The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-01

chaiTmen OF the Irrigation committees in
Senate and House. Both of these chair
nanships were given To Oregon Senator
Simon was placed at the head of the Irri-
cation Committee at his end OF the Capt.
toll and Representative Tongue was made
Chairman of the Irrigation Committee OF
the House. Senator Simon Gid little for
the cause. Senators Carter. WolcotJ. and
others leading the Irrigation forces
When his committee decided to report ia
vorably an irrigation measure, Mr.
Tongue at first refused to report II as
chairman. and other members of the
committee finally persuaded or rather
buiiied, him into carrying out the viii of
tie committee
Ar. Newlands introduced a bill which
with some slight notifications. viii be
the measure on which the irrigationists
viii combine next winter to force issue. At
the last session twenty-five irrigation bills
were introduced IN the House and almost
an equal number in the Senate, to say
not hing Of other measures which carried
irrigation work indirectly amonE their
provisions The &eWiaudS bill or one al
most exactly like II. viii Ice introduced in
/ both House and Senate, and viii Ice con
sidered as representing the consensus Of
opinion among those favoring the recIa-
nation OF arid lands by the Government,
and it viii also be adopted as the official
bin Of the National Irrigation Associa-
, tion, to be supported 10y all the vast in
terests represented therein. The provis-
ions % this bin are simple Briefly sum
married.. they are as follows
That all moneys received from the sale
OF pubic lands il Arizona. California,
! Idaho. Kansas. Montana. Nebraska. Ne
vada. New MeNi,o. North Dakota, Okla
hona. Oregon South Dakota Utah
/ 3EaSiin@tn.:. go - } omInz. except such
I money AS Is already set aside by law
for educational purposes. shall be depos-
tier as d special fund ia the Treasury, to
be known as the arid land reclamation
fund. This fund is 10 be expended Tor
the examination survey. and Construc-
ton Of reservoirs and other irrigation
works for the storage, diversion. and de
veiopment of waters. so that the same
may hc available for distribution 10 set
tiers and farmers for the reclamation cf
arid lands.
The Secretary Of the Interior is in
structed and empowered II continue sur
veys and examinations to determine the
I best places for storage reservoirs and
( other irrigation works. 70 sink test wells,
! 10 demonstrate the existence Of arteSian
water and to determine the practicabilitv
/
/ of diverting rivers by means of tunnels
or other works. He is also instructed in
/ his discretion to withdraw from public
! entry all lands required for these irrisa-
/ ton works and any agricultural lands
/ which it is proposed to irrigate, except as
/ such land may be taken under the Home
stead act though all land thus taken by
/ settlers is made subject 10 all the charges,
terms. and conditions Of the proposed ir-
TigatiOn law. The Secretary is empower
/ ed TO let contracts for the building OF
: these irrigation works. and hGmesteaders
/ are allowed TO make entries on the land
/ to be improved, in tracts not exceeding
| eighty acres. all such tracts 10 be sub
! Ject to the charges against the lana loE
! water subsequently, sup lied.
IL is also provided that the cost OF any
/ irrigation work and the maintenance
| thereof for ten years after completion
| shall be asceTtained, and the amount di-
| Vided in proportion to benefits per acre
| of the land which may be irrigated. and
| that amount, together with the further
sum of SIS an acre, shall be made q