The Florence tribune., 1899-06-17
Ths A.Ia lands

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 IFrotn the Los Angeles Times, March P, lss9.l
 Several weeks ago The Times pub lished an article on the proposed ces- sion of arid lands by the Federal government to the various states and territories in which they are located, disappearing of the suggestion, for reasons given at the time, among which the chief was that 1t would cer- tainly be dangerous thing to permit the average state or territorial legisla- ture to control the disposition of prop erty of such value, belonging to the public. This lioe of argument was disapproved of by Governor Murphy of Arizona, who wrote letter, taking the other side of the question, which was also discussed in these columns. In this connection it is interesting to note that similar question has come up for discussion in Wyoming, which state has made noteworthy advances in irrigation during the past fes years. Wyoming enjoys the services of onesof the foremost irrigation experts of tie country, in the person cf Elwood Mead, who is state engineer in his biennial report for 1898 Mr. Mesd, re- ferring to the question of the grazing lands, which form so large q portion of the area of some of the western states and territories, shows that the stability of western live stock industries and the utilization of the large rivers both re quire that the grazing lands be leased. In preceding reports Mir. Mead had advocated this being done by the states and territories, and had regarded the cessiou of these lands to She states as necessary preliminary thereto. lie still thinks that, so far as Wyom- ing is concerned, such cession would be wholly beneficial, bus he has dis covered, during the past year. that some of the other states have widely different interests, and that the same system might not work So well there. | Mr. Mead says, in his report:
 ''The principal reason for advocat- 1 ing cession has been the desire to put an end to range stock controversies which threaten domestic peace; to render irrigation agriculture more pro- itable, aud to secure for the state the funds needed to aid in building large canals and extensive reservoir systems. But all states are not equipped as is Wyoming with land department for the management of leases, or an engineering bureau for the construc tion of public works, aud in the states differently situated it has been pro- posed, as substitute for cession, that the general government should inaugu- rate a leasing system for the non-irri- l gable grazing lands to be handled by the general land office in connection with it's disposal of the lands which can be farmed, the funds arising from such leases to be expended in these states in building canals and reservoirs for reclaiming the irriga ble public land ! see no reason why this could not be ] done and why it would not be an immeasurable improvement over the lack of management or control which now prevails. It is not a question of securing title to the land which is inn portant, but the inauguration of Q sys- tenn which will preserve the native grasses from injury, if not destruction, through overstoeking the range, and secure the conservation and best use of the waters of our rivers which now run to waste"
 The same argument, advanced by t.E the state engineer of Wyoming. in re , gard to the grazing lands of the west holds equally good as to the arid , lands, which some persons would have : the federal government cede to the various states and territories in whicl , they are located.