The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-24

HGToGr LEil prC7ldI4S iCT an engineering
commission 10 make survey OF all avail
/ able reservoir sites il sixteen arid states
I and TerritoI IS; this commission to en-
/ body the results of its iabors IN de
/ tailed report for the use of the next
! Congress. which report shall present
! plans and specihca lions. details Of cost
and results 20 be achieved. This proposed
/ measure would also give to the Secretary
/ of the Interior full power TO withdraw
/ from public entry all lands which would
be benefited by these proposed public
/ yvorks- Tnis plan is about on the lines
/ of a bill recently introduced in the House
( By Representative Shafroth of Colorado.
but the irrigation experts on a close ex-
animation of MIR Shafroth's bill found it
/ lacking in essential particulars, and it is
no0 being put into shape by the Hydro
graphic Department OF the Geological
Survey
Another attempt to secure an appro-
/ prjation for the reclamation of arid lands
IS found II a clause Of the Indian bill. yet
10 be considered. in which an appropria-
ton OF 100000 is proposed to com
mence- the work of building a dam at
I This IS put in the Indian bill on the
! ground that the storage of water is nee
! essary to prevent The Pima. Maricopa
! and Papago indians from starving TO
death. owing TO their inability to raise
any crops on their arid reservations. An
J estimate of. the cost of this San Carlos
dam IS 81. Geo eco. The full amount is not
asked for in the Indian bill. because it is
| feared that the size of the appropriation
I which viii be needed before the work is
/ completed. If stated so boldly would in
sure defeat. While the condition OF the
Indians mentioned is a matter of concern
20 the Indian Bureau. the securing of this
appropriation for a dam across the ella
River IS Of lar greater concern TO the
irTigatiOnisJs for not over 80 per cent OF
the land which would be irrigated from
The proposed dam is Indian land The
purpose IS tc use the necessities OF the
Indians. which are UpdOubtedly genuine
TO secure the beginning Of the proposed
irrigation work by the Government and
thus demonstrate its Feasibility
HTigalionists have been somewhat ham
DeTed II their work by the apparent indif-
ference 10 their efforts Of Representative
Tongue Of Oregon, the Chairman OF the
Irrigation Committee II the House. Mr.
Tongue comes from a State whose largest
interests are in the western. or humid.
3 2
stiJueEC.T resident in the eastern, or arid,
section. Ii which irrigation is as impOr-
tant factor in It's development as IN any
other arid State east Of the Rocky Noun
tsius- The indifference shown b. Mr.
Tongue 10 legislation Of this character has
caused considerable irritation among those
wfo have devoted their time and energies
n urging the matter upon Congress and
there Is a general opinion amoLg them
that some ether and more aGgressgeiy
arid State should have this craftsmanship.
i would appear. therefore that the irri-
gaJjon forces have attacked Congress from
/ several directions. and the end IS not yet.
for number OF other ard similar bills are
EOa shortly 10 take their places on the
calendars Of the House and the Senate
There IS some encouragement among the
disinterested men who are really in earn
! est over this matter al the conDIexity Of
interests and legislation as matters now
stand 1t has caused 4 division of the
forces and consequent lukeWarmness to-
ward this OF that measure. which counts
heavily in a case like this. where every
reserve IS needed TO overcome the deter
mined opposition Of a large number Of the
members.
The Hydrogra phic Department is so
much IN earnest over the work that 1t is
willing 20 allow the River and Harbor bill
TO carry some provision for the reclama-
ton Of arid lands. Notwithstanding that
ing done under the army engineers instead
Of by the engineers OF the Geological Sur
yey- This is piece OF heroic self-sacri-
fee rarely found in the departments OF
the Government, for the jeaIousies be-
tween the different corps are not at all
{ Intangible. II Congress should adopt a
measure looking 10 the survey CT these
, reservoir sites and final report upon the
merits Of the whole proposition. IL would
{ be the height Of absurdity 70 put the work
IN the hands OF any corps other than that
, I Of the photographic Of1ce. The army en-
; gineers have never had anything to dc
, with that sort of construction or estimate,
and for at least ten years pastth he Geologic
/ al Department has been studying the ques-
/ ton IN all its practical and theoretical
aspects Il is not only competent to carry
out such q wo-k as suggested but has al
ready accomplished a large part OF what
the army engineers would still have TO do
( Recently drawn maps. showing land
+ owned by the Government in the various
! arid States. give warning Of 4 danger
which is becoming more imminent every
2 day The Government engineers have al
r. re=dy given Indications in their work OF
. where reservoirs would be located and
shrewd settlers have not been backward
/ in taking advantage of this knowledge
The maps in question show that the land
q has already been secured which would be
E benefited without cost 10 the owner by the
4 building of Government reservoirs and ca
nails, and IN some places land has been
taken up where II viii have to be bought
= by the Government to clear the way for
I purposes Of construction
II the Government is going to bUild res
= ervoirs for the reclamation Of arid land
as viii undoubtedly be the case sooner
I or later. II is matter pressing impor-
2 lance that all land which may be bene-
o. flied By these reservoirs should be al
? once withdrawn from settlement and held
$ subject to subsequent legislation, which
will lie necessary after an artificial waite!
i supply has been secured.
Mr.. Maxwell the founder of the Irriga-
tion Association, vho is now in Washing
ton in the interest OF this work. proposes
that after this land has been withdra WI
- from settlement and water is to be had
/ fer its cultivation. the Government should
! divide il into small tracts. say not over
eighty acres, which is ample to produce
p q handsome income fer a family. and that
/ this land should then be put up a auc-
e ton and sold 10 the highest bidder fol-
P cash. no one family being allowed TO pur,
( chase more than a single parcel He does
o net favor any system OF time payments
i and believes that the Government would
= Immediately get back the money expend
Z ed b. selling the land in this manner. III,
auction feature insuTiHg its sale for full
market value and 10 those who would b,
g compelled 10 improve it to secure return.
- upon their investment