the
states. Secretary Francis believes that
this bill. If ii becomes a law, will remedy
the defects herein suggested.
Under the Joint resolution of March -.
1883. directing the secretary OF the interior,
through the director of the geological sur
vey, TO make an examination of the arid
re gion where agriculture is carried on by
means Of Irrigation. as 10 the natural adj
vantages for storage OF water. practical
bility and cost OF constructing reservoirs,
and other facts bearing on the question.
10 reservoir sites have been selected and
approved by the department These sites
were intended to constitute an important
factor IN the general plan OF Irrigation
under the control and supervision or the
general government. But so far, no pro-
vision has been made by congress for the
utilization Of these sites, unless the act or
March g. 1883 ca Stat. l.. 1899. granting
the right-of-way for bitches and canals
and for reservoir purposes on the public
lands was intended TO provide the means.
Concerning this there is some doubt upon
tia part OF the interior department OFF,
Gals. and IL is very desirable that con-
gisss should make a more definite provi-