Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1901-03-15
IRRIGATION BILL.
Congressman NeWlands Ex-
plains the Purport of
His Measure.

House Of Representatives. Wash.
iugton. d. c.. February. q. 1901.
EDITOR APPEAL:-
am in receipt OF a letter. enclos.
ing An item from the Carson News,
headed .Newlands Irrigation Bill d
Rank Failure" and stating that the
bill I have intro ;ured is 30 con-
siructed AZ to please the greatest
possible number OF Legislators, and
irngate the smallest possible number
ot acres Of land IN Nevada.
| have introduced in the present
Congress three bills regarding irriga.
ton. The first vas fer the Hum
boldt river, as that was the only pro.
ject in Nevada at that time favorably
reported by the Geological Survey.
Later on a favorable report was made
by the Geological Survey on he
Truckee river project, aud then IN.
troduced a bill authorizing the COM
| menoement Of all the projects in the
arid region which had bee favorably
reported. and making appropriations
for surveys OF storage projects not
yet favorably reported. This neces-
sarily put the humboldt and Iruceee
rivers IN the tirst class IN which con-
struction was TO be commenced, aud
the Carson, Muddy and Virgin rivers,
AS well rs the nrtesian investigation
III the latter class OF surveys. At
construction necessarily Gusts o
than surveys, the appropriation pro-
vided for the Humboldt was $1,000
! aud the appropriation for the Truckee
Was put at $4,000 this simply pro-
vidlng for construction OF part OF tie
prof .cts reported. The appropriation
for surveys and artesian Investigation
was put al $4,000.
In the construction part OF this bill
| put only sdch projects as were
favOrably reported by the Geological
Survey; i'll the survey part Of the bill
| put only such projects rs were
recommended to me by the Geu-
logical Survey. The charge that /
showed iavoritism to the Humboldt
and Truckes rivers Is entirely un.
fIuuded. The Geological Survey. Of
it's own motion and not PROMPTED BY
me, took up those projects first.
Tho .Iir,I IiIl urh,,h int rnJY,al
provides toI the applications Of the
proceeds from the sales Of all public
lands to Especial fund to be called
the Arid Land Reclamation Fund. "a
be under the direction OF the Secre-
tary Of the Interior. mol only for in
ye stigatIoD bnt for actual construc.
ton OF such projects rs he deems
practicable.
was obliged to introduce the bill
ip this way, without providing for
particular projects, III order to escape
the dissentious and jealousles Of the
different States, aroused by the nam.
Ing Of a specific project Ill any one
State. In other words. the great
difficulty with the irrigation question
ii the dissensIons and j"nlousies Of
the various States, similar in charar.
ter to those winch the article re.
ferred to seeks 10 promote regarding
the various rIvcrs of Nevada. Work
must be commenced sUmew here. and
it cannot be commenced in all places
at once.
This last general bill il the bill
which with amendments, has been
favorably reported 10y the Committee
On Irrigation OF the House. 1t has
also been accepted, with certain
amendments, by Senator Hans.
brough. Chairman OF the Committee
on Public Lands III the Senate, and
has been favorahly rel orted by that
COMMITTEES. It's essential principles
have been also accepted in a bill re-
ported from the House Committee on
Public lands. But although its plan
Of action has been endorsed by three
important committees, the leaders III
the dominant party in the House re.
fuse to give irrigation Legislation con-
sideration, and we are now urging
action and bringing every pressure to
to bear upon them with view Of se'
Touring Il vote.
Very sincerely yours,
ERASrIs O. NrwIASnS