The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-12
BILL TO WATER
ARID LANDS
Is Now in Shape to be Passed
Without Disagreement
CLAUSE OF STATE CONTROL
HAS BEEN MODIFIED AND BILL
CAREFULLY DRAWN.
Especial correspondencel


TIIASHINGToN. April s.-For the
w first time in the history Of the
effort to secure national aid for
irrigation, the friends Of the project
have united on a measure which is to
be pressed to early consideration in the
house. The bill upon which these inter-
ests have concentrated their efforts was
reported TO the house by Representa-
tive MOnden of Wyoming, representing
the arid land committee. The bill as
reported is based upon the measure re-
Gently passed by the senate, but con-
tains several amendments which were
embodied in the original house bill In
addition to these are several amend
ments intended to meet the criticisms
which have been made against the bill
since it was first introduced.
One Of the most essential changes is
the positive provision for the with
drawal from entry, except under the
homestead laws, of all Of the lands
which may be irrigated under a pro-
posed project. Another amendment
provides that no water right shall be
sold to any one who is not a bona fide
resident or occupant Of the land 10 be
irrigated. as well as the owner thereof.
An amendment has been adopted to the
so-called state control clause, TO
meet the objections Of those who have
criticised that provision in the original
bill as being too sweeping in its eff
feet. This amendment is believed to
be entirely satisfactory to all of the
friends Of irrigation, and, notably, to
the administration. As amended, the
bill win unquestionably receive the
hearty. enthusiastic and united sup
port Of the advocates OF reclamation.
Measure Carefully Drawn.
It is claimed by the friends of the
amended measure that it is the most
carefully guarded piece Of land legisla-
ton which has ever been presented 10
congress, and that it assures the occu-
pancy Of the land irrigated under its
provisions in small tracts by actual
home builders.
It is estimated that the proceeds from
the sales Of public lands which are TO
form a fund for carrying out the
contemplated work, will. for the imme~
date future. be from $2000,000 to $780,
600 per annum, and as the irrigated
lands are sold the amount Will increase
so that ultimately a considerably larger
sum per annum may be available. 1t
is estimated that the entire Increase
per annum in the cultivated area OF the
nation of lands irrigated under the pro-
visions OF the act and by private par
ties as well, will not be more than l.
900. 600 or 1900, 600 acres per annum aft
er the system is we'll inauguratec and
much less for first few years after the
operation Of the act; a very small in
crease of cultivated area when It is
remembered that for the last thirty
years the average annual increase in
the acreage devoted TO wheat, corn and
oats alone has been 100000 acres,
which rate of increase has fallen of
considerably the past few years. and
will continue in the future, owing to
the fact that the humid public lands
are practically all exhausted.
Referring TO the cost to the general
government under the proposed meas
ure, Mr.. Mondell says: The most ex-
aggerated statements have been made
as to the probable aggregate outlay.
As matter Of fact. not penny viii
b taken from the national treasury Of
the sum raised by taxation.
Expenditures Are Limited.
THE expenditures under the bill are
limited to the proceeds Of the sales of
public land in the states affected by the
bill, and this expenditure is principally
in the nature of & loan, as the settler
lays DdEk 10 TIE EDN lltC NBot
of the irrigation works. The only eX-
penditures under the bill, not return
able, would be certain items of admin
istration. surveys and examinations Of
projects, and It would be a high esti-
mate to place these expenditures at
$500. 600 per annum after the system Is
we'll inaugurated.
1T is true that some will insist that
the theory Of reimbursement VIII not
work out we'll and the federal govern
ment would in the course Of time be
asked to relieve the settlers from pay
ment for their lands and water rights.
Nothing Of the kind is likely to occur,
because both the settlers under private
irrigation systems in the arid region
and those hoping for extensions in the
government systems. would be unit
in demanding that the payments pro-
vided for in the bill be made; the for
mer class because his irrigated farm
would decrease in value II the govern
ment furnished its water free. the lat
ter because interested in swelling the
fund in the hope Of securing the con-
struction Of works in his vicinity.
I'm brief. the measure provides a sys-
TEN under which the arid west is to re-
claim itself without cost TO. or burden
upon, the people of the country at
large. and the reclamation will take
place so gradually that the effect Of the
Increased acreage viii be impercepti-
bic. in fact. many believe that il will
not be nearly rapid enough 10 meet the
growing demand Of our increasing pop
ulatiOn."
BLUE EYES AND JAGs.