Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-14
TO RECLAIM ARID LANDS
Commercial Club Asks Lawmakers to Lend
Helping Hand.
IRRIGATION IS THE LOGICAL REMEDY
voIuminous Resolutions Are 10 lie
Submitted by Secretary TIT to
the Nebraska House
and senate.

Secretary UT Of the Commercial club is
preparing a memorial on the subject OF
irrigation to be presented to the senate and
house OF representatives Of the state OF Ne
braska TO be adopted by those bodies and
forwarded to the congress Of the United
States.
The memorial recites that 1t is estimated
that not less than 100, 900, 900 acres OF the
country can be reclaimed by irrigation; that
the expense OF the enterprise Is beyond the
ability of private capital; that the benefits
TO be derived from the reclamation of the
land would affect every section OF the coun-
try and open up opportunities for millions
OF home builders and that the problem can
only be solved by the Inauguration of a
broad national policy and a fixed adherence
90 fundamental principles which should con-
troll that policy.
Resolutions Arc Adopted.
The resolutions are as follows:
BE It resolved. That we urge the adop-
tlon of the following complete and com
prehensive national policy for the prcserva-
tion, reclamation and settlement Of the
First--All the remaining public lands to
be held and administered as a trust for
the benefit OF the whole people Of the
United states, and no grants If the title
20 any OF the public lands to be hereafter
made to any state or territory or TO any
on the land
second--Thc preservation and develop
mont of our national resources by the
construction Of storage reservoirs py the
federal government for flood protectioh,
and to save for use IN az OF naNisation
run 10 waste and cause overflow and de-
struction.
government of storage reservoirs and irrl-
cation works wherever necessary to furnish
water for the reclamation and settlement
No. avid ,,ttl,1 IaN.E
Fourth-The preservation of the forests
and reforestation Of denuded forest areas
as sources OF water supply, the conseryS-
ods Of irrlgatio and distribution, and the
Increase of the water resources of the arid
region by the investigation and develop
ment of underground supplies. and the
united ownership of land and water
Resolved. That we respectfully pS;.,tuy urge dtS
that an appropriation of not less than
$3.50 900 should be made annually for irriga-
lands with plans and estimates of cost Of
reservoirs, canals and irrigation works
necessary for. their reclamation and for
sinking experimental ,artesian wells, and
100000 for the irrigation Investigations Of
the Department of Agriculture. -
Resolved, That we likewise urge upon
congress that the national policy above set
forth should be fully installed without de,
lay and that liberal appropriations should
of storage reservoirs and irrigation works
and for forest preservation and reforesta.
tion In accordance with said policy and
that such appropriation should be COM
mensurate In amount with the great ma
tional interests involved and the magnitude
pf the results to be accomplished.
Resolved, That we earnestly urge upon
congress and every member thereof, re-
gardless OF their political affiliation. theii
Immediate attention and favorable action
upon this matter which concerns the wei.
fare of millions of people of these United
States.
be requested to forward TO each of oui
senators and representatives In congress 8
copy of this memorial and joint resolu'
tlOn,