Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-24
ANOTHER LEASE Bitt,
Public Lands to Released to Provide Funds
for II. lgation Works,

w orIlCucSQ WING 1 uuu
for r-lgation Works,
Representative Frank w. Mondell, o
Wyoming, has introduced a bill in tn,
house of representatives to provide fol
tom of the public domain. The bill read.
as follows, and is here published, as it.
provisions are of great interest here;
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 terri.
! tories in the reclamation of the desert
lands therein, and to preserve the native
| grasses, and enable settlers and occu.
pants to lease limited tracts Of grazing
lands, each state and territory accept
ing the provisions of this act, within
two years of the passage thereof, is
hereby authorized to lease not to exceed
1000, 900 acres of the vacant non-mineral
public lands not otherwise reserved
west of the ninety ninth meridian of
longitude west from Greenwich, and to
apply one-half of the rental so received
to the survey, supervision and construc-
ton of irrigating works, including stor-
age reservoirs, and the remaining one-
half to defray the expenses of leasing
and to the support of the public schools
In such manner as the legislatures of
the several states and territories may
provide.
Sec. 2. That all such leases shall be
under and subject to the following con-
ditions and limitations: The title to all
lands so leased shall remain in the
United States. as a part of the. public
domain, subject t. entry under any of
the laws now in force applicable to such
lands, and subject to rights of way for
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 value
or arbitration under such regulations
as shall be prescribed by the secretary
of the interior. Owners and occupants
of patented lands and legal settlers and
shall have a preference right to lease
lands contiguous or near to the lands
owned or occupied by them. No indi-
vidual or company shall be permitted to
lessee shall obtain no rights by virtue
of his lease to cut timber or wood grow
ing on such lands. The leasing price
shall be fixed by the state " territory,
more than S cents per acre per annum
All leases shall be for a period Of, five
years, and in releasing the lands in
this act described preference shall be
tial 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
a local newspaper, and in a newspaper
published at the state or territorial cap
ital, which notice shall designate the
lands to be leased and the place where
Thirty days before the issuance of
leases notice of the approved applica-
ions shall be published at least once a
week for two weeks in the same news
paper to permit Of corrections of de-
scription and filing of protests by par
ties aggrieved by such allotments.
Sec. B.. 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 res
ervoirs to be constructed from the pro-
ceeds of this act, and to supervise the
distribution of waters so made available
for irrigation; they shall also enact
laws for making water so stored or dis
tributed public property, and restricting
the rights thereto to that of use. and
attaching ~inseparably to the lands re-
claimed.
Sec. 4. That the moneys recei"ed
from rentals shall be deposited with the
state or territorial treasurer, and Da
subject to appropriation by the state or
territorial legislature for the purposes
hereinbefore designated: Provid I'd.
that no appropriation shall be made for
irrigation works until after estimates
and plans therefor have been provided
by the state or territorial irrigation 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 in
terror with a copy thereof when re-
uuirad