Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-06-28
REEDER's IRRIGATION BILL.


Irrigation bill by vote of 146 to 90.
Many amendments were offered, but
only one, except those offered by the
committee. was adopted. The bill
has already passed the senate. The
friends of the measure greeted the
announcement of its passage with
round of applause.
1t would be only fair to give Mr..
Reeder large amount of credit in
authorizing the passage of this bill,
because of his persistent efforts in
the face of apparent strong opposi-
tion manifested in this session of the
house. He fathered many of the
principal features of the measure,
and particularly the idea to guard
against land grabbing by corporations.
AT the commencement of the ses-
sion the leaders of both the Republic
can and Democratic sides really scott
ed at the idea that any legislation
in favor of irrigation would have any
considerable following" said Mr..
Reeder. ''rhe victory marks new
era in the history of the development
of this country, as the homestead law
practically became imperative ten
years ago.
's,This irrigation bill is a new home
stead law that will furnish homes fer
the millions of young people in the
country who are either drifting to the
cities to enter into competition at low
wages or leaving our states for British
America to find better opportunities
for homes.
Through irrigation the arid West
will afford homes for at least 1000. 900
people and thus create one of the
grandest markets for Eastern manu-
facturers. 1t will afford far greater
market, in my opinion, than the coun-
tries on the other side of the globe.
''This bill creates a law more far
reaching in effect and more advanta-
geOus to the American citizen and to
the nation than any piece of legisla-
tion that has been dealth with by
congress for years. Its effect will be
growing so years from now"
Mr.. Reeder made a speech on this
proposition which received hearty APP
plause. All members of the Kansas
delegation voted for the passage of
the bill except Mr.. Miller, who was
absent, but paired In its favor.
The bill as passed creates a reclaim
alton fund from the sale of public
lands in Arizona, California, Colorado,
Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon South Dakota,
Utah, Washington and Wyoming, less
the amount paid to local land office
and per cent due the state under ex-
listing laws for educational purposes,
the reclamation fund to be used for
the construction and maintenance of
irrigation works in the states and ter
ritorieS enumerated. Provision is
made for the payment out of the
treasuary of any deficiency in the al
lowances to agricultural colleges ow-
ing to this disposition of public lands.
The secretary of the interior is au-
thorized to eximine, survey and con-
struct the irrigation works and report
the cost thereof to congress at each
session.
Section four provides for the letting
of contracts of the works contemplate
ed in sections where the necessary
funds are available in the reclama-
ton fund for such section.
Section FIVE provides that mo right
to the use of the water for land in
private ownership shall be sold for a
tract exceeding 16O acres to any one
land owner, and no such right shall
permanently attach until all pay
ments therefor are made. and no such
sale shall be made to any land owner
until he be an actual bonafide resi-
dent on such land or occupant thereof
residing in the neighborhood of said
land.'
Section six authorizes the secretary
to use the reclamation fund for the