Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

Rear Admiral George W. Melville
VII relinquish his position as engineer
m chief of the United States Navy
within the next few weeks and will be
succeeded by Captain Charles w. Rae.
The omnibus public buildings bill re-
ported to the House increases the limit
" cost OF the public building Mt Colo
ado Springs from sl35. 900 TO $4,000.
and at Evanston. Wyoming. from $lO0.-
900 to $l50.00O.
The selection of two stations In Cuba
for naval use by the United States Is
In conformity with the findings OF the
naval general board here. which has
satisfied itself that there will be SUI
ficient number to meet naval needs.
One station IL to be located at Guam
tanamo. on the southeast coast. and
one ut Bahia Honda. on the northwest
coast. thus giving command OF the
two great channels OF commerce at
either end OF Cuba.
Ex-Secretary OF State John W. Fos-
ter has been selected to take charge OF
the case OF tho United States In the
presentation OF the Alaskan boundary
question to the special commission to
DO appointed In conformity with the
terms OF the recently confirmed Alas
kan boundary treaty. Secretary Root
has concluded to accept his appoint
mcnt as one OF the commissioners TO
represent the United States on the
boundary commission. The other two
members OF the commission are Senn-
tors Lodge and Turner. II has been
urged that Secretary Root can do this
work during the coming summer with
out interfering materially with his du-
ties Us secretary.
The most important franchise yet
granted In the PHILIPPINES ia conveyed
in IN act by the Philippine commits
sioncr. copy OF which has Just
reached Washington. granting to tho
Manila Railway Company the righ; to
construct branch road forty miles
long. from a station named Guisuinto
to an important Philippine town now
without railroad connection. known ns
cabanatuan. lying northwest OF Ma
Mia. Up to this time the backbone
railroad. from Manila straight north
ward 10 Dagupan. has constituted the
entire railway system OF the Philip
pines. and this concession marks the
beginning OF nm epoch OF railway de-
yciopmcnt which Is expected to open
tho agricultural resources OF the In
terror.
Senator Teller and John C. Teller
called upon Chief photographer New
oil! OF the Geological Survey recently.
and presented n proposition for con-
struciion OF nm irrigation project In
the Arkansas valley. In which II IL pro-
posed the state Of Colorado shall co.
operate with the government. Mr..
Newell received the proposition with
much favor. and while not being In n
position to pledge absolutely that the
government will take hold OF the pro-
icc,. he said that II appeared 80 fcas-
iblo that he would recommend IL and
believed Il would be adopted. II is
proposed that the state Of Colorado
shall construct the canals OF the pro-
posed system and that the government
shall cooperate to the extent OF sup
plying water stored from flood waters
In reservoirs to be constructed for such
purposes under the new irrigation net.
On February 18th. In the House. bills
were passed under suspension of the
rules to amend the river ard harbor
act no as to authorize the expenditure
OF eiss. COO for the construction OF n
channel through Sabine Lake. TO con-
meet with Tayior's bayou or Port Ar
thur canal. Texas: to extend for three
years the time OF making final proof
OF the Colorado Cooperative Colony.
TO cficctua,c the additional act OF the
International convention for the pro-
lection of industrial property: TO is-
sue a patent TO certain lands to Buffalo.
Wyoming: TO grant the Central Ari-
sona company right Of way through
the San Francisco mountain reserve:
and to extend the coal and land laws
-. ~. a LII a..
open to settlement sos 900 acres In the
kiowa. Comanchc and Apache rcserva-
ton was defeated. thirty-iiyc to fifty-
two.
After much discussion tho Senate
committee on public lands finally
agreed TO report the Quarlcs bill. pro-
viding for the repeal OF the desert land.
timber and stone. and the comwutn-
ton clause of the homestead act. the
bill approved by the secretary OF the
interior. The most fcryent advocates
OF the repeal measure were Senator
Gibson OF Montana, who said nearly
half OF his state had been stolen under
the present land laws. and Senator
Berry OF Arkansas. Repeal was Wig
orously opposed by Senators Clark
of Wyoming. Kcarns. Heitfcld. and
Chairman Hanshrough. II was agreed
TO report the bill favorabiy by vote
OF seven to ak. A minority report
will be made by Senator Hansbrouri.
The minority members are not n uni,
as TO retaining all the land laws. Sew
crai favor the repeal OF the commuta-
ton clause of the homestead act. and
Senator Gamble favors an amendment
of the timber and stone nc, so that n
price shall be fixed upon each piece of
timber land disposed of. according to
Its actual value.
The Geological Survey having de-
termincd that the Gunnison project in
Colorado shall be among the first irri-
cation works undertaken next summer.
is completing detailed plans. The OH
cials are not yet agreed on the dimen-
sions of the tunnel. the height OF the
dam to be constructed in the Gunnison
river or the number of acres to be re-
claimed. II Is desired to so construct
the tunnel that the maximum area will
be reclaimed at the minimum of cost.
A large tunnel will be avoided IL IT ia
found cheaper TO construct high dam
and thereby get water out at a corre-
spondingly high level. II. on the other
hand. n small tunnel will not carry
sufficient water to irrigate large
enough area to Justify the cost. less
money will be expended on the dam