The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-03-08
Irrigation Arguments.
Mr.. NEWLANDS' DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
Battling for the Development of this State.

Mr.. Moody.-Let me say to the gen.
tlemen that that is not going to control
my conscience.
Mr. Newlands.-Very we'll; / will
read this first, and then will make an
appeal to the gentleman's conscience,
based upon the creed or faith of his
own party Reads from platform:
1--WE favor an intelligent system of
improving the arid lands of the west,
storing the waters for the purposes of
irrigation, and the holding of such
lands for actual settlers"
Now, I will give the gentleman the
declaration of his own party
Mr.. Moody. = Did the gentleman
himself draw that declaration of that
platform which he has just read?
Mr. Newlands.I shared in it. l
was a member of the committee on the
platform. do not assume, however;
that | forced that platform upon an
unwilling committee or an UNIV illing
convention.
Mr.. oody.-Knowing the gentle
man as well as | do, think it quite
likely he may have done so.
Mr.. Newlands.- The gentleman over
rates my powers. The matter was
fully discussed in the Democratic COM
mittee, and after fair consideration
this declaration was made. And let
me say that similar declaration was
made in the Republican platform
which l will read to the gentleman:
''In further pursuance of the con-
stant policy of the Republican party to
provide free homes on the public do
main, we recommend adequate ma
tional legislation to reclaim the arid
lands of the United States, preserving
the control of the distribution of water
for the respective States and Terri
tories"
| ask the gentleman whether he is in
favor of carrying out that declaration
of his own party platform?
Mr.. Moody.-Noty yet Mr.. Chairman.
Mr.. Newlands.-N yet! Postpone
ment! How long?
Mr.. Moody.-Well, until | am con-
vinced that the platform in that re-
gard was right
Mr.. Newlands.-V well, then; if
the.actual work is to be postponed, l
ask the gentleman whether his own
plan of operation does not involve a
continuation of Investigations which
he is limiting in this bill below the re-
quirements of the Department? If he
wants more information and investiga-
ton, why does he not favor adequate
appropriation in this bill for that pur-
pose?
Mr.. Moody.-Mr. Chairman, / want
no information along the line in which
this appropriation would provide for
it, This provides no information on
any subject on which desire informa-
ton.
Mr.. Newlands.- Upon what does the
gentleman desire information?
Mr.. Moody should like to know
how many million dollars we are going
to expend before we undertake the re-
clamation of an area which believe
the gentleman has told us is equal to
about one-third of the geographical
area of the United States.
Mr.. Newlands. - If the gentleman
wishes that information, will not in
vestigation be required in order to
present the facts?
Mr.. Moody. - This appropriation
would not provide for any such inves-
tigation as that.
Mr.. Newlands.- yes; in its terms
1t clearly provides for such investiga-
ton.
Now, let me state to the gentleman
fact in regard to that arid land re-
gion. There are 100000, 600 acres of
public land in that region. To-day 80
per cent of that land in Nevada be-
longs TO the United States These
lands are untaxed, and upon them the
Government pays nothing toward the
expenses of administering the local
government. Now, the lands which
are capable of reclamation out of these
600, 600, 600 are about seventy-five mil
lions or one hundred millions. The
work of reclamation involves first the
construction of storage reservoirs and
then the construction Of inlets and out