The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-28
THE BEST IN FOUR YEARS


coed in getting any aid from the ma
tional government. After the holiday
recess OF congress l returned to Nevada,
and another member of your commits
sion, George H. Maxwell, took up his
temporary residence in Washington and
entered upon the campaign of educa-
ton during the remainder Of the ses-
sion Of congress. Mr.. Maxwell developed
his efforts more particularly in the d.
rection of interesting members of the
senate in the policy Of the construction
of federal storage reservoirs, under the
river and harbor bill, as recommended
in the Chittenden report and advocated
by Senators Warren and Carter and
other Western senator's.
Full Hearing.
THE senate committee on commerce
gave a full hearing to those who urged
an appropriation for this purpose for
reservoirs and reported in favor of such
an appropriation, and the report was
adopted by the senate by large ma
jority In the conference committee,
however. the appropriation was defeat
ed by the opposition of the members
of the house of representatives, but
those familiar with the whole situation
believe that this opposition in the house
can be removed in the coming session
to bring before the people of the East
the great national benefits that would
result from the adoption of the policy
advocated by the irrigation congress for
the reclamation and settlement of the
arid lands of the West. Respectfully
submitted, H. B. MANSON,
Chairman of the Committee.
Irrigation in Utah.
DR.. Young of Utah, retiring presiding
officer of the session, presented an adj
mirable paper in regard to irrigation
in Utah. This paper presented in a
delightful manner the history of the
Mormon plans of irrigation and their
early efforts towards the reclamation of
arid lands. Continuing, DR.. Young de-
scribed the present systems of irriga-
ton in his state, and gave an outline of
what is hoped for in the future. DR..
Young thanked the delegates for their
attendance at this meeting and for their
courtesy towards him as the presiding
officer. He was given generous APP
plause.
State Engineer Holcomb of Washing
ton presented an excellent-paper upon
irrigation and the Law" Mr.. Holcomb
did not take the radical view that is
held by many of the delegates, but
rather advocated conservative action on
the part of lawmakers. He gave due
credit to the Wyoming system ana
regulations, but said that owing to the
fact that many of the states had not
started right in this matter, 1t Is not
possible for all states to have such elab-
crate systems. He urged caution and
conservatism in the adoption of the
laws, but took a stand in entire
accord with the previous action of the
congress as to the federal control OF
the lands that are public. 1t is notice
able that there has not been single
speech made at this meeting in sup
port of the cession of pubic lands 10
the state governments.
The Resolutions.
President Stubbs of the Nevada
State university, chairman of the com
following report from that committee
Resolved. That we advocate and re-
affirm the policy and principles hereto
fore enunciated by this congress in It's
former sessions, as set forth in the fol-
lowing resolution: t.o
Leasing of Grazing Lands.
1--WE favor the leasing of the public
grazing lands, the revenue from rentals
to go to the states and territories
wherein the lands are situated, for If
rigation development; leases to be sub
ject to right of reclamation by lrrl-
cation and of settlement of lands ac-
tually cultivated, title of land to re-
main in federal government until act
ual settlement. The leasing of said
lands to be under the control of states
where situated. and the revenues aris-
ing therefrom to be expended by the
states under the direction of their
state engineering bureaus.
Provided, that if state having no
engineering bureau, the federal gov
eminent may lease the lands and ex-
pend the revenue in the construction
of irrigating works in that state.
Federal Storage Reservoirs.
I'VE favor the preservation and de-
velopment Of our national resources by
the construction of storage reservoirs
by the federal government for flood
protection and to save for use in aid of
navigation and irrigation the flood
which now runs to waste and causes
overflow and destruction, as recon-
meneded in the report of Colonel Hiram
NJ. Chittenden, and we urge the adop-
ton of the recommendations of this
report as to the construction of storage
reservoirs in the arid regions as a part
of the national policy of internal i'm
provements.
Arid Land Reclamation.
1--WE favor the construction by the
federal government of storage reser
voirs and irrigation works wherever
necessary to furnish water for the rec
lamation and actual settlement of the
arid public land, united ownership of
land and water The value Of the irri-
gated lands and the security of the
home thereby created are alike depend
ent upon sufficient public control of
the water supply and the preservation
of the water becoming a speculative
commodity.
I'VE believe that the water of all
streams should forever remain public
property, and that the right to its use
should inhere not in the individual or
the ditch, but in the land reclaimed.
Harmonious Irrigation Laws.
We urge the adoption of harmo-
NOUS system of irrigation laws in all
of the arid and semi-arid states and
territories, under which the right and
use of water for irrigation shall vest
in the user and become appurtenant TO
the land irrigated and beneficial use
be the measure of the right and the
irrigated home be protected from liti-