The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-20
Great Northern President on the
Program Hansbrough Sends
His Views by Mail.
Special to The Journal.


at the opposite end Of a square from
representation of a transcontinental rail-
road train Near the latter is an heroic
figure of Mr.. Hill, with outstretched arm
and hand pointing to the northwest. Pho
tographs of Mr. Hill are everywhere in
flying welcome to the visitors.
An oid-tlme barbecue, where whole oxen
are being roasted for serving to the visit
ors, with bread and butter and sweet
cider, is another feature. The official pro-
gram for tomorrow is as follows: -. "
-,s Proceedings on Wednesday. =,
Forenoon-10 o'clock, report of COM
nittee on credentials. -. -
THE National Irrigation: Law" gener-
al discussion of its provisions by, T. S. I'm
derhill. Professor D. E. Willard, President
j.. n. Worst, is. Murphy and others.
Adjournment. = 49,
Afternoon-Report Of the committee on
resolutions. j 49, :.
Permanent organization. -'.. .:'..r
Miscellaneous business. -
Adjournment. g. : J.. -. =.
- -: Hansbrough's Views.
Attic Senator Hansbrough whose name
Is closely associated with the framing and
passage OF the national Irrigation act: can
not De present. his views We're Expressed
to the convention by a letter and were
received with marked interest, as coming
from the chairman of the senate commit
tee on public lands, and one to whom the
state VIII look for assistance in obtaining
recognition from the government irrigat-
ors:a Senator +Hansbrough wrote as fol-
lOWs:: -. "E< 49,: = 80
greatly regret my inability to be present at the
irrigation convention. should certainly be With
but for the ac So that 10 am ab re 1a "a
! conference of the senate committee, ON finance
about the time your convention is called to
| ! hope the convention will consider the adj
visibility Of recommending to the next legis-
ton Of changing our state constitution as "r re-.
spects ITS application to Irrigation matters. The
efforts to reclaim the arid public lands by " the
use Of all the available streams of water. So
long as the rights Of the state not infringed.
land ae general government should be given a free
| Agitation Of the irrigation question by the r,eo
Ing upon congress and the administration officers
of heetgeyer1ment the. necessity of. a vigorous
Washington last spring i arranged to have q
! corps of men from the geological survey Sent
I lions required under the law / am advised that
these: men went oyer the ground very thorey and
~ que tine ~, VIII make their TO- the
Ing. winter. will, no doubt DO his part toward
arranging for: active work in the field next sum
will not be allowed to overlook the. interests
| Of North Dakota in irrigation matters, altho i
am sure he Is not Inclined to do So.
| !. I. Land Law Amendments.
1 an this respect have much to contend
thoroly understand. For instance, last winter o
vigorous effort; was made In congress. to .repea
absolutely essential to the success of nationa
: irrigation Under the irrigation law all re
the RECLAMATION fund and are to- be extended for
i irrigation works. The repeal of our revenue
tain end to: national irrigation. The charge i.
Ms ana a s sy
be repealed . The repealers, however, appear t
frauds actually Perpetrated; ...
The desert land law can be amended 50 as t
prohibit the assignment by an entryman Of hi
desert right prior to making final proof Th
would, practically compel him to reside on, tn
addition to paying the government 81, % ap.acr
in cash, expend 81 an acre in improvements
With the amendment to the law as suggested tn
desert land entryman would be a. three-yea
homesteader. -
The timber and stone act should be amende
to as to require the payment of the full valu
Of the timber, after official appraisal and du
notice of sale, and the purchases should be linn
tied In area to both individuals and Corporations
With these amendments enacted into law tn
receipts from lands disposed of under both tbes
acts would be largely increased and the reclama
time the opportunity for: fraud. in desert an
timber entries would he greatly diminished. I
Is my purpose to introduce bill embra cling thes
amendments ut the opening of the coming session
+ COMMITTED Homesteads.
f. think the people Of the west would oppos
any attempt to repeal the committed homestea
law, because they know from, personal obserya
ton that it has been and will continue to be !
great boon to the mesteader, who cannot affor
to devote year and a half tc opening a ne'
farm without any. income during that time Til
cry of fraud as respects the commuter Is YER
unjust, is conclusively shown by the offcia
records in the general land office. Only on
l,omesteader in five cCmmutes his entry to u sl
0ut of 81, 100000 acres taken. as homestead
during the past twenty -one years less than 10
600 900 acres lave been committed to cash. an
in tile past ten years. of the committed entire
attacked the ground Of fraudulent speculativ
intent, less than one.tenth OF one per cent t. q
ccled. These facts are sufficient To- sustain til
integrity of the law. Besides it is a =revenu
producer and its repeal would be a blow to til
reclamation fund. &C.. - j..
~ y " Would Help Canada.
The repeal Of these three laws would give
stimulus to settlement In the Canadian mort!
west, greatly enhance the value of lands owne
| by the land grant railroads and put up the pr1c
Of lieu land forest reserve scrip, Application
now on file in the general land. office. Asid
from the fact that we shall need the public la1
moneys for use in reclciming the arid lands, :
| the west, sthe effect Of the repeal Of the Ian
laws upon the settlement of the country is ais
Of great iu,por lance Since tn, enactment of th
original homestead law, the policy of the govern
ment has been consistently directed, toward til
interest of the home builder TO reverse ths
policy at this time and turn the tide of 1ant
| seekers away from our own soil would be the e
sence Of folly. Very truly yours
| ---7.r- H. G. uansbrough.
go COMMEND THE GUARDS