The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1902-07-15
(From the Washington Times.)

In the East the knowledge of irrigation
has been chiefly confined to the use of the
sprinkling pot and the garden hose, but
In the West 1t is a science thoroughly un-
derstood and duly appreciated. Hun
dreds of years before Christopher Col
umbus landed on the shores of San Sal
vador 1t was practiced by prehistoric
man in Arizona and New Mexico, and the
ruins of the works are still visible in
those Territories. Since the dawn of his
tory agriculture has been carried on by
means of irrigation. and the earliest civil
izations of record were based upon this
method of cultivation, as is exemplified in
Egypt, and the valleys of the Tigris and
Euphrates. AT last the United States
Government is about to undertake great
work of this character When 1t is real
ized that nearly one-half of the total area
of the United States. exclusive of Alaska,
is either arid of semi-arid. some idea may
be had of the task about to be begun un-
der the provisions of the irrigation bill
which recently passed Congress and be-
came a law with the approval OF the
President. OF this vast area 1t is esti-
mated that about 6o.000,0O0 acres of arid
land may be reclaimed within the next
thirty years; or, In other words, terri
tory as vast In extent as that of the two
great fertile States of Illinois and Iowa.
Thus IL may be seen that the enactment
of this law is entitled to be considered
as involving one of Uncle Sans most
important real estate transactions.
OF FAR-REACHING IMPORTANCE.
Probably no measure so far-reaching
in importance as regards the development
Of this country has been enacted in re-
cent years as the Newlands irrigation
bill. While taking not dollar directly
from the public Treasury. 1t nevertheless
provides for an expenditure which II Is
estimated will aggregate In the next thir-
ty years fully si500oo.oo0 Most bills take
the form Of an appropriation for a single
year, but this measure approprates the
proceedes from the sale of public lands in
thirteen States and three Territories for
all time to be devoted to works of irri-
cation. Further 1t acts automatically
and will require further legislation.
The enactment OF the bin means that the
vast area which was once known as the
Great American Desert is to be trans
formed into fertile soil to provide homes
for additional millions of American cit
izens. and will yield products of untold
wealth.
In short. the bill provides that the re-
ceipts from the sale of public lands shall
be set apart in the Treasury In fund to
be known as the arid land reclamation
fund. This income comprises the pro-
ceeds from the sales of mining and min
eral lands. timber lands, stone lands. as
well as arid lands. and aggregates now
about 50. 600 a year. This money Is to
be placed in the Treasury every year and
expended by the Secretary OF the Interior
In the construction of irrigation works
necessary to make the waters available
for settlers. authority being given the
Secretary to make contracts only when
money necessary for each particular sec
tion Of contemplated project is in the
fund. The law authorizes the Secretary
of the Interior to withdraw from entry
the lands capable of being reclaimed and
provides that each project shall be self
compensatory. compelling the settlers to
pay back into the fund in ten equal an
nual installments their proportionate part
OF the cost of each construction. In this
way constantly revolving fund Is Great
ed which will gradually increase from
5000. 900 to sl0.000.0o0 annually until the
entire work is accomplished. The pro-
ceeds OF the sale OF public lands for the
past two years are Immediately available
and aggregate about s6.000.0O0
NO LAND MONOPOLY
In framing the law every effort was
made to guard against land monopoly and
to reserve the reclaimed lands for act
al 4tot
no right to the use Of water for land In
private ownership shall be sold for tract
exceeding 100 acres to any one land owner
and that no right shall permanently at
tach until a II payments therefor are
made, and no sale shall be made to any
landowner unless he be an actual bona
hde resident on such land or occupant
thereof residing in the neighborhood OF
such land In the work OF constructing
reservoirs and canals eight hours is To
constitute days labor and provision Is
made that no Mongolian workman shall
be employed
or the vast arid region In the United
states the American pioneer has with
untiring effort during the past forty
years reclaimed about 100000 acres, but
the limit of this development by private
enterprise Is now practically reached.
How to continue the work of irrigation
has been the problem which has agitated
The minds OF Western men for many
years. There were both land and water
In the regicn. the former lying a barren
waste. and the water at certain seasons