Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-07
IRRIGATION RESERVOIRS.
Measure Providing for Government
Construction and Operation.

San Francisco Call.
Shafroth OF Colorado has introduced into
the house of representatives a bill provid-
ing "for the construction of reservoirs in
the arid land states and for the disposal Of
the public lands reclaimed thereby" 1t
has been referred to the committee on pub
lie lands, and while 1t is not likely to be
adopted at this session, it will serve the
purpose of bringing the irrigation problem
definitely before congress.
Under the terms of the bill the geological
survey is directed to survey at least four
practical reservoir sites and irrigation
bitches from the reservoirs to the public
lands to be irrigated. in each OF the arid
land states; and to make a report to the
secretary OF the interior, who, IL he deem
the project practicable. shall have the works
constructed, provided that the cost OF them
in any one state shall not exceed 81 900 600
The states to be considered as arid land
states within the meaning or the act are
California, oregon, Washington Idaho, Me-
vada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado
Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North
Dakota. The, mum OF $13, 900 Is to be
appropriated for the work,
Upon the completion of each irrigation
project the lands to be irrigated thereby are
to be subject to homestead entry after
notice by the secretary OF the interior, upon
condition that the entryman after making
final proof of settlement shall pay to the
government tho sum OF $3.50 an acre; and
no single entry shall exceed eighty acres
1t Is further provided that when the major
part OF the land intended to be irrigated
from each reservoir has been duly located
upon as Aforesaid the management of the
reservoir and Irrigation bitches connected
with the irrigation project shall be turned
over to the said homesteaders, who shall
manage and maintain the same either as a
body or through corporation to be formed
by them"
1t will be perceived the bill is OF an ex-
perlmental nature 1t provides, not for
the beginning OF a comprehensive system
of irrigation, hut only for making certain
tests. Moreover. the terms under which
the tests are to be made are not OF
wholly satisfactory character. Not less
than four reservoirs with attendant ditches
are to be constructed in each state, and
yet the total expenditure for the state is
not to exceed sl,000,000. That will be an
average OF bu, $25O,000 for each set Of
works 1t is Nfe to say beforehand that
such tests wilt not be adequate to deter
mine the problem OF reclaiming our arid
lands. 1t will be but a repetition OF that
scattered and Nasteful expenditure which
has so often marked the undertaking of
governmental work, Many reservoirs will
be begun, none of them will fully conserve
the waters OF the district and some of them
may never be completely finished.
Even as 1t IL, however, the bill merits
commentator. II serves at least to raise
the question OF conserving our flood waters
and redeemins our arid lands. Perhaps
1t would be impossible to procure the
passage OF a letter measure at this time,
The main thing now is to get the work
begun, and for that purpose the Shafroth
| bill may be rs good as any congress is
likely TO be persuaded to adopt in the near
| future.