New-York tribune., 1901-02-05
NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT.
A START MADE N A GREAT ENTER
PRISE UNDER GOVERNMENT
SUPERVISION
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. Feb. 4.-Defniteness given
to-day to irrigation legislation by the action Of
the Senate Committee Public Lands in in
structing It's chairman Mr.. Hansbrough of
North Dakota. 70 report his bill on that subject.
and 10 make IL amendment TO the Sundry
Civil Bill This latter action. in the opinion Of
Senator Hansbrough. insures the passage Of
the measure al this session. The Hansbrough
bill follows closely the reservoir storage idea,
which has become 50 popular in the West. and
contains a new feature If Importance. which, IL
is believed. surrnounts the constitutional OBJ
staoles which have stood In the path Of other
Governmental irrigation schemes. This consists
in the fact that the bill provides that all moneys
received from the sale Of public lands in the
arid and seni-arid regions. beginning with the
fiscal year ending on June go 1901. except those
set aside by law for educational purposes, shall
be reserved and set aside a special fund in
the Treasury. 10 be known as the arid land re-
clamation fund for the construction cf reser-
vors and other hydraulic works for the storage
and diversion ~ water for the irrigation and
reclamation Of arid land. II is further provided
that in case the receipts from the sales OF the
public lands described are not sufficient to meet
the requirements for the support of agricultural
colleges in the several States, the deficiency in
the sum necessary for the support OF the said
colleges shall he provided from any moneys in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
The whole work is put the Geological Sur
vey. under the general direction Of the Secretary
of the Treasury. The Director OF the Geological
Survey is instructed 70 continue the examination
Of that portion of the United States where agri-
culture is carried on by means of irrigation
TO the advantages for the storage Of water for
irrigating purposes and the practicabiity of
constructing reservoirs. together with the ca
pacity of the streams and the cost Of construc-
tion and capacity OF reservoirs. The Director
shall from time 70 time make reports 10 the
Secretary of the Interior as 70 the various pro-
posed reservoirs. diverting canals other meth
DDS OF procuring water. these reports 10 show
the location. cost OF construction. quantity and
location Of such land as can be irrigated.
We'll other facts relative to the practicability
Of the enterprise. When these reports are filed
the Secretary Of the Interior may. in his discre
tion. withdraw from public entry the lands re-
quired for reservoir OF other hydraulic works
and al the time Of giving notice OF letting con-
tracts for construction the Secretary may with
draw from entry the public lands which II is
proposed 10 irrigate from such works. When
any irrigation project is completed the total cost
shalI be aScertained, and the amount divided
pro rata per acre Of the lands which may be
irrigated and this amount shall be made a
charge against the lands the cost Of a right
70 the use or water from the system irrigation.
Then these lands shall be subject 10 homestead
entry on the condition that in addition 10 the
requirements of the Homestead act the entryman
snail pay TO the Government the cost an acre of
water right, payment 10 be made in not TO ex-
ceed ten annual instalments. Each entryrnan
shal be limited 10 eighty acres. The moneys
mus received shall be covered into the arid
land reclamation fund" The right 10 the use OF
the water shall be perpetually appurtenant 10
the land irrigated, and beneficial use shall be the
hasls, the measure and the limit Of the right
Nhere. In carrying out the provisions or this
ACT II becomes necessary 10 include any I'm
proved or unimproved real estate within anv
proposed reservoir site. the Secretary Of the In
terror Is authorized TO acquire the same for the
Inlted states by condemnation under the
judicial processes already provided for such pro-
Ceedings.
The Hansbrough bill is considered the start I'm
vast enterprise Of recaiming most Of the arid
west under Government supervision. and IL will
result II is believed. In adding millions 10 the
population Of Washington. Wyoming Utah
Idaho. Arizona, NewMeXico. the Dakotas and
California In the next decade or two The lands
not only will be cheap. but they VIII have the
adduonal attraction TO homeseekers Of being
absolutely sure Of producing crops because they
VIII not be subject 10 drouth. as Is nearly every
other agricultural belt OF the country N times