The times., 1901-05-27
A GIGANTIC LAND SCHEME.
Plans Looking to the Utilization of
Vast Tracts in the west

Vast Tracts in the West.
OMAHA, Neb.. May 26.-A meeting is in
progress at Omaha looking to the de-
velopment Of the vast unoccupied lands
OF the West. This meeting is of
great Importance to the entire West. and
also to the East. because the East Will be
asked to assist in the undertaking for
which the meeting will lay plans
1t Is proposed to induce the Federal
Government to either arrange for the
leasing of the vast stretches of unoccu-
pied lands in the great Northwest to
private corporations. or to directly cede
the arid lands in the Central Western
States to the States themselves. In the
latter case the movement will be changed
to one toward inducing the leasing of the
lands by the States. who will thus come
into control of them.
The prime object of the scheme. it win
be announced. is to lay the foundation
for successful irrigation of the arid lands
of the West. This statement will. how
ever. be refuted by many interests in the
West. who will assert, and with increas-
ing opposition that the movement is one
intended solely for the benefit of the large
cattle and sheep interests against the
small ranchmen in the Central Western
States.
When the project Of leasing Govern
ment lands was first mentioned, some
two or three years years ago. a storm Of
protest went up which extended to re-
quirement on the part of convention dele
gates in all parties of the insertion in
the State platforms of a resolution ex-
pressing the most decided opposition to
the plan.
Inasmuch as Congress failed to make
any provision during its last session for
construction of storage reservoirs or of
irrigation bitches. except in one small dis
trict occupied by a band of Indians. the
supporters OF Government leasing of lands
contend that this plan offers the only
possible solution of the irrigation ques-
tion.
They argue Stat if the Government
leases the lands the small ranchmen will
have as much advantage as the large
ences now existing between the sheep men
and cattle men, which are threatning
bloody warfare in Northwestern Nebras-
ka and certain portions of Wyoming, that
if large interests do acquire extensive
bodies Of land by lease they will improve
the lands by irrigation and increase the
value of the small holdings In proportion
to the improvements made.
State Senator Currie. Of Sargent, Neb-,
who owns large tracts OF land IN the
Western portion of the State, Is likely 10
be present at the meeting I1lS ups dAE
not bound by the seal of silence. He says:
''I have gwen this matter much atten-
ton and believe the only remedy Tor the
present dry condition of the ranges is for
the Government to lease for number of
years large traits of this land 20 the
stockmen at a given price per acre The
stockman has at present no assurance OF
retaining possession of the Government
lands any length of time.
''In Wyoming range wars are frequent
between the cattlemen and sheep men,
with the results largely In favor of the
sheep men at present They build their
fences along the streams. putting the
wires just high enough for the sheep to
pass under, but preventing the cattle
who settles upon a quarter section of
land cannot possibly exc out an existence
Now the only plan to be adopted and one
which will benefit both the stockmen and
the homesteader of the future is for the
Government to lease these range districts
to the stockman for a long period of time
The money derived from this source
could then be used il developing the
semi-arid districts by irrigation and
thousands Of acres of land could then be
settled by farmers who could make good
homes and raise good crops"
The closing sentence refers to what
will be held out to the small land holder.
To them it will be represented that in
each township containing thirty-stx sec
tiOns of $40 acres each of land the large
interests propose to lease upwards of two
thirds. The money derived from the rent
they will pay to the Government. win be
their argument. viii be devoted to the
irrigation of the remaining third, which
will be open to homesteading and thus
furnish wealth producing homes to those
who seek them.
Referring to the statement that If the
Government concludes to lease the lands,
the small cattle and sheep men will have
equal opportunity with the large cor
porations, it develops that plats of West
ern lands, particularly In Wyoming. have
been made by the large interests con-
cerned in the movement. These plats
show every stream in the arid districts
and the township and section in every
county through which the streams pass.
Every foot of land fed by these streams
is marked of, according to the informa-
tion obtained, so that at an instant's no
tice claims for leasing can be filed upon
the water-fed lands Immediately upon the
Government 8 announcement of its inten-
tion to lease the lands, and that they are
open to rental The combination of in
terests which is preparing to begin cam
paigu for the leasing of the lands is
therefore prepared Immediately to lease
and enter upon every available section of
water-fed land in the districts covered by
the charts.