The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-09-25
FOR RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
BEING DONE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS

Arizona ana OhlhuOiuAl
Urging the immediate and absolute
repeal Of the desert land act. and
tho communication clause Of the home
stead act. as recommended In the re-
port Of the senate committee on pub
lie lands in the last session Of con.
gross.
Recommending the appointment Of
a commission by the president OF
tho United States TO investigate and
report such further amendments or
notifications Of the land laws Of the
United States as may be desirable to
promote the actual settlement and
development Of prosperous popula.
ton on the public domain. tho bet.
ter utilization Of the grazing land and
the preservation of the forests by
right use.
Urging appropriations for forest
preservation. because Of tho fact that
the forests are to a large extent the
sources Of the water supply through.
out the entire arid region and their
destruction will mean the destruction
Of agriculture in these regions.
That the forests reserve law should
DO so modified as to permit the ex-
! portation OF forest reserve timber
from the state in which such timber
is cut whenever II shall be established
TO the satisfaction OF the secretary in
charge OF forest reserve that the sup
ply Of timber In any reserve IL clear.
ly In excess OF tho local demand. and
That tho congress OF tho United
States should Immediately repeal tho
lien land provision OF the forest res
ervatlon act. and enact law whereby
private land within forest reservations
or the improvements thereon may DO
acquired by purchase or condomna.
ton.
That water sheds which have been
donuded Of their forest growth by FIRE
or otherwise should be reforested by
tho national government and thereaft.
er DO preserved by stringent laws
from injury or destruction from graz
ing by livestock. and the forest re.
serves should bo enlarged 10 include
tho water sheds OF all streams furnish.
ing water to communities dependent
on tho water supply therefrom for
water for irrigation.
That tho secretary Of agriculture
be urgently requested TO make some
forestry experiments In the vicinity
OF Salt Lake City. conducive TO a fur
Their development and preservation OF
said watersheds and the protection OF
the water supply.
Urging that the national govern
ment should proceed with all prac.
tlcablo expedition TO complete tho
surveys and make tho necessary plans
and estimates for tho construction OF
tho great reservoirs and canals necos.
sary 10 regulate for navigation and for
the utilization for irrigation and power
OF tho enormous volume OF food
water that now runs 10 waste In such
great rivers as the Columbia, Sacra.
mento tho Colorado. the Rio Grande
tho Arkansas and the Missouri and
their tributaries. and that as soon as
surveyed and ready for construction.
and approved by the secretary OF the
interior. these great engineering
works should be built Just as rapidly
as actual settlers will take the lands
and build homes on them and repay
TO the government the cost OF tho
construction OF the works. and loan
to the reclamation fund in the treas
ury OF the United States should be
made each year by congressional APP
preparation for the full amount which
the secretary OF the interior may an
nually recommend 10 congress as tho
amount which should be made ayalla.
BILE for disbursement for construction
during the ensuing year. all such
loans 10 the reclamation fund to be
repaid 10 the fund In ten annual in.
stallmonts as provided by the national
irrigation act.
That II Is the sense Of this congress
that the storage OF waters in the OK.
tensiye catchment basins OF the west.
orn rivers for the prevention Of foods
and for power and irrigation is both
possible and practical. and that the
government should supplement its
present policy OF levee construction
by comprehensive reservoir system
throughout the arid region, not only
Tor the purpose Of conserving the
water for irrigation, but also for the
preservation OF life and property in
tho lower reaches. The waters thus
conserved would be OF inestimable
value and a blessing to the people
In tho arid and semi-arid district. We
believe that irrigation and flood pro
ventlon are two ideas to be developed
together. The reservoirs TO be built
should include not only large reser