The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1902-01-11
THE IRRIGATION BILL.
Measure Which the Western Members viii
Present to Congress.


Present to Congress.
representative Newlands of Nevada,
secretary of the Arid Lands Committee,
uonresenting all the arid and semi-arid
states and territories, has sent out
conv of the arid land bill as completed
nv that committee, and requests sug
,astions from thoseinterested The
nil, as framed an d perfected by the
subcommittee has met the approval
Of all representatives of the Western
states who have seen it.
Its main provisions are: All money
received from the sale of public lands
in the arid and semi-arid States and
territories, except S per cent set apart
for school purposes, is to go into the
arid land reclamation fund, to be used
in the survey, construction and main
tenance of irrigation works. The Sec
retary of the Interior is instructed to-
survey, locate and construct irrigation
works, including artesian wells, and re-
port to each session of Congress the
result of such surveys, estimates If
cost quantity Of land to be irrigated
by each System. cost OF each system
constructed, etc. The Secretary may
withdraw from the public lands re-
CURED for irrigation works. lands under
irrigation systems, to be subject to en-
try only under the provisions of the
homestead law in lots of not more than
eighty acres.
The Secretary is authorized to let
contracts for construction. in whole or
or part. of an irrigation system to be
provided that no system shall be built
where the estimates show that thecost
would exceed $40 per acre of the lands
irrigable therefrom, and provided that
no contract shall be let until the neces-
sary funds are available. Eight hours
shall constitute a days work and no
Asiatic labor is to be employed. The
entryman shall reclaim the land for
agricultural purposes and pay S. an
acre therefor, the money to go into the
reclamation fund. The Secretary Of the
Interior Is authorized to use the recla-
nation fund to maintain the systems
constructed, provided that when the
majority of the lands under a system
are paid for the management of such
system, except the reservoirs, may be
managed at their own expense. under
conditions laid down by the Secretary
Title TO all works is to remain in the
government.
In case the water developed is more
than sufficient, perpetual water rights
may be sold to irrigate private lands
at not less than IS an acre, but not for
more than eighty acres to one land
owner, the money to go into the recla-
nation fund.
When necessary to condemn lands for
irrigation works, the Secretary is au-
thorized to institute such proceedings
in the Federal courts and ii shall be
the duty of the Attorney General to
institute such proceedings when re-
auested by the Secretary to do so. All
proceedings must conform as near as
possible to the proceedings in like cases
in the State or territory where such
proceedings are held.
Nothing in the bill is intended TO con-
ict or affect in any way the laws of
the State and territory regarding the
control, appropriation, use or distri-
button of the waters rendered available
under the reclamation bill, provided
that the right to use the water acquired
under the bill shall be perpetual, and
beneficial use shall be the basis of right
thereto. The Secretary of the Interior
is authorized TO perform such acts and
make such rules and regulations as are
necessary to carry the law into effect.
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