Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-07-25
Mr.. Newland Returns.
Nevada's Congressman Talks of
the Work Done at the Last
Session,

Jay from washington, where he was
detained some days subsequent to
the adjournment of Congress by i'll.
ness. He expressed himself as great
ly pleased to be back in Nevada and
remarked that it was refreshing to
breath the bracing air of the noun
taias after the enervating heat of
Washington.
THE IRRIGATION BILL.
AS to the irrigation bill Mr.. New
lands said to Reno Journal reporter
that there seemed to be a mistaken
impression on the part of some that
the Secretary of the Interior could
only expend in Nevada the receipts
from the sales of public lands in this
State, and that as these amounted to
only about 81, 900 annually, Nevada
would get little benefit from the law.
This is mistake. The bill creates
one redemption fund for thirteen
States and three Territories, being
the States and Territories west of
the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas and
Oklahoma, which are alse included.
The receipts from all these States
amount to about 50, 900, 900 annually,
and as the bill covers also into the
fund this and last years receipts the
moneys now in the fund reach at
least S., 900, 000 AS lands are brought
into reclamation and sold for the cost
of reclamation, this fund will in
crease until it reaches IS, 900, 900 or
more annually. So that in the next
thirty years it is altogether likely
that $3.50, 100000 will be available
for irrigation works. OF this money
the Secretary has the power to ex-
pend a fraction less than one-hall
anywhere in the arid region that he
sees fit. He could spend it all in Ne.
vada or any other State or Territory
if he chose. The other half he could
spend temporarily for period of ten
years wherever he thought best, sub
ject to the condition that at least
half of the proceeds of public lands
in each State and Territory shall be
within each period of ten years ex-
pended in irrigation works therein.
This was intended to prevent the
Secretary from absolutely neglecting
the irrigation interests Of any of the
States or Territories affected, but the
bill is so elastic as to facilitate work
where it is most needed.
WHERE COMMENCED.
AS to the place in this State where
work would be commenced and when,
Mr.. Eewlands said 81 am unable
to say. The Geological Survey has
its surveys of the Truckee, Carson
and Humboldt further along than
those of any other valleys. have
also requested it to take up the study
Of the Walker river and the Muddy
and Virgin rivers in Lincoln county.
| have had talks with the Secretary
of the Interior, the Director of the
Geological survey and the Chief Hy.
drographer on the subject of early
work in Nevada, but they have not
all the information necessary at pres
ent. After the plans are fully pre-
pared they will be submitted to a
board of the best hydraulic engi-
neers of the country. Their purpose
is to do thorough work and work that
will be far-reaching in its benefit.
am inclined to think, however, thai
as their engineering work is nearer
completion in Nevada than else
where, Nevada will be one of the
earliest beneficiaries OF this great
measure.
NEVADA WAR CLAIMS.
| AS to the Nevada war claims, Mr.
! Newlands said that the Omnibus bill
referred them for adjustment to the
Treasury Department, which had the
right, if it saw fit, to take the opin
ion of the Court of Claims. He wa.
in hopes, however, that they would
be adjusted without further delay.
RENO PosToFFIcE.
On the question OF the Reno post
office, MIR. Newlands said that thu
appropriation was 100000, of which
50, 900 was available for q site. HI
thought it probable that in Angus
an Examiner OF the Treasury Depart
/ ,nant will no ant here TO look Mt tn,