Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1901-03-08

4 lob AuAH o wa AAhSNs 49,
IT me SOY that u similar declaration
ras made in the Republican plat
J .orn, which | will read to the gentle
man:
I'm further pursuance OF the con-
slant policy Of the Republican party
to provide free homes on the public
! domain, we recommend adequate Ia
tiuual legislation to reclaim tie arid
lands Of the United States. preserv-
ing the control of the distribution of
water for the respective States and
Territories
| ask the gentleman whether he is
in favor OF carr! ing ont that declara.
non u his own party platform!
Mr.. Moody.-Not yet, Mr.. Chair
man.
Mr.. Newlands.--Not yet! Post
ponement! How long!
Mr.. Moody.-Weil, until | am con-
vIuced that the platform i'll that re-
gard was right.
Mr.. Newinnds.-Very well, then; il
the actual work Is to be postponed,
ask the gentleman whether his own
plan of operation does not Involve ID
continuation OF Investigators winch
he Is limiting in this bill below the
requirements Of the Dparlmcui? II
he wants Tor informauOc and luves-
tigation, why does he not favor ade-
quaie appropriation III this bill for
J hat purpose!
Mr.. MoOdy.-Mr Chairman, | want
no intoI NATION along the line in
which his appropriation would pro.
vide for it. This provides no intor.
nation upon any subject ON which !
desire information.
Mr.. Newlands.-Upon what does
the gentleman desire Information!
Mr.. Mondy.-I should like to know
how many million dollars we are 20.
ing to expend before We undertake.
the reclamation Of an area which |
believe the gentleman has told us is
equal To about one third OF the geo
graphical area OF the old United
States.
Mr.. Newlands.-l, the gentleman
wiches that Information, will not III.
v~estigati"n be required IN order TO
present the facts?
Mr.. Moody. - This appropriation
would not provide for any such III.
yestigatiUn ms that.
Mr.Nnwlands.- oh yes; in its terms
it clearly provides for such invcstiga.
IOu
Now, let Inc state to the gentleman
il fact IN regard To that arid land re-
gion. There are GU0.0C0,00O acres Of
public and III that region. Today so
per cent Of that land in Nevada be.
longs to. the United States. These
lands are untdXed, and upon them the
government pays nothing toward the
expense u administering the local
government. Now, the lands which
are capable Of reclamation ont OF
tnese GOn,uJ0.O 900 are about Sc evenly
tive millions or one hundred millions
Tho work OF reclamation involves
hrst the construction OF storage res
ervoirs and then the construction of
inlets and outlets-inlcts to and out
lets from these reservoirs wuere they
are oil the line Of the stream; the
construction Of main nighttime bitches
so as to bring the stored waters TO a
point where they may he available to
the settlers; and the expenditure by
the settlers the msclves of from SD to
$50 an acre in the ditchcS and eide
bitches necessary Tor the reclamation
OF the land.
Now. the purpose Of the irrigation
movement is simply to enable the
Government To bring these waters to
u point where they may be available
by private enterprise or by 90 opera
ton Of the settlers for The recIama-
ton Of the arid lands. And with ref
ercncc to that I will say tho storage
ot water costs on the average about
% per acre foot, aud that il 9 mere.
feet OF water are required for every
acre Of these 75,00O.uOO acres il means
l~aO,OOO,0OU acrc.tcci; SO that. assum-
ing all tho water for these 75,OOO,UOO
acres we're stored water, it would
cost S150.O0O,O00, or a. $40, 900 annual.
~ Tor n period uf one hundred years;
but this water would not all be stored
water. The stored water would elm.
ply he used to supplement the flood
waters. The latter would be ample
Tor oil during the early months OF
spring and summer, and the stored
water would only he used to perfect
growth toward tho harvest season.
And so 1t is probable that 30.OO0,uO0
ncre feet OF stored water. costing
abont sl5O.O0O.OO would. with the
aid OF the uns.orcd flood waters. rc.
claim these 100, 0.00O acres. But IN
addition TO that. tho settlers who rc.
claim these Lands will cxpend au
amount aggregating mnni times TINT
much. and will t0 that extent increase
the wealth Of the country.
Now, let me say TINT The reclaim.
ton question is not one Of large pro-.
portions. II will be undertaken very
gradually. aud there 10 nov pending
before this body, reported by tho
Committee on Arid Lanua. and pond.
ing hpfOte tho SHnnin. rnnorind hN