The Florence tribune., 1900-12-29
TO WATER THE ARID LANDS.
Congress Expected to Make 3 Large Az propriatton to Continue the Sur
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NGyS.
 A Washington, D. C., special to the Chicago Record says: The secretary of the interior will ask for an appro- priation of $250,000 for irrigating sur veys during the next fiscal year, and will probably get $200 GOO, which is double the appropriation made at the last session of congress. The members of congress, as we'll as the public, are being gradually enlightened as to the importance of theworx, and many are beginning to appreciate it's value, al though there will be more or less op- position from the selfish and narrow minded. When Gen. Hancock said that the tariff was u local issue'' everybody laughed, but 8 simpler truth was peyer uttered, and it might be applied to all legislation. With a few notable exceptions. members of congress usully grab.all they can get and try to prevent other fellows from getting any more. The interests of lit tie communities often stand in the way of the public welfare. For example, Representative Needham of California, in an interview published in the local papers yesterday, says that the dele gation from his state will fight the reciprocity treaties now pending in the senate because their ratification will injure men who grow walnnts. For similar reasons the irrigation policy of tue administration will be opposed by the representatives of cer tain districts in the Mississippi valley for fear of overproduction. Senator Spooner made determined fight against the last appropriation because he thought there was danger that the people who hereafter settle upon the irrigated lands of Montana, Wyom- ing, Idaho and other arid states might complete with the farmers of Wiscon- sin but that selfish policy is not gen. eraIly approved, and public sentiment is beginning to recognize the neces- sity as well as the importance of the irrigation movement.
 The $2o0,0o0 to be appropriated for next year will be expended in continu- ing the surveys of the water-courses. The engineers of the geological sur vey are making irrigation maps ofthe of the arid regions, just as they have made mineraloeical maps of the mountain states. These maps will show the different irrigation basins, the watersheds and the volume of supply and indicate, the best sites for storage reservoirs. The agricultural depart ment is making othe4 maps showing the location and area of lands in the arid states that may be irrigated. That is, while the geological survey is ascertaining now much water can be obtained for irrigation and where it comes from, the agricultural depart ment is showing where it can be applied to the greatest advantage. There is no rivalry or jealousy between the two departments. Both are work ing in harmony in their own way, The geological survey has an engin- eering problem; the agricultural de- partment an economic problem, and when their work is done the people of the arid states will have maps to guide them in the development of the re- sources of the water and the soil.
 The President, Secretary Hitchcock and Secretary Wilson all take deep interest in this work, and it is encour. aging to know that it will be one ot the chief features of the present ad. ministratiou.
 r.AL.