Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-01-30
The Irrigation MEASURE
Report ofSanator Hansbrough's Com.
mittee Tells What the Bill Intends
to Accomplish.

Some of the Features of the Measure
Held to BE Beneficial to the Whole
Country.
Washington, Jan. Ex-senator
Hansbrough has made a favorable re-
port on the irrigation bill agreed upon
by the senators and representatives
from the irrigation states, which was
introduced in the senate by Mr.. Hans
brough as a substitute for the bill pre-
scented by himself early in the season.
The report says:
The bill appropriates the proceeds
from the sales of public lands, amount
ing on the average for the past two
years to nearly $3,00O,000 annually,
and creates a reclamation, fund, from
which fund the secretary of the inter
ior is authorized to make payment for
necessary examinations and surveys
and to construct irrigation works for
the reclamation of the arid and semi
arid lands in the states and territories
named in the bill. The cost of such
works is to be assessed against the
lands benefited and collections made in
ten annual installments, the moneys
thus paid going into the reclamation
fund. By this method the fund will
constantly be replenished, making ir-
rigation practically a self-sustaining
enterprise, and according to estimates
by the geological survey, ultimately
putting money in to the treasury.
It is also provided that the cost of
operation and maintenance of reser-
voirs and irrigation work shall be paid
from theirrigation fund, but when pay-
ments are made on the major portion
OF the lands irrigated under any pro
ject, the management and operation Of
all works, except reservoirs and the
works necessary for their operation
and protection, shall pass to the own
ers of the land, to be maintained at
their expense under rules prescribed
by the secretary. Authority is given
for the withdrawal from public entry
OF such lands as are required for reser-
volrs and canal sites and the secretary
is directed to restore to public entry
any of the. lands which are not re-
quired lot the purposes for which they
were withdrawn.
The bill provides that the secretary
shall give the limit of area per entry.
in each Of the irrigation projects n
dertaken under the provisions of the
bill, the minimum area being forty
acres and the maximum one hundred
and sixty acres. The fact is recog-
nized that in some portions 81 the
country forty acres is sufficient for the
support of the average sized family,
as for instance in Arizona and New
Mexico, where fruit and vegetables are
the chief products grown on irrigated
lands. In more northerly climes,
however, where grain and forage for
stock are grown, 100 acres would be
necessary for the support Of a family.
Provision is also made for the ex-
tension of water rights to lands in pri-
vate ownership upon such terms an
may in the Judgment OF the secretary
be deemed just and equitable; no right
to the use of the water, however, shall
the use of the water, however, shall
be sold. for lands in private ownership
to tracts exceeding 100 acres to any
one person, and no such water right
shall permanently attach to the land
until all payments are made for such
rights. In addition to compliance
with the homestead laws. which in
part are made applicable to the lands
affected by the provisions of this bill,
the entryman shall reclaim such lands
for agricultural purposes and shall a
all charges before receiving patent.
The communication clause of the home
stead laws is not made applicable to
lands entered under this act, the OBJ
ject being to prevent speculation.
BY section 8 it will appear that there
is to be M interference with state or
territorial laws on the subject Of irri-
cation, and the right to the use of
water is made appurtenant to the lands
irrigated, beneficial use being the basis,
the measure and the limit Of the right.
1t will be recalled that under the act
OF May II, 1900, known as the free
homestead law, a provision was in
serted to the effect that in case the e
ceipts from the sales OF public lands
should be insufficient for the support
OF agricultural colleges in the several
states and territories, the deficiency
should be provided directly from the
treasury. A like provision has been
inserted in the pending measure.
Provision is also made for full and
complete reports at the beginning OF
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