Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-27
IS LEASE BILL OR NOTHING
CONTINUED from First Page.)

made for the proper care of the stock in
transit. The National Live Stock a%ssocia-
ton, in a recent convention, approved the
pending bill and secured its favorable con-
sideration by the house. The humane So
cieties of the country are uniting in OPP
position to it. They have presented state
ments from some of the largest shippers Of
live stock in the country in support of
their assertions that cattle cannot be car
ried for forty-eight hours on cars without
serious injury. The shippers OF Omaha,
Kansas City, st. Louis and Chicago are
opposed to the measure and will add their
protest to the objections made by the hui
name societies. The indications are that
the bill will be allowed to die in the senate.
Gathering Irrigation Statistics.
The acceptance by congress Of the prin-
ciple of federal aid in the construction Of
irrigation in the western states has given
a great impetus to every industry In that
section of the country. The people OF the
eastern states are just beginning to realize
the opportunities offered in the territory
to be opened up. As the proposition de-
velops a tide Of immigration will inevitably
set in and this region will become one Of
the most populous and prosperous in the
country. With large areas OF reclaimable
land and plenty of available water Ne
braska especially will be benefited by the
measure.
The actual work OF surveying, locating
and constructing reservoirs and other irri-
cation works will be done by the geolog-
ical survey. In order to obtain a7better I'M
derstanding Of the present extent OF irri-
CATION, the location Of the areas irrigated
and to gain other information useful in
this work, the Flfty-seventh congress au-
thorized the director of the census to bring
down to date the irrigation statistics OBJ
tained in 1900 by that office. Letters OF
inquiry and schedules are now being sent
out to secure the necessary information.
All interested In irrigation should answer
as fully and as promptly as possible any
inquiries they may receive, so that the
merits Of the various sections of the coun-
try may become known. Irrigators who dc
not receive blanks within a reasonable
time should notify the census office a,
Washington and they will be supplied.
1t is interesting to note in this connec-
tion how much it will mean to the coun-
try at large to have the arid lands Of the
west reclaimed. According TO the census
Of 1900 the total improved farm area Of
the United States was Ala, 800, 900 acres. II
is conservatively estimated that the re.
claimable area is not less than so, 600, 00t
acres. It's reclamation, therefore, will add
nearly one-elghth to the actual crop-pTo.
ducing area Of the country and will exceed
by a liberal margin the tillable land of al
the states, excepting New York, on tn,
Atlantic coast from Maine to Florida. AL
lowing forty acres, the average size of ir
rigated farms, this area will make ], ESQ, 0Ot
farms, or a little less than one-fourth tn
number In the United States in 1900. TIL,
occupants OF these farms will add directl.
to the population $3.50, 900 and indirectly II
the accompanying mercantile, professional
manufacturing and industrial classes a
least 1926, 900 more. a total increase in tn
population Of the United States OF 9,375, 0OC
or nearly 1914 per cent.
The figures Of the last census show tina
the works required to irrigate 1888, 81
acres cost $64, 2s9, sol. an average of $sS
per acre. At this rate the expenditure re
quired to reclaim the area proposed woul
be at least $3.50, 900, 900. After the govern
ment has performed its part there will b
no delay by the farmers IL carrying on tn
q work. While the initial expense is enoT
nous, It is not comparable with the valu
. OF the crops which will be grown on tn
, lands reclaimed. The total cost Of all tn
1 irrigation works in use in the country
q only three-fourths OF the value OF the croI
produced each year on irrigated lands.
Attorney General F. n. Prout Of Ne
> braska Is in Washington for the purpos
4 OF arguing the Rock Island Injunction cas-
A before the supreme court.
Upon motion OF Senator Kittredge, Ed
win r. Winans OF Sioux Falls, S. D., We
today admitted TO practice before II
United States supreme court.
= ROutine of Departments.
Chester E. Conner of Charlton, Dani
c N. Clark Of Abba, Ia, and Robert D.. Care
9 neriot Britton, S. D., have been admitte
d to practice before the Interior department
: Ray A. Blakley was today designated &
q member Of the civil service board for ii
Estherville 1a.) postofice.
e Postmasters appointed: Nebraska-Fran
+ ]. Winter, BaEile Mills, Knox county, vit
g G. McByers, resigned; Bessie Cowdre
o Thompson, Jefferson county. vice S.
T Wahl, removed. Iowa-Alya A. Andrew
e Sewal. Wayne county.
The Congress Construction company
s Chicago was today awarded the contract II
the construction OF the Norfolk (Neb
postofice at its bid Of $50, $50. II is
complete the work IN sixteen months.
n The Oman National bank OF Omaha vi