Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05

While Others Protcst-FcRr to In
crease the whcntReIds-Tbe Adju-
tant Generals Rank.
WAsnINGroN, March 31.-tSpccial l.
There are some questions we always
have with us about congress, and one
of these is the disposition or improve
ment of the arid lands Of the western
states. Other questions come and go,
but some remain forcvCr-the race
question, the second class mail matter,
the increase of salaries of clerks, pro-
posed civil service changes and others
too numerous to mention-and among
them can always be rcckoned arid
lands. In order to take care of these
subjects committees of both house and
senate upon arid lands have been ere
ated. Now. it is an interesting fact
that if there was TO be any actual leg
islation upon arid lands it would not
be placed in the hands of either of
these committees, but the public lands
committees of both houses would han
die the great subject. The same is true
with regard to forest reservations.
There is a committee on forest reserva-
lions. However. the men who are made
chairmcn of the arid lands committees
think it necessary to go ahead and do
something by way of the preparation
of reports and the introduction of bills.
Just now the arid lands committees
have been turned over to Oregon, Sena-
tor Simon being chairman of the COM
mittee in the senate and Representa-
tive Tongue in the house. Senator 81
mon does not show much disposition to
take the matter up very seriously but
Representative Tongue. following the
lead of his predecessors. Hermann and
Ellis, both of Oregon and both Of whom
were chairmen of this committee, will
investigate the subject. go over much
of the same ground and obtain any
new facts that have been developed.
Something should he Done.
The efforts made so far have been
unavailing save in one instance, when
there was attached to one Of the large
act. but every man representing an
arid land state knows that very little
has been done under that act, and eff
forts have been made from time to
time to make better its provisions.
That something should be done with
the arid tracts in the mountain states
and with the semiarid tracts in the
Dakotas. Kansas and Nebraska on one
side of the Rocky mountains and east
ern Washington and Oregon OH the
other side is too plain to need any
argument. The trouble is that nobody
/ knows just what to do, or. If he does,
! he has not been able to convince
! congress of the fact. Some time in
the distant future there will be n gen
erous congress which will become tired
of the arid land discussion and will
/ states and territories in which they
are situated, to be dealt with in some
manner which will bring about their
cultivation and make them valuable.
A curious feature of this proposition
to bring about the improvement of the
I arid lands is a protest from those who
fear it will increase the wheatfieldS
of the west. 1t is interesting TO note
that while some oranges of the far
west are petitionng In favor of the
! irrigation of arid lands those oranges
representing farming interests in the
east are petitioning against anything
being done in that direction. How
ever, when good land becomes scarce
the arid lands will be made use of in
one way or another, either by grants
/ to the states or by legislation by the
| general government looking to their
| reclamation.