, 1900-01-16
A LEASING l.

Congressman Mondell has introduced
a NIL in congress to provide for the
reclamation and leasing of a portion
Of the public domain. In a private lat
Ter to the editor he states that the bin
is offered as a suggestion and that he is
by no means welded to its provisions.
lie desires above all things to arrive
at the best method of handling the
question and would be pleased to have
suggestions from those we'll posted in
land matters. The bill is as follows:
be it enacted by the senate and house
Of representatives of the United States
OF America in congress assembled,
That, to aid the public lands states and
territories in the reclamation of the
desert lands therein, and to preserve
the native crosses, and enable settled
and occupants to lease limited tracts
OF grazing lands, each state and terri
tory accepting the provisions of his
act, within two years of the passage
thereof, is hereby authorized to lease
not to exceed we million acres of the
vacant nonmineral public lands not
otherwise reserved west of the ninety
ninth meridian of longitude west from
Greenwich, and ito apply one-half of
the rental SO received to the survey.
supervision, and construction of irriga-
ton works. including storage reser-
voirs, and the remaining one-half to de-
fray the expense Of leasing and to
the support Of the public schools, in
such manner as the legislatures of the
several states and territories may pro-
vide.
Sec. 2. That all such leases shall be
ditions and limitations: The title to
all lands so leased shall remain in the
United States. as a part of the public
domain, subject to entry under any of
the laws now In force applicable to such
lands, and subject to rights of way for
any and all purposes to which the pub
lie lands are now subject: Provided,
That any person filing on such lands
pay to the lessee for all the improve
ments placed thereon by him, the val
lie of which to be determined by agree
ment or arbitration under such regula-
lions as shall be prescribed by the sec
rotary of the interior. Owners and oc-
cupants of patented lands and legal
settlers and entrymen Under the public
land laws shall have a preference right
to lease lands contiguous or near to the
lands owned or occupied by them. No
Individual or company shall be permit
ted 10 lease more than five sections OF
land. A lease shall obtain no rights by
virtue of his lease to cut timber or wood
growing on such lands. The leasing
price shall be fixed by the state or ter
ritory, but shall not be less han one
cent nor more than five emit per acre
per annum. All leases shall be for a
period of five years, and in releasing
the lands in this act described prefer
ence shall be given to those who have
made substantial improvements upon
the land leased by them. At least sixty
days before leasing any lands the state
or territory shall cause notice thereof
to be inserted at least once a week for
four weeks in a local newspaper, and in
a newspaper published at the state or
territorial capital, which notice shall
designate the lands to be leased and the
place where applications therefor will
De received. Thirty days before the is
suance Of leases, notice of the APPROX
ed applications shall be published at
least once a week for two weeks in the
q, aurdn q fn nnrnit Of nnrrpR-
tons Of description and filing of pro-
tests by parties aggrieved by such al
lotments.
Sec. 8. That any state or territory
desiring to avail itself Of the provisions
of this act shall by law provide for an
irrigation or engineering department or
bureau Of the state or territorial gov
eminent, for location, preparation of
plans, and estimates of canals and re-
servoirs to be constructed from the pro-
ceeds Of this act, and to supervise the
distribution of waters so made avail
act laws for making water so stored or
distributed public property, and re-
stricting the rights thereto to that OF
use, and attaching inseparably to the
lands reclaimed.
Sec. 4. That the money received
from rentals shall be deposited with
the state or territorial treasurer, and be
subject to appropriation by the state or
territorial legislature for the purpose
hereinbefore designated: Provided.
mat no appropriation shall be made
TOT irrigation works until after esti-
mates and plans therefore have been
provided by the state or territorial ir-
rigation and engineering department or
bureau, and construction of the same
recommended.
Sec. s. That each state or territory
shall keep a separate account of the re-
ceipts and disbursements of such rent
ais, and furnish the secretary of the
interior with a cop thereof when re-
quired.
All kinds of Job work neatly and