Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-21
ARID LAND SETTLEMENT.
State Engineers and Western Congressman at
Cheyenne Consider the Matter,
BilI Prepared 10 present 10 Congress
No Action Taken Oh It'll
VIII be Urged.

Cheyenne, Wyo., June 20.-State en-
glneers, representatives and senator's
from western states met in Cheyenne
today to discuss irrigation, government
aid and the best methods of retaining
arid lands Among those In attendance
are State Engineer McCune and Assist
ant j, E. Field Of Colorado, A. Dobson
of Nebraska d. w. Ross Of Idaho and
A. r. Doremus of Utah; Senator War
rem and Congressman Mondel Of Wyo-
ming, Congressman L. w. Martin and
Charles b. Burke of South Dakota, j.
ID. Flenner, 'vate secretary to Sena-
tor Dubois of Idaho, Congressman A.
Q. shalenberger and II, r. Burket Of
Nebraska and Bell Of Colorado, state
Engineer Fred Bond Of Wyoming pre-
sided over the engineers meeting, and
Hon. II. f.. Burkett Of Lincoln, Neb.,
was elected chairman of the congress
sional meeting George h. Toby Of
Lincoln acted as secretary.
Both meetings were more or less in
fomal, but some energetic discussions
were had principally on irrigation and
the position Of the federal government
toward the same, Resolutions were
presented and a plan outlined for ac-
tion AT the next session OF Congress.
II is understood that western con-
gressmen and senators will work to-
gether on this important question as
thew never have before, with the result
that the arid West may come in for
its share of government appropriations.
According to Senator Warren, an ef-
fort will be made at Fridays meeting
to agree upon some law or plan broad
enough to cover the demand In the arid
states.
At a Joint meeting Of engineers and
congressman tonight, an exhaustive bill
was drafted covering all the points in
volved In the irrigation question in It's
relation TO Congress. Owing, however,
to the small number Of congressman
present no action was TO- on the
engineers bill, but a committee con-
ssting Of Senator Warren and Hon. b,
Burkott was appointed to call a meet
ing in Washington just prior to the
meeting of Congress.
THE BILL.
The proposed measure, in part, Is as
follows;
"a bill to provide for the settlement
Of the arid public lands, and 10 au-
thorize the construction OF reservoirs
for the storage of water and other
necessary irrigation works for arid land
reclamation.
THAT all moneys received from the
sale or disposal Of public lands In Ari-
IONA, California. Colorado. Idaho, Utah,
Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oregon. South Dakota and Washing
ton. beginning with the fiscal year end
ing June co. 1892, excepting money set
aside by law for educational purposes
and excepting also the salaries OF re-
gisters and receivers OF the United
states land offices, located within said
states and territories, shall he and are
hereby reserved for the benefit Of the
state or territory in which said lands
are sold, 10 be kent as a special fund TO
be known as the arid land reclamation
fund and shall be under the direction
OF the secretary OF the Interior for the
examination, survey and construction
OF reservoirs and other irrigation
works.
ANY Of the states and territories De.
sirin~ 10 avail themselves OF the pro- ,
visions OF the act shall enact laws ac-
oeptlng conditions Of this act, and or
ganiZe and maintain q state engineers
Office. with authority to nlan and make
estimates Cor reservoirs TO be paid for
out OF the reclamation fund The
Office shall also arrange for the estab-
llshmeRt Of rights TO water from same.
1T shall be the duty OF the secretary
NJ the ipfortor IA oxafofr,a mans and |
surveys submitted by the state engi.
nesTs Cor proposed reservoirs and irri-
cation works and approve or reject