The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-06-28
TEXT OF THE NEW IRRIGATION LAW WHICH WILL
MAKE THE ARID REGIONS LOSS0M AS THE ROSE

NIL reservoirs ana lrE1SuuOn WWAs
constructed under the proviaions OF
this act: Provided, Thar when the
payments required by this act are
are made for the major portion OF the
lands irrigated from the waters OF
any Of the works herein provided Tor.
then the management and operation
Of such irrigation works shall pass to
the owners Of the lands irrigated
pense under such form Of 0rganixA-
ton and under such rules and resula-
tons as may be acceptable to the
secretary of the interior: Provided.
That the title to and the manage
ment and operation Of the reservoirs
and the works necessary for their pro-
lection shall remain In the government
until otherwise provided by Congress.
Sec. 7. That where In carrying out
the provisions Of this act 1t becomes
necessary to acquire any rights or
property, the secretary Of the interior
Is hereby authorized to acquire the
same for the United States by pur-
chase or by condemnation under ju-
dicial process, and to pay from the
| reclamation fund the sums which may
be needed for that purpose. and 1t
shall be the duty Of the attorney gen.
eral Of the United States upon every
application of the secretary Of the
interior, under this act, to cause pro-
ceedings to be commenced for condem-
nation within thirty days from the re
ceipt Of the application At the depart
ment Of justice.
Sec. 8. That nothing in this act
shall be construed AZ affecting or In
tended to affect or to In any way In
terfere with the laws OF any state or
territory relating to the control, appro-
priation. use or distribution Of water
used in irrigation, or any vested
right acquired Hereunder, and the
secretary of the interior, In carrying
out the provisions Of this act. shall
proceed In conforming with such laws,
and nothing herein shall many way af-
feet any right Of the state or of the fed
eral government or Of any land own
er, appropriation or user Of water in,
to or from any Interstate stream or
the waters thereof: Provided, that
the right to the use Of water acquired
under the provisions of this act shall
be appurtenant to the land irrigated,
and beneficial use shall he the basis,
the measure and the limit of the right.
Sec. 0.-That 1t is hereby declared to
,, be the duty Of the secretary Of the In
terror in carrying out the provisions
of this act, SO far rs the same may be
practicable and subject to the exist
ence of feasible irrigation projects, to
expend the major portion Of the funds
arising from. the sale Of public lands
any particular state or territory here
inbefore named for the benefit Of arid
and seml-arid lands within the limits
of such state or territory; Provided,
that the secretary may temporarily
use such portion of said funds for the
benefit Of arid or semi arid lands in
any particular state Of territory here
inbefore named as he may deem advis-
able, but when 30 used the excess shall
be restored to the fund as soon as
practicable, to the end that ultimately.
and in any event, within each ten-year
period after the passage Of this act.
the expenditures for the benefit OF the
said states or territories shall be
eQualized according TO the proportions
and subject to the conditions as TO
practicabillty and feasibility afore-
said.
Sec. TO- That the secretary of the
interior is hereby authorized to per-
form any and all acts and to make
such rules and regulations as may be
necessary and proper for the purpose
Of carrying the provisions Of this act
into full force and effect.