Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-11-07
AFTER THE STATESMEN
Another OF the Series Of Letters
From william {. Smyths.
IRRIGATION DISCUSSED

Inc recent action OF the wyoming
Industrial convention at Sheridan
Wyoming, In declaring It's inhexible
opposition to the repeal OF the desert
land act, the Communication clause OF
the homestead act and the timber and
stone act is indicative OF the attitude
which may be expected of certain
western interests on any land legisla-
ton hostile to the Spectator and the
live stock baron.
In the hot debate at the Ogden irrl-
cation congress. few weeks prev.
icus. the issue was on the merits OF
these land laws and the fierce demand
for their repeal, which has arisen in
various parts of the United States.
Several western congressman who
participated opposed the repeal OF the
laws. but at the same time referred
with pride to the part they had taken
in assisting in the passage OF the ma
t,onal irrigation act. Not one OF these
gentlemen seemed to realize the in.
consistency involved in opposing the
repeal OF the desert land law, In one
breath, and in the next breath gloat.
ing over the triumph OF national irri-
cation. What are the factsy
The desert land law permits a sin
gle individual to acquire 800 acres OF
irrigable land. With the assistance
or his wife the same individual may
take up $40 acres. And he need not
live upon the land at all He can
make some little Improvement and
swear that he has made some sort OF
arrangement to irrigate II. when he
sets title by paying $i.25 an acre I'm
der such provisions. II Is indeed easy
for spectators to obtain land to sell
out iater to real homeseekers at a big
profit or to consolidate into large hold
ings.
This Is the law which the congress
men referred to insist upon keeping
upon the statute books.
Right Land Law.
Now what Is done with the lands
when the national irrigation act is in
operation?
First. they are absolutely withdrawn
from entry while the feasibility of the
project is under consideration.
Next. the secretary OF the interior
Is empowered to nix the amount OF
land which a single individual may nc.
uuire, but IL forbidden to fix a larger
unit than 100 acres. or a smaller unit
than 40 acres, In any instance.
Finally, the settler IL compelled to
live upon and cultivate the land which
he claims for his home. and no must
live there not for five years. but ten
years. which is the period fixed for
the repayment Of the governments ex-
penditure.
In other words. every claim made
by the advocates OF the repeal OF ex.
isting land laws Is absolutely conced-
ed In the terms OF the national irriga-
ton act So far as the areas to be
covered by the new policy are con.
cerned. the desert land law and the
communication clause of the homestead
law stand repealed. And the nation
has thereby declared its uncompromis-
ing attitude on the issue debated at
Ogden.
Now, then. what becomes OF the
consistency of the aforesaid congress.
men?
Are they not standing on both sides
OF the question ut the same time
BY voting for the national irrigation
act, they declared that no citizen
ought 10 have more than 100 acres OF
land from the public domain,
and in some instances he ought moi TO
have more than forty acres Then
how can they consistently demand
that men shall obtain title without
occupying the land at all, as they are
now doing?
congressman can consistently
claim that the present laws are good
and that the national irrigation act
Is bad. He can claim that the pres
ent laws are bad and that the nation
A. irrigation Is good. But he cannot
maintain the proposition that both
are good. because they are diametric-
ally opposed in fundamental respects.
II may be asked, why present land
laws IL national irrigation makes the
proper provision for safeguarding the
peoples interests. The answer is that
The new policy is only in its expert.
mental stages and cannot extend over
he entire irrigable public domain for
many decades. In the meantime. spec
liators are quietly taking the most
valuable land and defeating one VI the
prime objects of the now law.
WILLIAM Il. SMYTHE.