Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1902-01-07
IRRIGATION MEASURES.
4 Proposed Law That viii
Make the Arid West a Land
of Happy Homes.


Representative Newlands, Of Nevada
secretary of the Arid Lands Com
mittee. representing all the arid and
semi-arid States and territories, has
sent out copy OF the arid land bill
as completed by that committee, and
requests suggestions from those IN
terested. A meeting of the entire
committe is to be held January 9TH,
when the bill will be gone over. The
hill as framed and perfected by the
subcommittee has met the approval
of all Representatives OF the Western
States who have seen 1t.
It's main provisions are: All money
received from the sale OF public lands
in the arid and seini-arid States and
territories. except 5 per cent set apart
for school purposes. is to go INTO the
arid land reclamation furd. to be used
in the survey construction and main
tenance OF irrigation works. The Sec
retarv OF the Interior is instructed 10
survey. locate and construct irriga
ton works, including artesian wells
and report to each session OF Congress
the result of such surveys. estimates
of cost. quantity OF land to be lrrl-
gated by each system. cost OF each
system constructed. etc. The Secre-
tary may withdraw from the public
lands required for irrigation works,
lands nder irrigation systems. to be
subject 10 entry only under the pro-
visions Of the homestead law. in lots
of not more than eighty acres.
The Secretary is authorized to let
contracts for construction. in whole
or part. OF al irrigation system, to be
paid for from the reclamation fund,
provided that no system shall be built
where the estimates show tlae the
cost would exceed $40 per acre OF the
lands rrigateabie tilerefrom and pro-
vided that no contract shall be letun-
til the necessary funds are available.
Eight hours shall constitute day :
work ard no ASiatic labor is to be
employed The entryran shall reclaim
the land Ter agricultural purposes and
c. ~, -,
60 i:.ta the reclamation fund. The
Secretary OF the Interior is authori-
Zed to use the reclamation fund to
maintain the systems constructed. pro-
vided that when the ma jority OF che
lands nuder a system are paid for the
management OF such system. excep,
the reservoirs. may be passed to the
owners OF the land. to be managed a
their own expense under condition:
laid down by the Secretary. The Il
tie TO all works Is 20 remain in til.
Government.
In case the water developed is NOR,
than sufficient. perpetual water right
may be SOLD to irrlgate private land
at not less than S an acre. but no
for more than eighty acres to one lane
owner. This money to go into TIL
reclamation iund
Where necessary to condemn land
for irrigation works. the Secretary i
authorized to institute such proceed
ings in the Federal courts and ma
Tor the lands IRON the reclamation
fund. and it shall be the duty of tn
Attorney General to institute such nro
ceedIngs when requested by the Sec
, rotary. All proceedings must coniori
as near as possible to the proceeding
IN like cases in the State or Territor
where such proceedings are held
Nothing in the bill is intended t
conflict or affect in any way the law
of and State or Territory regardir
the control appropriation. use or di.
tribu:ion Of the waters rendered avail
able under the reclamation bill. prc
vided that the right to use the waite
acquired under this bill shall be De,
petua!, and beneficial use stall be tn
basis measure limit OF right. Tt
Secretary OF the Interior is author
zed to perform such acts and max
such rules and regulations as are ne,
essary to carry the law into effect.