The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1902-08-02
NIB. NEWLANDS ON
RECENT LEGISLATION.
Nevada's Congressman Inter-
viewed on the Work Of the
House at the Last
Session.

Congressman Newlands returned to
his home at Reno from Washington last
week. In an interview with the Reno
Journal he had the following to say re-
gsrdiug the Irrigation bill and Nevada's
war claims
THE IRRIGATION BILL.
As to the Irrigation bill Mr.. New
lands said that there seemed to be o
mistaken impression on the part OF
some that the Secretary Of the Interior
could only expend in Nevada the re
ceipts from the Gales OF public lands In
this State. and as these amounted to
only about 81, 900 annually, Nevada
would get little benefit from the law.
''This is q mistake. The bill creates
one redemption fund for thirteen
States and three Territories, being the
States and Territories west of Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, which
are also included. The receipts from
all these States amount to about : 3,OOO,-
900 annually, and as the bill covers
also into the fund this years as we'll as
last years receipts the moneys now in
the fund reach at least 5000. DOC. As
lands are brought into reclamation and
sold for the cost of reclamation, this
fund will increase until it reaches So
DOC, 600 or more annually. So that IN
the next thirty years it is altogether
likely that $50, 900 900 will be availa-
BILE for irrigation works. OF these
moneys the Secretary has the power to
expend a fraction less than one-half
anywhere in the arid region that he sees
fit. He could spend all of it in Me-
vada or any other State or Territory if
he chose. The other half he could
spend temporarily, for a period of ten
years wherever he thought best, sub
ject to the condition that at least half
of the proceeds of public lands in each
State and Territory shall be within
each period of ten years expended in
irrigation works therein. This was in
tended to prevent the Secretary from
absolutely neglecting the irrigation in
terests of any of the States or Terri
tories affected, but the bill is so elastic
as to facilitate work where it is most
needed"
WHERE COMMENCED.
As to the place in this State where
work would be commenced and when,
Mr.. Newlands said: II am unable to
say. The Geological Survey has its
surveys of the Truckee. Carson and
Humboldt further along than those OF
any other valleys. I have also requested
it to take up the study of the Walker
river and the Muddy and Virgin rivers
in Lincoln county. / have had talks
with the Secretary of the Interior, the
Director Of the Geological Survey and
the Chief photographer on the sub
iect of early work in Nevada, but they
have not all the information necessary
at present. After the plans are fully
prepared they will be submitted to q
board of the best hydraulic engineers
of the country. Their purpose is to do
thorough work and work that will be
fa~r-reaching in it's benefit. They feel
their responsibility and will not come
to any hasty judgment. I am inclined
to think, however, that as their en-
cheering work is nearer completion in
Nevada than elsewhere. that Nevada
will be one Of the earliest beneiciaries
of this great measure"
NEVADA WAR BLAIMS.
As TO the Nevada war claims, Mr..
Newlands said that the Omnibus
Claims bill referred them for adjust.
ment to the Treasury Department,
which had the right, if it saw fit to take
the opinion of the Court of Claims. He
was in hopes. however. that they would
be adjusted without further delay.