The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-06-26

New laads les Aillioas.
The national government is to under
take the irrigation Of public lands in the
and sections Of the Rocky mountains and
Pacific Coast regions. This is assured by
the passage Of the so-called Shafrosh bill
In the senate BY nearly unanimous vote,
and its passage in the house by rA6 TO S..
with only slight amendments, which will
readily be agreed TO by the senate The
president will certainly sign the measure.
He is much interested in the undertak ing
and advocated 1t at length in his annual
msasaee.
Ihe government possesses some 6oo,.
ooO.0oo sores Of land in the western re.
gion asd ten per cent of this OF some
6o,ono.ooo acses. would be available for
agricultural purposes under q system Of
irsigation easily practicable. The huge
remainder consists Of mountain and forest
and desert beyond reclamation. ct least
for many Year, to come. The irsiRable
lands constitute N area equal to one and
: half tDes that Of all New England,
asd their reclamation would open to set.
tienent asd cultivation highly produc.
tive domain. easily capable Of supporting
more than 10000. 600 people. II will, Of
course. require years for the conversion
Of this great area Of now valuless lands
ineo valuable acres. There have existed
serious objections TO the policy Of putting
The work upon the national government,
and The promoter Of the present measure
hsve hsd 70 pay some attention to these
objections. II involves the use Of money
belonging To oil the nation for the I'D.
vantage Of = ANAL part Of the nation. II
lnvolses the taxation Of farmera through.
pas The country east Of the Rocky noun.
laia region 70 open up cheap lands to be
brought into competition with the more
sxpesaive scres eastward. On these
grounds the bill met with strong oppoai.
lios 10 the house debate. II Vas held
hat tlas work should be undertaken by
he states chiefly concerned.
70 this the advocates OF the Shafroth
blil replied thar the states would take nm
- work u the national government
wosh cede tothem the arid iauds 70 Be re.
slaimed. Butthis the goversment had re.
psatedly. through congress, refused to do.
aoyevss. Il was admitted that the rest Of
~ ceastsy shoald not be drawn more
lhas was absolutely necessary into bear.
ng the expense. and 20 the new Law
'ssks 70 make the project largely self.
lapposting. The work ID to begin under
airsctioa 81 the secretary Of the interior
NTH moaey obtained from current gov
lsninsnt land sales. These sales are now
Ina1l. the tiliable lands having largely
heen soid. So the secretary will begin
NTH only : few million doilars In the II.
i1stion fand. added to yearly BY little
asore thsn ta.ooo.ooo AZ land il irri.
Iatad 4 will Be- sold-nos over 100 acres
= aay oas owner. and be must BE- : bona
- settisr % the land--at . price 70
'essf Ne Goa of reclaimipg the area and
nai9lninisg ID irrigation.
TAie Indeed involves an appropriation
Z nossy- equal 10 the present net pro-
'esds q pshlic land sales--ffom the rem. |
ri treasssy fund fos the advantage Of . |
'aaall ssc4ioa q coantry. but il 10 mot q !
- snn and soneshisg 10 to Be- said In |
No. 81 patting the job on the federal
lovssunent. Foe example. storage basins |
ny fssqaently have 70 b constructed In |
- naaatAins u ons slate q territory 10 |
asp1e 1ands lying 10 aaosher state; and
A eoeasats staAe aetion would eucouu. |
- dlekcnltiss 20 psesent In case Of ma |
ioaal se1ten.
1as aa6ets u long agitation and r.. |
aansdly ~ sahjsct of csusldssssioa II |
ueuaesn interssate conventions. The |
eAcoe wsaassn part u The country i. so,. |
~ = hvsr " the present leeis,ssiop. |
- - s1sueioa b probably dispuu.d Of |
- saoaeetioaable way ~ wss pos. |
~ sndes : policy q federal action.
lpsiaGAeid tliass.) Rspablicas.
1T
The legislative appostionmentl
III. passed By the democratic ler.
Nature. menns mora thar 81 a.