The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-10
HOUSE TALKS
OF ARID LANDS
Western Members Urge
Their Reclamation.
WANT RESERVOIRS
AT HEADWATERS
Amendments to Be Offered for
River and HarbOr Bill,

Washington. Jan. 9.-The question OF
reclamation Of arid lands came up in
the house today during the discussion
of the river and harbor bill Members
from the Rocky mountain states urged
the necessity Of action in this direction
NJ. MondeH of Wyoming produced
figures to show that If the money ex-
pended upon the Missouri and Missis
sippi had been used TO reclaim the arid
lands of the west it would have been
sufficient to build comprehensive reser-
voirs at the head of those streams
which would have prevented floods and
insured navigation throughout the
year From this he argued that the
government should Immediately enter
upon the reclamation of arid lands IN
the west
MI Bell of Colorado argued along the
same lines and gave notice OF an
amendment he would offer to apprO-
pirate $500, 900 for reservoirs at the
neadwaters Of the Platte and Arkansas
rivers.
Mr.. NewIands Of Nevada spoke in IA
VOr of a provision in the Dill for reser-
voirs at the headwaters of rivers from
which arid lands could be irrigated He
insisted that il was the duty OF the
government TO promote the use of
water for irrigation as much as FOR
navigation.
Wilson Asks Information.
Mr.. Wilson of Idaho asked why. as
the committee proposed to repeal the
project for "A boat railway from The
Dalles rapids to Cello Falls, Wash, II
had not provided for the alternative
proposition Of the engineers for a sys-
TEN of locks and dams.
ssT2efHancp system IF locks and
dams would cost $4,000. Co., replied Mr..
Burton. We provide for an expendit-
ure of about s., 600, coo at the mouth Of
the Columbia in this bill If the 81
600 COO We're added the title of this bill
would have to be changed to bill for
the development Of the Columbia
river.
Little progress was made in the con-
Sideration of the measure today. In
Dill carrying such vast sum for local
l improvements many localities are
bound to be disappointed. and there is
generally considerable soreness among
mem bers who fail To get what they
want. This feeling Outcropped in sew
eTal places today, the disappointed
members refusing 10 allow any limit
to be placed on the general debate. It
extended through Jut the day. being
seemingly no nearer conclusion at ad
jOurnment than when il started.
missouri improvements 4 dlluI6S
Mr.. Burton took the floor to make
his preliminary statement in support Of
the measure
In reply To a question by Mr.. Hep
burn. Mr.. Burton said the sundry civil
bin would carry about SS,O00,000 on
contracts previously authorized. The
total appropriations for rivers and
harbors for the fiscal year would there
fore aggregate about S43.000000. He de-
voted an hour 10 giving the committee
reasons for abolishing the Missouri
Z river commission. over S1Q0, 100000 had
with only trivial development of naVl-
cation II had less commerce today
I than il had thirty years ago.
I Mr.. Clark of Missouri asked If the
committee would oppose an amendment
/ Ia allow the Riparian owners along the
[ Missouri river To build bikes OF wind
/ dams Mr.. Burton replied that for him
self he would not oppose such an
amendment He thought owners could
best determine what should be done. In
order that the Missouri should not be
entirely neglected. ne added. the Dill
carries $500 0o0 for that portion Of the
river below SiuoX City and $4,000 FOR
/ that portion above the city.
Would the gentleman oppose an
amendment 20 confer upon the secre-
[ tary of war authority to use the appro-
! priation TO cOnfine the Missouri river
/ within its present limits? -asked Mr.
} Hepburn.
Il should hesitate to accept such an
amendment" replied Mr. BurAoh-
would regard that as impraeticaD'e oW-
an a.l