The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-21
TEXT OF ARID
LAND MEASURE
Manner in Which Government
Proposes to Raise Funds.
VERY COMPLETE METHOD
HOW ARID LANDS WILL BE
TRANSFORMED.
IERY COMPLETE METHOD
Special to The Herald.l


Washington, Dec. 20.-The following
is the complete text of the irrigation
bill framed by a sub committee of
western members Of the senate and
house for submission to a general COM
mittee representing western states. If
approved by this general committee
the bill will be the basis upon which
western members will make an effort
TO obtain government aid for arid land
reclamation during the present con
gress:
a bill appropriating the receipts
from the disposal Of public lands in
certain states and territories TO be
used IN the construction of irrigation
works for the reclamation of arid
lands.
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representative of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled: That all moneys received from
the sale and disposal Of public lands in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho.
Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada.
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma.
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wash
ingtOn and Wyoming, beginning with
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1902.
excepting moneys set aside by law for
educational purposes, shall be and are
hereby reserved, set aside and appro-
priated as a special fund in the treas
ury to be known as the reclamation
fund for the examination, survey. con-
structiOn and maintenance Of irriga-
ton works for the storage, diversion
and development Of waters, for the rec
lamation Of said lands and for the
payment Of all necessary expenditures
provided for in this act. Provided that
IN case the receipts from the sale and
disposal Of lands referred to in this
section are insufficient to meet the re-
Quirements for the support Of agri-
cultural colleges in the several states
and territories, under the act of Aug
80, 1890, entitled, AN act to apply a
portion of the public lands to the more
complete endowment and support of
the colleges for the benefit of agricuI-
ture and the mechanic arts, estab-
lished under the provisions of an act
approved July ,, 1852, the deficiency
in the sum necessary for the support
Of the said colleges shall be provided
from any moneys in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
Section 2. That the secretary Of the
interior is hereby authorized for the
purpose of retaining arid land to
cause to be examined and surveyed
reservoir sites, tunnel sites, for di-
version Of water and irrigation canals
connected Herewith, and artesian well
sites in said arid states and territories,
and TO require reports as to the same
together with estimates Of the cost Of
construction thereof and reports as to
the quantity and location Of the pub
lie land which can be irrigated there
from, as well as to all facts relative
to the practicability of each enter
prise.
Sec 3. That the secretary of the in
terror may, in his discretion, withdraw
from or restore to public entry the
lands required for such irrigation
works. and agricultural lands which it
is proposed to irrigate by means Of
any contemplated works, may be with
drawn from entry, except under the
homestead act, and that all such en-
tries and the lands embraced therein
shall be subject to all the charges,
terms. limitations and conditions pro-
vided for in this act.
Sec. f. That upon the determination
by the secretary Of the interior that
the reservoir irrigation project is
practicable, he shall cause to be let
upon proper notice contracts for the
construction of the same, in whole or
in part. payments to be made out of
the reclamation fund. Provided that no
contract shall be let where the esti-
mates of the engineers show that the
cost Of the enterprise divided among
the acres to be irrigated viii exceed
SO per acre. Provided, further. that
no such contract shall be let until the
necessary funds are available; and pro-
vided further that in all construction
work eight hours shall constitute a
day 5 work, and no Asiatic labor shall
be employed thereon.
Sec 5. That upon the completion Of
each irrigation project the lands to be
irrigated thereby shall be subject to
homestead entry afte. notice by the
secretary Of the interior upon the con-
ditiOn Of reclamation in addition to the
requirements Of the homestead act. and
the entryman. on the making of final
proof of settlement and reclamation.
shall pay to the government the sum of
s. per acre, to be covered into the recla-