The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1902-01-23
THE LAND GRAZING BILL.


Mr.. Bowersock introduced the follow
ing bill; which was referred to the Com
mittee on Irrigation Of Arid Lands and
ordered to be printed.
A bill to provide for the leasing for
grazing purposes of vacant public do
main, and reserving all rights of home
stead and mineral entry, the rental to be
a special fund for irrigation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and Honse
of Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress senlbled,
That all vacant public lands west of
the one hundredth meridian west from
Greenwich shall be leased for stock graz
lug purposes, subject to the right %
homestead and mineral entry under ex-
listing laws of the United States, anu
when so entered to be Cancelled from the
lease
Sec. ,. That leases of said lands shall
not be subject to bid The uniform
rental shall be two cents per acre per
anuum, payable annually in advance.
a:ld preference for such leases shall be
given to owners of cultivated land for
ieas&ble lands abutting upon their free
holds proportion of ten acres of lease
bold to one Of freehold. a like prefer
sAce of ten acres of 1easchold TO one
growers WHO are also freeholders; this
preference shall apply only to lands
within the counties upon which their
stock hab!tually range. If in case
of either of the preferences above provid
ed there shall not be sufficient leasa-
BILE lands in the county to give each per
son entitled to the preference the maxi
mum proportion of ten acres to one, then
said land shall be prorated betw cen the
persons entitled 20 such preference. Tue
further preference to lands not leased
under the foregoing provisions of this
section shall be given to stock growers
who were in actual use and occupancy
OF said lands during the year ending Jan
uaay first, nineteen hundred and one. to
be leased to them in proportion to their
respective Interests in and use thereof
Where the States lease State lands the
bona file holders of such State leaseholcs
shall be benef1ciaries of the preference
given above to stock growers who are
also freeholders: Provided. That such
State 1easeholds are not held by any one
person in tracts exceeding six hundred
aud forty acres in one body. Freehold
rights under this section shall not apply
to town sight property nor to any lands
deriving title from Spanish or Mexican
grants.
Sec. 3. That all leases shall run t. II
years with the privilege of renewal fer IL
second term of ten years, the first lessee
having the preference for such second
term, provided he shall have complied
with the requirements of this law and
the terms of his lease, aud has not al
lowed his leasehold to deterIorate.
Sec. 4. That the revenue derived from
the leases herein authorized shall he paid
into the Treasury of the United States
and the net revenue, after deducting the
expense of administering. this Act, shall be
held in the Treasury a reclamation
fund to be expended under the direction
of the Secretary of the Interior in pro
vidinG such water storage and irrigation
works in the arid and semiarid regions as
are necessary for preparing the public
arid and semiar1d land for settlement un-
der the homestead Act.
Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the In
terror shall have the power to cancel II
lease when its holder becomes Ineligible
needful rules and regulations for this
purpose.
Sec. 6. That nothing in this Act shall
deprive the United States of control of
all reservations for amy purpose now ex-
I>ting or hereafter created.
Sec. Z. That this Act shall take effect
and be in force from and after its pas
sage.
.