The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-20
HOUSE DEBATES
ON ARID LANDS
King, nOndell and Others
Plead For Reclamation.
EASTERN MEMBERS
OPPOSE, AS USUAL
Plan to Divert Water From
Uintah Reservation.
Especial to The Herald3

Especial to The Herald)
Washington. D. c, Feb. 19-Ihe arid
lands problem came up in the house
today, in an informal manner. During
the discussion of the sundry civil an
preparation bill, Representative King Of
Utah spoke in advocacy of the New
lands bill He stated that there were
10000 900 acres of arid lands which could
be redeemed by irrigation and urged
that a systematic plan should be adopt
ed by which this mighty empire could
he converted into homes for millions Of
people.
The debate was induced by the item
apprOpriating 100000 for the invesu-
cation of underground currents and ar
teSian wells in the arid land regions
and the presentation of reports upon
the best methods of utilizing the water
resources of those regions.
Hill of Connecticut, vice president or
a bank in the little town of NOrWalk,
said the great scheme of irrigation
would cost the government $4,000, GOO.
MY. NeWlands of Nevada said these flg-
ures were chimeTical.
After some further remarks by Con-
gressman MOndell of Wyoming and BeIl
of Colorado. Mr. Cannon of Illinois,
chairman Of the appropriations comm L
tee. cCaclud1d this branch OF the de-
bate The arid land senators and rep
resentatives. he said, had arrived at
the conclusion that the time had come
TO irTigate the arid lands at the eN-
pense of the federal treasury Mr.. Can
non predicted that if the scheme were
entered upon it would cost more than
$3.50, O00. 600 in the next fifty years.
Would Give Land to States.
IN some respects" said Mr. Cannon,
81 am a pretty good DemOcrdt-better
than some of those calling themselves
such on the other side. I believe in To-
cal self-gOvernment. ] viii vote to give
every acre of the arid LANDS to the
states in which they are located, and to
give to those states the power 70 go
into the courts and to allow them to
determin as between themselves, their
rights in the matter. I don't believe
any other policy can be pursued with
out making the population of the arid
land states dependent upon the United
States
do YOU believe the reservoir sites in
C'aIiftr uia from which Nevada could be
wateTed should be coded to Nevada -
asked Mr.. NeWlanGs.
- would give Nevada a day in court
TO litigate her rights IS against those
OF California, replied Mir. Cannon, but
] think il would be far better 10 make
out of Nevada with its 10000 inhabit-
ants, a respectable county of CalifOr-
MIA"
mittee on arid lands to secure Il report
upon what is generally known as the
arid land bill The western members
however, Won out and secured the pas
sage Of q substitute for Newlands'
measure. The substitute contains all
of the substantial features of the New
lands bill and provides that all moneys
received from sale Of arid lands be used
for the building of reservoirs and dams,
this amount TO be set aside as it &C
ft1rrr # rid
desert lands yet unclaimed.
Nay Divert Water From Reservation.
An effort is being made to secure
permission from the secretary Of the
interior for the diversion of all of the
waters which flow upon the Uintah In
dian reservation in Utah. This diver
sion OS waters entering the reservation
is greatly desired for the purpose of
iTriga ting less favored localities 1t is
argued that Indians do not need the
water, using it only as a side issue, SO
to speak. whereas farmers outside the
limits of the reservation are sorely in
need OF water for irrigation purposes
and TO maintain their stock.
The secretary OF the interior in
formed Representative King thar he
would take the question under a wise
ment, and if after consulting with the
law officers of his department, he
should find il could legally be done. he
would issue an order which would per
nit those outside the Uin-ah reserVa-
ton TO divert portions OF the water
supply. flowing into and through that
reservation, to their uges for irrigation
or other agricultural purposes
Asks Commission For Kimball.
Judge King this morning called upon
the president to recommend that a
commission in the United States army
be given To Gordon kimball of Ogden,
Utah Mr.. KiabaN IS at present SerV-
nd
holds the rank of first lieutenant. He
desires to enter the regular army, and
as his record is an excellent one, Mr..
King Believes he viii be successful.
Representa- tive King today called
upon the commissioner Of the general
Land office and endeaYOred to secure
the release of certain timber claimed
by Messrs Ferguson and Anderson of
Salt Lake City, which was seized by
the government on the allegation that
timber was cut unlaWfully upon the
public domain The timber in question
was cut at or near MercUr, Utah, and
was seized by the government. It's
owners strenuOusiy assert that they
did not enlrench upon government
lands. and protest against the seizure
of their timber The commissioner as
sured Mr.. King that he would investi-
gate the ease thoroughly.
An efforr is being made by Repre-
sentative King to secure an allotment
out OF the contingent fund Of the in
terror department for the relief of so
called rowing bands of Indians in Titan.
He called today at the department IN
their behalf and afterward expressed
the belief that his plea for these no.
nads OF the Utah plains would result
in obtaining substantial pecuniary as
sistance by the general government.
Senator Rawlins' amendment To the
sundry civil appropriation bill, appro-
priating S25. 900 for the establishment Of
a fish cultural station in Utah was to-
DAY favOrably reported to the senate
by the committee on fisheries.
Kearns and Kerens Leave.
John r. Kearns. brother of the junior
senator from Utah, accompanied by
Richard ISerens. son of Richard Ker-
ems Of st. Louis. left today for New
York and Will sal, tomorrow for Ha-
vana. They go TO Cuba with View "a
ascertaining if a speculative coup can
not be made there. John Kearns has
the backing of his brother, the senator
while Richard Kerens, il, Will have
the support Of his father.
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