The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1902-07-18
Carson Letter.

to the provisions of the irrigation law,
an outline of which gave in my letter
published in the COURIER July 4, will
state that I took my facts from the
Literary Digest, an impartial and re-
liable publication. However, since
then have read dispatch from Wash
ington which states that the law con-
tains other provisions than those out
lined, and that the effect. of such fur
ther provisions is that Nevada will
'.get her share.n | have not yet seen
the bill, and can only argue the facts
stated in the dispatch referred to. 1t
says: "Under section 8 of the irriga-
ton act the Secretary of the Interior
must, where practicable or feasible
expend the major portion of the funds
arising from the sale of public lands
within each State and Territory for
the benefit of such State or Territory;
the rest can be expended anywhere in
the arid region, and even the major
portion of the proceeds of sales in any
State or Territory may be temporarily
used elsewhere for period not exceed
ing ten years. Commenting on this
provision, the dispatch says: "Under
this bill the Secretary of the Interior has
discretionary power to expend the en-
tire fund, aggregating at present near
ly three million dollars annually, in
Nevada, or any other State or Terri
tory subject to the condition that 81
per cent. thereof shall within ten years
be paid back for the benefit of the State
or Territory from which it is derived,
provided such State or territory has
practicable and feasible projects. The
widest. discretion was purposeiy given
to the Secretary of the Interior in order
that the funds derived from sales of
public lands without regard to State
lines might be expended where irriga-
tion development should be most
needed"
1t may seem incredible, but it is
nevertheless true, that King Edward
has the right to sell the British Navy
every British vessel, and every Brit
ish gun; he can shatter the Empire,
and without breaking any law. No
king of England ever tried, but sup
pose they did? So, with the Secretary
of the Interior and his rights under the
irrigation bill. Suppose he should
take the three million receipts and ex-
pend it in Nevada, or any other State
or Territory; or suppose even that he
should take any Utah money into Ne
vada. If he should take any consider
able part of the receipts from other
States for use in Nevada, arrangements
must be made to pay 81 per cent. of it
back within ten years, and very likely
with interest. l don't know what
guarantees the Secretary may want as
security, but if he wants any, who is
going on the bond? | must insist that
my review of the bill as published July
4 is dispassionate, full and fair re-
view.
But the fact that Nevada may not
reap immediate benefit from the pro-
visions of the bill, should not in the
slightest degree detract from the credit
that Mr.. Newlands is entitled to for it's
passage. Under the provisions of the
bill between 10000, 900 and 10000, 900
acres of land will be reclaimed from
their desert waste, and inhabited with
in ten or twenty years. A small Re
public in the arid west will arise, in
habited with people like Nevadans and
having mutual sympathies with us,
and we are bound to benefit from it.
Nor is this all. The building up of the
arid west will attract immigration to
Nevada, and will increase sales of
public lands until the receipts are suf-
ficient to make beginning in the con-
servation of flood waters, and with a
beginning the growth will be rapid.
The very commital of the nation to
the policy of irrigation will create
demand for public lands, and increase
the receipts, and such moneys are
available for the purpose of water
storage. l remember Republican stump
speakers twenty years ago, arguing in
behalf of the high protective tariff,
claimed we had enough free trade
amongst our own 60,0O0,000 people,
having about that number then. They
wanted to build wall around the
country 80 high that no pauper made
goods in Europe Gould get over it, and
the people used to shout themselves
hoarse over the sentiments. BY re-
claiming 100000 or more acres of
land in the arid west, over 10000, 900
souls will be added amongst whom we
can enjoy free trade-ten million souls
demanding the products of the factor
les and looms of the East, and prac-
tically not interfering in the Middle