Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-30
WANTS REPEAL OF LAWS

WASHINGTON, May 3O.-Although
congress failed apparently to recognize
the Importance of the repeal of certain
land laws which are known TO be det-
rimental to the settlement OF the west,
in that they allow Of speculation
among the public lands, il is evident
thar the great bushes interests of the
country are determined to secure such
action IL it is a possible thing. Dur
ing the year such national organiza-
tons as the National Business League
of Chicago, The National Board of
trade, The American Hardware Manu-
facturers' Association, The National
Association OF Agricultural Implement
and Vehicle Manufacturers. etc. all
great business organizations, repre-
senting millions upon millions of dol
lars have adopted strong and intel.
ligent resolutions calling attention to
the great national possibilities of the
Irrigation act and the increased
wealth which would accrue to the
nation through the settlement Of its
western lands under irrigation. AS
late as May 18th, the National Assoc
citation of Manufacturers, in annual
eCnvenlion at Pittsburg recited the
great importance to American manu-.
featuring interests of the extension
of agricultural prosperity and the
Subdivision Of the land of ocnn,
try into small harms. Such sFpolicy
It wes stated " the greatest I'M
portAnce 10 our manufaeturing in,
terests, Increasing as It WIN our home
market 10 the largest possible extent,
The Association urged upon congress
a policy by which all the remaining
public lands available for agricultsire
} II which ran be reclaimed under the
national irrigation act should BIZ
tirigidyy held for the home-builder
the settler who lives on his land an6
for no me else. and to this end WI
urge thar congress should repeal the
desert land act and the communication
clause cf the homestead arr, and III
all cases require five years' actual oc
cupation and use before title can BIZ
acquired 10 public land.
The National Association Of Manu-
facturers further urges that the re
clamation of the arid lands by the
government Should proceed az rapid
" as settlers viii take AMI cultivate
the land in small farms and repay
to the government the entire cost 81
the irrigation works. II further urges
s the repeal Of the timber and stone aci
and under the provisions of the bill
which has already passed the senate
and which provides for the sale q
stumpaee in lieu thereof, and that
the proceeds Of such sales should &c
TO the reclamation fund under the ma
tionai Irrigation act.
There Is now in this reclamation
fund In the neighborhood Of $4,000.
900 which Is to be spent by the ne
tional government in construction d
great irrigation works, as rapidly a.
the engineers IAN make the neces
sary surveys and construct dams and
canals. This expenditure will create
probably over a million acres Of small
productive farms out OF land that Il
at present desert waste. These farms
will range in extent from eighty acres
\ to 100 acres, In no case more thar
the latter figure. The large Yields
which result from irrigation canno'
hut make this million acres the mos'
profitable and prosperous OF any rural
section in the United states, increas
Ing the wealth Of the country and
affording an unparalleled market fol
American manufacturers.
GUY r. MITCHELL.
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