The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-19
IRRIGATION IN TEXAS.
to Redemption of Semi-Arid
Region.

San Antonio, Tex, July 19.-The peo-
pie of the semi-arid region of Texas,
which embraces a large area of the
state, are greatly interested in the pro-
posed amendment to the state constitu-
ton which is to be submitted to the
vote of the citizens on Tuesday, Au-
gust 8. The proposed amendment
meets with general favor in west and
southwest Texas, among the agricul-
turists and business men, but in the
eastern part of the state, where rains
are always abundant, there is Opposi-
ton to it. The PopuIistic sentiment is
against the amendment, as it is claimed
that it's adoption will foster irrigation
corporations, to the detriment of the
humble taxpayer and the people of the
forks of the creek"
The amendment provides that it shall
be lawful for the land owners of that
portion of Texas lying southwest and
northwest of Montague, Wise, Hood,
Parker, SOmerVille, BoSQue, COryell,
Williamson, Travis, Blanco, Gillespie,
Comal, Gonzales, De Witt, Goliad, Vic
toria and Calhoun counties to organize
county lines. In making provision for
the construction of irrigation works
within this territory, it shall be lawful
to create an Indebtedness of not more
that SIS per acre to rest as a charge
on and be secured by a lien on the irri-
gable lands. The cost of construction
is to be construed to include all appur-
tenant expenses, including the acquisi-
ton of riparian rights, and bonds may
be issued to pay therefor, running forty
years less, at rate of interest not
to exceed per cent per annum, and to
be sold at not less than par. To Iqui-
date these a tax may be levied in pro-
portion to the acreage of all irrigable
lands; that is to say, lands susceptible
of irrigation from and by the system of
irrigation works proposed. In addition
to this there shall be annually levied
and collected a sufficient tax from the
lands actually receiving the water to
cover the cost of maintaining the works
and collecting the tax. The bonds are
to be approved by the attorney general
and the amendment may be put into
immediate effect until otherwise pro-
vided for by law by a board, consisting of
the governor, commissioner of the gem
eral land office and the attorney gen
eral of the state.
The amendment affects considerably
more than One-half of the area of the
state, and it's adoption would mean the
retaining of great tracts of land, nat
urally rich as to soil, but now entirely
valueless except for grazing purposes.
Many of the live stock men oppose the
adoption of the amendment as they
have always opposed the encrOachment
of the man with the hoe" on their do
main The adoption of this amend
ment would cause untold development
of the Semi-arid portion of Texas. Other
western states have prof1ted enormous
ly by special irrigation laws. 1t is
claimed that the special irrigation law
in Nebraska has caused an increase in
the land values of the irrigation dis
trictS of the state to the amount of
nearly 500, 600, 600 in less than three
years. The adoption of the proposed
amendment would in a few years add
largely to the general revenues and
wealth of Texas, and also be the means
of increasing the value of the public
lands belonging to the schools, univer-
sites and aSylumS.