Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-31
DEALING WITH ARID LANDS.
government Cession to the Several
States Advocated.

NC" i u
Various of the extent of the
arid and semi-arid public lands which might
be reclaimed and rendered useful run from
70, OOO, 900 to 100, 900, 900 acres. The move
ment for systematic and vigorous prosecu-
ton CT the work as a federal undertaking
is strong and proceeds with definite ideas
of method. A ~favorite plan of the advo-
Gates of the policy called national irriga-
ton" is TO entrust the control to a bureau
or department TO be created in connection
with the geological survey and to push
the job with continuous appropriations b.
congress. The total expense for the con-
struction of the dams, canals and storage
reservoirs needed in all of the states and
territories concerned is, CT course, beyond
present computation, and so is the time
required for reaching results which will
bring to the government some return for
the tens or hundreds Of millions invested in
the stupendous enterprise.
Governor Murphy OF Arizona is greatly
interested in the subject, but, while he is
convinced of the Importance of wholesale
reclamation, he does not share the views of
many other irrigationists as to the best
method to pursue. He is an earnest advo-
cate of the alternative idea of the ceSsion
of the governments arid and semi-arid
lands to the several states and territories
in which they are situated.
In n letter recently written by the Arizona
governor he summarizes his objections TO
any legislation by congress looking to the
Inauguration of an extensive scheme of irri-
cation at federal cost a. He does not doubt
the ultimate feasibility of the work. He is
strongly convinced of the benefits that will
result; tho reclaimed lands will provide
homes for a large population and be "a
source OF wealth to the states or territories
containing them and the country generally.
He does not even reject the idea of federal
aid. But at the same time he holds that
the quickest, best and most satisfactory way
to redeem and settle these now worthless
and uninhabited regions is TO turn them
over to the states and territories under
proper restrictions. lie says:
Tho ownership Of the public lands would
be o rich endowment to the states and ter
ritories-the history of Texas in this par
ticular Is a noticeable example-althcugh
te'ieve 1t would bo wise for the general
government to retain the ownership and con
troll O. mineral lands and forests, far dis
POSITION according 10 existing laws . = "
To mo there seems to be no logical reason
why the lands should not be accepted, If they
Cal be obtained, and by ceding them / be-
lieye the govegsment would make the very
best disposition possible OF the territory in
question and In the most appropriate way
bring about its reclamation and occupancy
by industrious citizens, BIO relieved OF veXa-
tious responsibility and richly endow the
localities most directly affected"
Without going into the details of Governor
Murphy's well-considered argument, We may
say that he is advancing a very distinct and
worry interesting proposition. not wholly in
line with tho general tendencies of the pres
ent Time toward the increase rather than the
diminution OF federal responsibilities, how.
ever onerous.