, 1902-06-14
SATURDAY. JUNE IA. 1902.
THE BILL.

Again has the Wyoming delegation |
and particularly is the thanks OF the |
arid west due to Congressman Frank
w. Mondell for his able. and successful. |
fight for h irrigation bill. The bat
tie in the senate wes an easy victory
for Senators Warren and Cha. k. but i
the house there were many contlictlIe
and opposing interests which had T.
be pacified and harmonized.
1t has been a battle of the giants OF
the west and the arid region has been
successful.
The strong fight really began whea
Senator Warren had it in his power to
defeat the river and harbor bill three
years ago, at which time he gracefully
yielded at the earnest solicitation OF
powerful friends in the east. Later
the fight was again taken up and Sen
ator Carter. backed by Wyoming's sen,
ators and the entire arid region, killed
the river and harbor bill. carrying APP
preparations to the extent Of $1,000
900. This opened the eyes of the peo-
pie Of the east and they come to real
lie the necessity of granting some
thing to the people of the west.
In the senate Senator Clark of Wyo.
ming was in charge of the bill, and in
the house Congressman Mondell was
accorded the honor, although neither
rs %h1 narflannv. r,op<;rraI bod tho
honor of being chairman Of the com,
mittee in charge. 1t was their ability
which gave them precedence.
Mr.. Mondell's speech was a carefully
prepared argument and took up irriga-
ton in all its phases. Irrigation was
traced from its infancy and the argu-
ments of the men of the east we're com
pletely met. The speech will be pub.
lished in full later.
A synopsis of the bill follows:
Section / creates a trust fund. to be
known as the reclamation fund. of the
moneys received from the sales of the
public lands III the states n terri
tories enumerated, less the amounts
paid to local land officers and the 5
per cent thereof due to the states un-
der existing laws for educational and
other purposes. The reclamation fund
is to be used for the construction and
maintenance of irrigation works in the
states and territories enumerated.
Provisions similar to that contained in
the free-homes bill are made for the
payment of the sums required for the
maintenance Of agricultural colleges
and schools Of mechanic arts.
Section 2 authorizes the secretary
to examine. survey. and construct
works Of the character contemplated
in section 1, and to report to congress
at each regular session fully all fact
relative thereto, including costs OF
works.
. Section 3 authorizes the secretary
of the interior to withdraw from public
entry lands needed for the works con
templated, and provides that lands
which it is proposed to irrigate shall
be entered only under the provisions
of the homestead law. with a require
ment of five years residence. in tracts
not less than 40 nor more thar 16C
acres, as shall be decided pom by the
secretary of the interior.
Section 4 provides Tor the letting OF
contracts for the works contemplate
when the necessary funds are avail
able in the reclamation fund. n for
the giving OF public notice by the sec
rotary of the interior, upon the under
taking of a project. Of the limit of the
area per entry mot less than 40 or tc
exceed 100 acres). of the charges
which will be made per acre upon the
entries for their reclamation, and up
on lands in private ownership contigu
Gus thereto which may be irrigated
and the manner and times at which
payments shall be made.
Section S defines the duties and OBJ
that he shall make his home upon his
land; that he shall reclaim the same
and shall not receive patent thereto,
until he shall have paid the charges
apportioned against the same by the
government. 1t also provides that nc
right to the use Of water for land in
private ownership shall be sold for a
tract exceeding 100 acres to any one
landowner, and no such right shall per
manently attach until all payments
therefor are made. and no such sale
shall be made to any landowner i'm
less he be an actual bona fide resident
on such land or occupant thereof re,
siding in the neighborhood of said
land"
Section 6 authorizes the secretary to
use the reclamation fun for the op-
GRAFTON n maintenance Of the works
constructed Under the provisions of the
act. but provides that when the pay
ments are made for a major portion of
the lands irrigated then the manage
ment n operation of the works shall
pass to the owners of the land irrigat-
ed, to be maintained at their expense
under such rules and regulations as
may be provided by the secretary of
the interior. The ownership and op-
Grafton Of all reservoirs, however, re-