Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-06-18
President Roosevelt Gave the Weight
of His Influence to Western In
terests and Won.
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Bill Appropriates All Moneys Received
From Sale of Public Land to
Irrigation Work.

Washington, June 13.-The house to-
day passed the irrigation bill by vote
of 146 to 55.
Many amendments were offered but
only one, except those offered by the
committee, was adopted. 1t was of &
minor character. The bill has already
passed the senate. The friends of
the measure greeted the announce
ment of its passage with a round CT
applause.
Washington, June 14.-Without a
single objection the senate today con-
Cured in the house amendments to the
general irrigation bill and the measure
now lacks only the signature of the
president to become law. The sigma
ture will probably be affixed early
next week.
The bill as passed creates a recla-
nation fund from the sale of public
lands in Arizona, California. Colorado.
Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Mexico. North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming, less
the amount paid in fees to local land
office, and the per cent due the states
under existing laws for educational
purposes. This reclamation fund is to
be used for the construction and main
tenance of irrigation works in the state
and territories enumerated. Provi-
sion is made for the payment out of
the treasury of any deficiencies in the
allowance to agricultural colleges, ow-
ing to this disposition of public lands
The secretary of the interior is au-
thorized by section to examine, sur
vey and construct irrigation works and
report the cost thereof to congress at
each session. The bill continues:
Withdrawal of Lands.
Sec. 8. That the secretary of the in
terror shall, before giving the public
notice provided for in section of this
act, withdraw from public entry the
lands required for any irrigation
works contemplated under the pro-
visions of this act, and shall restore
to public entry any of the lands so
withdrawn when, in his judgment,
such lands are not required for the
purpose Of this act; and the secretary
of the interior is hereby authorized
at or Immediately prior to the time of
beginning the surveys for any con-
templated irrigation works, to with
draw from entry except under the
homestead laws any public lands be.
lieved to be susceptible of irrigation
from said works; provided that all
lands entered and entries made under
the homestead laws within areas SO
withdrawn during such withdraw
shall be subject to all the provisions,
limitations, charges, terms, and condi
tions of this act; that said surveys
shall be prosecuted diligently to com.
pletion, and upon the completion there
Of. and the necessary maps plans anI
estimates of cost, the secpeitary of the
interior shall determine whether OF
not said project is practicable and ad
viseable and IL determined TO be i'm.
practicable or unadviseable he shall
thereupon restore said land TO entry;
that public lands which ii is proposed
to irrigate by means Of any contem
plated works shall be subject to entry
only under the provisions of tne home
stead laws In tracts of not less than AZ
nor more than 160 acres, and shall be
subject to the limitations, charges
terms and conditions herein provided:
provided, that the commutation pro
visions OF the homestead laws shall
not apply to entries made under this
act.
Letting Of Contracts.
Sec. 4. That upon the determination
by the secretary Of the interior that
any irrigation project is practicable
he may cause to be let contracts for
the construction of the same, in whole
or in part, providing the necessary
funds TO complete the work are avail
able in the reclamation fund, and
thereupon he shall give public notice
of the lands irrigable under such pro
ject. and limit of area per entry. which
limit shall represent the acreage which
in the opinion Of the secretary. may
be reasonably required for the sup
port of a family upon the lands in
question; also of the charges which
shall be made per acre upon the said
entries, and upon lands in private ow
nership, which may be irrigated by
the waters OF the said irrigation pro
ject, and the number of annual install
ments, not exceeding ten. in which
such charges shall be paid and the