Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-08
Use OF RECLAMATION FUND
Decision of Secretary Hitchcock on the
Provisions Of the Act.
OPPOSES PLAN OF NrtsIAN WELLS
ChimericaI Propositions Are Not ID ne
Exploited and No scheme started
that Does Not Appear
Feasible.
CFrom a Stan correspondent

CFrom a Stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 7.-(Special Tele-
gram.)-In view of the action Of the SoutL
Dakota delegation and the efforts made by
Senator Dietrich and Representative Norris
looking to the sinking OF artesian wells, the
following extract from a recent decision
OF the secretary OF the interior on the
subject OF drilling artesian wells under
the provisions Of the reclamation act of
June II, 1902, is Of timely interest;
THE act in question provides that all
moneys received from the sale and dis
posal OF public lands in certain states and
territories shall be reserved, set aside and
appropriate as a special fund in the treas
ury, to be known as the reclamation fund,
and used in the examination and survey
for and construction OF lrrigating works
for the storage. diversion and development
Of waters in reclamation of arid and semi
arid lands In sPid states and territories.
Preliminary examinations and surveys will
probably be necessary to the sinking of any
artesian well, but no reasonable construc-
tion of the Language used will sustain the
conclusion that said act contemplates the
sinking Of such wells as part OF the pre-
liminary examination authorized. The
fund created thereby is to be used to de-
velop and conserve the water supply for
irrigation purposes. Chimerical PROPOSE
lions are not to be exploited. In prosecu-
tion OF this work no project, whether 1t
involves q scheme of artesian wells. con-
struction- Of reservoirs or Of any other irri-
cation works, should be entered upon that
does not appear to be feasible and that
does not present a probability thai. It win
tend to the attainment of the object pro-
posed. 1t is, not permissible to sink an
| artpeian wpI1 pr ~ ponctrrtot n yvorEo fnr
conserving water when there are no reasons
for supposing that water can probably be
had, or, IL had, it will not be suitable for
irrigation purposes. Neither is 1t per-
mlssible to sink an artesian we'll or to IN
dertake any other work tending to de-
velop or conserve the water supply where
1t is not probable that the water will, be
needed or used for irrigation"
Congressman Leaves for Home.
Congressman Burke and wife of South
Dakota left for home this morning.
Congressman Norris of Nebraska, who
has been in the city during the last ten
days, leaves for home tomorrow morning.
Today he visited a number OF departments
and called upon the president.
These rural free delivery carriers were
appointed today: Northumberland, reg
ular, William l.. Atkinson; substitute, 10,
seph Atkinson. Iowa-Battle Creek, reg
ular, Earl L. Gilbert. Bedford, regular,
Bruce Beboul; substitute, Nellie Beboul.
Bloomfield, regular. George w. Gibson.
Clarinda, regular, Walter Stiverson; sub
%stitute, L. H. Chamberlain. Fort Madison,
regular, Frank H. Hoenig; substitute, Will
liam lager. Guthrie Center, regular, @
Jose Ashton; substitute, c. A. McLuen.
Hubbard, regular, Minor Swearingen; sub
I cfifuta CbaRIao Cuuaarinuo1 ToDa,to SlAw
regular, Theodore Turner; aubstituts; Ira
Rener. Lenox, regular. James f. Mccoy;
substitute, George Robinson. Schaller,
James A. Mollay; substitute, Edward Mol
lay.
A postofhce was ordered established at
Loomis, Dawson county. s.. D., Francis ].
Smith, postmaster.
The National Live Stock bank of Chicago
has been approved as reserve agent for the
First National bark of Dysart. la. ..r
Postmasters appointed; N~ebraska-El-
wood, Gosper county, A. M. White, vice
H. M. Hart resigned. South Dakota-Bry-
ant, Hamlin county. Irene Devan.
Philippine Money Ready.
Colonel Edwards, chief of the insular
division of the War department, who made
preparations in advance to carry out the
provisions Of the Philippine currency act
with a view to relieving the financial
strain in the islands, has Just procured
from the Philadelphia mint the first OF the
new silver money to be used In the Phil
ippines in the shape of a peso
The new coin is simple and chaste In de-
sign. On it's face is an emblematic female
figure representing a blacksmith working
at the anvil. Behind her is the smoking
cone of a volcano and around the picture
are the words, "oae peso" "FiHpinas.''
On the reverse is a slightly modified Iep-
resentation of the United States c~oat-of-
arms, with the words "U. 8. Of America"
Belgium Signs Protocol.
Mr.. Bowen and Baron Moncheur today
signed the Belgium protocol for the settle
ment of that countryis claims against
Venezuela.
1t follows the lines Of the American pro-
tocol and provides that the queen of the
Netherlands shall name the umpire for the
commission. .-..
Mr.. Bowen today sent notes to the rep
resentatives Of the allies here announcing
his return to Washington and his readi-
ness to continue the negotiations.
As the draft Of The Hague protocol sub
mitted by Mr.. Bowen some days ago was
sent by special bag to London, Berlin and
Rome, 1t is probable instructions to the
Italian and British ambassadors and the
German minister will not arrive until the
middle OF next week. 81
COrteIyOu Finds Quarters.
Secretary CortelyOu has secured quarters
for the Department Of Commerce and La
Dor in the Builders exchange. e
Secretary Cortelyou will continue his
own ofioe at the White House probably
until the latter part of the next week,