The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1900-06-22
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
Appropriated by Congress for Irriga-
ton Surveys.

arid West, Senator Carter made an
able defense of the item in the Sundry
Civil bill of $4,000 for irrigation sur
veys and investigation by the Geologi-
cal Survey, during the closing days of
Congress. Last years appropriation
for this work was $4,000 and when it
was proposed to increase this amount
this year, first to 100000 and then to
S250,000, it of course raised storm of
objections from Senators who fail to
comprehend the vital Importance of
irrigation to the great arid region.
After strong urging by western Sena-
tors, the $3.50, 900 was voted by the
Senate, but unfortunately this was cut
down by the House to the original in
crease proposed Of 100000, which
amount will be expended by the Sur
vey, during the coming year, on this
much needed work. The action of the
House, however, shows the necessity
for the West to stand together, and
present one solid front and be bold and
aggressive in its demands if it is de-
sired to get rightful recognition from
eastern Congressman on these ques-
tions of supreme import to the arid
region.
1.-THE question ISL said Senator Car
ter, in the course of his remarks, "does
this appropriation go to the acquisition
of information on some subject of con-
sequence to the people? Let us see.
A THOUSAND MILLION ACRES.
"There are II States and Territories
in the arid and semi-arid region of the
United States. Those II States and
Territories to-day have population of
about three million and half In
those States and Territories there are
992, 617, 800 acres of land. OF that acre
age but 80 per cent has passed into
private ownership; the Government of
the. United States is the owner of 20
per cent. The extent to which these
lands can be reclaimed is dependent
upon the water supply. The manner
of reclamation is dependent upon
knowledge of the volume OF water
available. No intelligent system of
development can be prosecuted until
we know the water available for irriga-
ton purposes. The facts are of su-
preme importance to the people living
now and to live hereafter on two-fiffhs
of the American continent.
SIXTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
"Mr. President, while we are voting
here sos, ,000, 900 for various purposes,
all of them national, all of them prop
er, raising certain appropriations to
considerable limits, making additions
for river and harbor appropriations in
the aggregate of over S12, 900, 900 in the
bill, and Senators from the arid re-
gions acquiesce in these appropriations
because they are national and benefi-
cial, does it seem the right comprehen-
sion of a great situation to challenge
an item in the bill intended to secure
needed and absolutely necessary infor-
nation in order to deal with problems
involving the very life of the country
itself? We have reached the point in
that arid region where we can not now,
without the investment of very large
capital, invite any large increase of i'm
migrants to settle upon our soil.
Hundreds of people are passing
each aud every day upon loaded trains
over as fertile land as ever the sun
shone upon, going over the Rocky
Mountains and off to the humid regions
of the Pacific coast. Why? Because in
the State of Montana where we have
LAG, 900 square miles, people have taken
out nearly all Of the water aud re-
claimed nearly all of the land that in
dividual effort is capable of reclaiming.
NEED OF OFFICIAL SURVEYS.
'There are instances in California
where large enterprises went in and
constructed heavy canals and subse
quently found that the water supply
was wholly inadequate to supply the
canal. This has been discouraging to
investment in this line. What we
need with reference to this matter is
specific, authoritative, substantial in
formation, vouched for by the public
records of the United States.
''It is said, Let private individuals
do it. According to that suggestion
the farmer living out on the Yellow
stone is to build a gauge for the bene-
fit of humanity, and is to determine
the flow of water that runs down that
stream in twelve months. Why not,
on the same principle, let sailors sur
yey the coasts and establish light
houses for their own guidance? To sug-
gest that is to declare that nothing |
shall be done at all.
"Are the new struggling States,