The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-02
WASHINGTON ARID LANDS
OVER $4,000 ACRES IN YAKIMA
COUNTY ALREADY SELECTED.
Surveys Made of About 5000 Acres
ON Crab CreeIS-Need OF IFrlGa-
ton in other Counties.

In his report to the governor, just filed
at Olympia, Arid Land Commissioner
Hewlett Of washington says:
1.-THE most inviting field for the work
Cor which my office was created found
to be that part of Yakima county lying
between the Yakima and Columbia riv-
ers, and above the great sunnyside ga
nal. In June, 1895, was commenced the
work Of running a line for a canal $50
miles In length, and the land lying there
under, susceptible Of irrigation, was sx-
amined, and out of the vacant even sec
tions there were selected S5,566.97 acres 81
excellent land, which has been with
drawn from the public domain. Lying
in the townships containing these selee-
items are other lands selected by the state
for the benefit of the various institutions
granted by the enabling act; also the
regular school sections. These lands Will
ever remain valueless until reclaimed by
irrigation, and they add an acreage Of
about 10000 to that given above.
Abundant water for this immense
acreage can be had from the Natchez
river, reinforced by a series Of reservoirs.
1.-THE faults In the fc-1Asal-aa@tI1ts be-
came more and more apparent as one
contracts for construction Of irrigation
works. The monetary depression was
largely responsible, but not wholly. BY
the term of the federal and state laws
the land itself may be made the basis
OF security for the cost OF building canals
reservoirs, fumes, etc. The security was
faulty in the matter OF obtaining title.
After correspondence with commissions
ers in other states, when the conditions
were Identical, a combined effort was
made, and the matter laid before con
gress. Washington, Idaho, Montana ana
wyoming were before the arid land COM
mittee by their commissioners, and
modification secured. A comparison OF
the former act with the amendment shows
the advantage gained in the latter Of
making the land available as security
without waiting for the building of lat
eral claims or the actual reclamation
and sale Of the lands In detail before
patent can issue to the state. There Is
strong sentiment in favor of giving the
desert lands outright to the states in
which they lie, and such a measure viii
be urged upon congress at the coming
session.
1.-THE cost of selecting the lands with
drawn up to this time is $7OS5.2S; value Of
land at rs cents per acre, the lowest price
at which 1t can be sold, $64,1752S; value
OF the land with cost Of irrigation added,
$641, 1920. The expenses of the commits
sion, to date, are as follows:
Salary Of commissioner .......... 45sIL6.6d
Onice rent ...... .'....,, S0000
Clerk hire ..,,.. :. ...... ...... 1165.25
SALARY OF ehslheer 1900 ..'.'' ...:''..' 1Itdb
Expenses for field and office work on
Expenses Of United States land oiice
ultnB8....s.
Expense of furnishing office ........... llIB
Stationery and supplies ............, 1856
Total 49,. 49,. 49,. ............ 7,os5.ss
80 far only the lands most easily ana
cheaply irrigated have been withdrawn.
Yet this acreage will, when watered, sup
port $500 families. Surveys, estimates and
maps preliminary to withdrawal of
about 5000 acres of land on Crab creek
have been made, and are now pending
before the United States general land
office. Other lands in the state may be
added to the Withdrawals sufficient to
bring the total acreage to the possible
million conditionaily- q kthopEA e
a greater cost for surveys and recIa
ton. These are notably lands lyiu
Franklin and Adams counties, in Lii
and southern Douglas counties an
Okanogan. Possible means for IeeIai
these lands and rendering them prof
habitable have been considered
"It is the opinion OF the commiss
that in the interest of economy It
the states interest to first contract n
retaining he lands already selected, and
steps looking to this and the colonization
Of these lands have already been taken,
with reasonable hope for success within
the coming year"