, 1902-03-10
A FAVORABLE REPORT
ON THE NEWLAND'S BILL FOR RE-
CLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
IN THE HOUSE.
Representative MondeIi Makes Reply
to the Objections Made Against the
Measure by the Nebraska Repre-
sentatives-BilI Providese for the
Sinking of Artesian Wells.

tldl " III IttDubllt III ll estlIttl
tive Mondell on Friday presented a re-
port on the general irrigation bill
which was framed by western mem
bers. and which is now pending in ON
gress. The report presented is a COM
prehensiye history of irrigation. and
will prove a valuable publication for
reference in irrigation legislation.
In the report Mr., Mondell gives a
general review of existing conditions
in the west, a history of the bill under
consideration, and a detailed e%xplana-
ton of each of its provisions. He pro-
nounces the bill worthy of support. and
in behalf of the measure SAYS:
Assuming that the three great par-
ties were honest in their declaration in
favor of federal aid in national devel-
opment by irrigation of arid lands. and
that the president. who approached the
ship and with thorough knowledge of
the situation, is correct in his position,
and that a careful study of the present
situation warrants and demands the
beginning at this time of national as
sistance in this mighty work. the bill in
question is defendable from any stand
point. If there be any reasonable basis
of criticism against it. it would be from
the standpoint of the region vitality af.
fected, and on the ground that so care
ful had been the trainers of the meas
ure to safeguard it in line with the ira
ditional American policy of home-build.
ing and small land holdings. of conser-
yatiye systematic and harmonious de-
velopment of the arid region and the
recognition of the most perfect princi-
pies governing the use of water in irri-
cation. as demonstrated by centuries
of experience, that it does not hold
out the inducements to rapid settle
ment or promise the stimulated in
crease in irrigated area which some
might wish; but all these possible criti-
cisms, If there be foundation for them.
are of errors on virtues side"
Mr.. Mondell says the American pio-
cluded in the bill. about 7. 500. 900 acres
of land. and has expended thereon a
sum estimated at 5000, OOO. 900. The
acreage under irrigation in Nebraska
is given at 14S 53S: South Dakota AZ
O1O: Wyoming, COS 942.
The report of the irrigation commit
tee says that the territory affected by
the bill is nearly one!half the area of
the United States, and that in the six
teen arid land states there are over
535, 900. 900 acres, or more than one
sixteenth of the area of the country. of
public land subject to entry. OF this
vast tract only 10, 900. 900 acres will pro-
the wide extent of the arid districts.
Mr.. Mondell points out that with
such q vast dominion no other than the
government can deal adequately with
thee problem of irrigation. He also
shows that irrigation long ago passed
the experimental stage and that its
great advantages have been establish
ed in this country and abroad. The
bill, he says, proposes no taxation to
carry out the irrigation project, the en-.
tire expense being derived from the
sale of public lands in the states to be
irrigated.
In ren,v tn the obiections made
AGAINST the measure nv the Nebrask
in M press. that as
the bi,, stood If would have tho effect
If nassed. of considerably reducing the
volume of wafer in the Platte river
flowing through Nebraska Mr.. Mopdell
saws. "The bill provides for the sink
ing Of artesian wells. It is boped that
these test wells will demonstrate the
existence Of an extensive artesian ba-
sin throughout western Kansas and
Nebraska as well as elsewhere in the
region. The semi.arid states which
receive their waters from the arid
mountain states will not only have the
benefit of all the storage and the diver.