El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-12
A LOGICAL IRRIGA-
TON SCHEME
Congressman Newland's Bill Presents Some
Novel and Valuable Features.

A beginning at the solution of the ma
tional irrigation problem may occur
through a bill introduced the other day
by Congressman Francis G. Newlands
of Nevada. The bill provides that all
money received from sale of public
lands in the arid and semi-arid states
and territories shall be paid into fund
to be known as the arid land reclama-
ton fund" The geological survey is
instructed to continue its investiga-
lions and surveys and to make reports
to the secretary of the interior who
then may withdraw from entry reser-
voir sites and the adjacent land to be
irrigated. Upon the determination by
the secretary of the interior of the
practicability of any certain project of
reclamation. he may let contracts for
its construction to be paid for out of
the arid land reclamation fund.
Then, upon the completion of each
irrigation project. the total cost there
of shall be divided pro rata per acre
of the lands to be irrigated, and that
amount made a charge against the
land. The lands will then be subject
to homestead entry. limited to eighty
acres each. the entryman making pay
ment to the government of the cost of
the water right.
The bill further provides that the
right to the use of the water shall be
perpetually appurtenant to the land ir-
rigated, and that beneficial use shall be
the basis. the measure and the limit of
the right.
In case there shall be enough water
for additional private lands the bill
provides that the right to use such wa
ter may be sold under the same condi-
lions as though going with government
land. The proceeds of all these sales
are to be paid into the arid land re-
clamation fund.
The provisions of this bill seem
quite simple. and some hope is express
ed of securing it's consideration this
session. They would work in practice
after this manner. The geo.
logical survey would recommend the
withdrawal of a certain reservoir site,
and, say 10000 acres of land which
could be irrigated by this reservoir.
Suppose the irrigation works cost $780,,
900. This would make the water right
cost $40 per acre. Upon the compile
ton of the works. the land would be
thrown open to entry in small tracts,
under the homestead law, except that
each acre would be taxed with the cost
of the irrigation construction, J. e.,
$40. This, according to the bill, could
AS fast as paid in. it would be applied
to the original fund. for use in the
of additional reservoirs.
Since the amount received by the |
government from the sale of public |
lands is several million dollars annu- |
ally, and as the money once available |
could be used over and over again,
progress in a moderate
way could be made in the reclamation
If the arid lands.
Bill introduced By Mr.. Newlands.
A BILL
70 authorize the construction of res
ervoirs for the storage of water and
for other hydraulic works for the
reclamation of the public lands with
in the arid and semi-arid land states
and territories.
Be it enacted by the senate and house
# representatives of the United States
( America in congress assembled. That {
IL moneys received from the sale and
isposal of public lands in the arid and {
emi-arid states and territories begin {
ing with the fiscal year ending June IL
hirtieth, nineteen hundred and one,
Xcepting those set aside by law for '
purposes, shall be reserv- 6
d and set aside for the creation of a q
und in the treasury, to be known as I
he "arid land reclamation fund.- for {
ne construction of reservoirs and other
ydraulic works for the storage and l
version of water for the irrigation I
nd reclamation of arid land.
Sec. 2. That the secretary of the I
Interior. by means of the director of a
he geological survey, be, and hereby is. t
irected to continue the examination /
f that portion of the arid region of t
he United States where agriculture is q
arried on by means of irrigation as to S
he advantages for the storage Of water Is
Or irrigating purposes. of the practi- q
ability of constructing reservoirs, to- /
ether with the capacity of the streams I
nd the cost of construction and ca c
acity of reservoirs, and such other q
acts as bear on the question of stor- c
ge of water for irrigating purposes as I
equired by the act approved March 20, 1
ighteen hundred and lightweight, I
nd also to investigate the practical r
ility of diverting large rivers by lc
leans of tunnels or other works. and '
f providing supplies by means of ar
esian wells.