The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1902-05-06
ARID LAND COMMISSION.
Created by LEGISLATURE In 1895. but Has Been
Lying Dormant

Lying Dormant.
The appointment of John L. Murray
of San Juan county as arid land COM
missioner recalls some interesting his
tory in connection with the office.
The arid land commission was created
by act of the legislature of 1895, accept
ing the terms of the act of congress, APP
proved August IS, 1894, known as the
"Carey law" providing for the reclama-
ton, settlement and disposition of ,000,-
900 acres of arid land granted the state
of Washington therein. By the terms
of the act creating the commission, the
governor was to appoint an arid land
commissioner, at salary of $1,000 per
annum, for a period of four years. The
duties of the commissioner are to ex-
anime, or cause to be examined, such of
the arid lands within the state belong
ing to the public domain that can, with
an expense not incommensurate with
the value when reclaimed from their
aridity, be irrigated, and to collect data
and information concerning the nature
of the soil, location and adaptability
prepare plans, maps, ETC., in connection
with the work, and he is empowered to
employ assistants and let contracts to
further the work. subject to the approval
of the governor and the attorney general.
The legislature of 1895 appropriated
the sum of $4,000 for the purposes
enumerated, and the legislature of 1897
passed an amendatory act, appropriating
a sum of $4,000 for the work, $4,000
for Office expenses and salaries, and
500 600 for supplies furnished for con-
struction work. Mr.. Holcomb was con-
tinued by the late Gov. Rogers as COM
missioner, but for some time, or since
the last legislature, nothing has been
heard of the commissioner, and all save
he are in ignorance as to the selection of
lands.
Mr.. Holcomb has the books, maps and
other pertinent records in his possession,
and, it is said, has refused to relinquish
same to the state, probably because OF
the fact that no formal demand by a
person in authority has been made on
him for them, and because, it is said, he
intends to present a claim to the next
legislature for services rendered the
state as arid land commissioner since
the last appropriation, in 1897, the Office
not having been abolished by the sue
ceeding legislature, and no appropria-
ton made covering his salary. The land
department was recently served with
notice from the secretary of the interior
stating that unless immediate action is
taken by the state, the valuable lands
donated by the provisions Of the ''Carey
act" will be lost, as the time for securing
possession will soon expire.
Mr.. Murray, the new commissioner,
will make formal application for the
records of the commission, and, in the
event OF his being refused them, the
matter will be turned over to the attor-
ney general for action.
The first commissioner was L. S. How
lett OF North Yakima, appointed by
Gov. McGraw. OF the first appropria-
ton So, 095 reverted to the general fund
March %, 1898. Hewlett was removed
by Gov. Rogers and Holcomb appointed.
Of the second appropriation so, 900 was
not drawn upon, and of the other 1900
for salaries and expenses 81, 23S.63 re-
verted to the general fund. The COM
plete expenses of both commissioners
amounted to $14,6Sl. Hewlett received
the bulk of the sum, not Holcomb, but
the latter, protesting claim against the
state, declines to relinquish possession
Of the records.
In 1897 the state Legislature passed a
law creating the Office of commissioner
of irrigation and made an appropriation
of $780, 900 to carry on the work. The