Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-09
.IRRIGA 7 10 N BILL
IS MEASURE OF
VAST INTEREST
THERE is NO DOUBT ABOUT ITS
ULTIMATE PASSAGE, BUT
THERE HAS BEEN
LONG DELAY.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. June THE Ma
tional Irrigation Bill is one of the great
measures which just now is receiving the
attention of congress and all public men
This bin was passed by the senate on
March 1, practically with no opposition.
There is no doubt OF its ultimate passage
although ii will be opposed by some mem.
hers Of the house from the eastern states
who are apprehensive that it will be det-
rimental to the value of farming land IN
the east.
The measure, when passed by congress,
will receive the approval of the president,
who strongly urged il in his message
He anticipated and answered the OBJ
iections of some eastern men, who think
that the addition Of a vast tract OF cult
waited land in the south and west would
cause competition with farmers along the
Atlantic coast and in the Mississippi val
ley.
This bill affects 1922, las square miles,
or more than one-half of the area OF the
United States outside of Alaska. OF this
vast territory the government owns 05o,-
4S6731 acres or more than one-stxth OF
the entire area of the United states, out
side of Alaska. 1t is estimated that from
4OOOOO00 to S0,000,000 acres can De re-
claimed from a desert region by irrigation
and made to blossom like a rose The
great variance in these estimates is more
aDpaFent than real, because it Is made
upon two basis, one with reference TO the
distant future, and the other with regard
TO lands that can be irrigated under pres
ent conditions and within the next two or
three decades
The bill affects the following states and
territories: Arizona California, Colorado,
Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Mexico North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ore
gon South Dakota, Utah. Wyoming, WASH
ingtOn.
who has charge of the bill in the mousse
had this to say today
THE irrigation bill provides a p an Tor
reasonable orderly and complete develop
ment of the irrigation possibilities OF the
arid part of our country. Or the pubic
land still open to entry, amounting TO
about $50 OO0, 900 acres, exclusive Of Alas
ka. there is very small area capable
of producing crops without irrigation, ag-
gregating probably not over two per cent
which is a liberal estimate.
I'm other words, in all the public lands
there is probably less land open to entry
that will produce crops without artinclal
irrigation, than the amount which we have
been adding to our cultivated area In any
three years in the last thirty. Conse-
ouentIy the farms of the future on the
public domain, with few exceptions, must
come from lands made fertile by irrigation.
"This bill does not call for any appro-
DrlaIlOn from the Udlloudl treasury ~ NAA1
or any future time. 1t simply gives the
proceeds Of the sale of certain public lands
i'm certain states and territories to the re-
clamation of arid lands. As lands are
reclaimed the settlers are to repay the gov
eminent in their reclamation in annual
installments. which would probably vary
from five to six dollars an acre.
"Never was there a land bill presented
TO congress so carefully guarded in the
interest of the actual home maker. the
entries being 40 to $50 acres. settler
is required to live upon his land five years
and at the expiration of that time ana
upon the final payment for his water right
he is to secure his title for the land and
to the water right
ut is provided that all water rights
shall be founded on beneficial use and
shall be appurtant to the land irrigated
so that by no possibility can there be
speculative ownership of waetr rights.
Should land in private ownership be wa
tered, the owners must pay their proper
ton of the cost. can not secure water
rights for more than 100 acres, and must
be actual residents and occupants of the
lands irrigated.
Its passage will not result in the open
ing of large areas to Immediate settle
ment but rather give opportunity to the
earnest homeseeker to purchase at actual
cost and to make fertile lands now barren
and unproductive. The present proceeds
from the sale of public lands amounts to
So. 600 900 approximately annually. If the
average expenditure by the government for
reclamation was so an acre, this would
reclaim between 100000 and 100000 acres
annually, which is a small Increase COM
pared with the cultivated area which we
have been making for thirty years without
disturbing conditions seriously.
These figures refute- the suggestion that
the irrigation policy would largely in
crease the area Of farm lands as to dis
turb farm values. Further, the products
of the irrigated lands could not come into
competition with those of humid lands, as
they will consist of semi-tropical products
while any possible surplus would go to the
oriental rather than to our own eastern
market"