Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-09
ALLoTTING INDIAN LANDS.

dllOttcu lands, under the strict super
vision Of the department. furnish an
increasing revenue to the Indians from
year to year. Timber operations on
many OF the reservations In Wisconsin
and Minnesota. carried on under regu-
lations approved by the department.
also provide very substantial AMI
satisfactory income to the Indians en-
gagged therein.
The irrigation of Indian reservations
and allottments in arid sections is pro-
ceeding in n systematic manner under
trained engineers, and the funds APP
proprialed by Congress for this purpose
are carefully expended with view to
securing the greatest possible benefit
to the Indians.
one of the most serious drawbacks
10 the work of civilizing and educating
our Indian population consists of the
facilities afforded them In all sections OF
the Indian country TO secure intoxicat-
Ing liquors.
LANDS DISPOSED OF.
There were disposed OF during the As
cal year ended June 30 1905, public
LANDS aggregating l7.O56.62227 acres,
classified as follows. Cash sales, |. 6i6.-
65l.51; miscellaneous entries, embracing
homestcads land warrants. SCRIP loca.
tons, state selections, swamp lands,
railroad and wagon-road selections. In
dian alottments, etc, l5 1872 424.0l acres,
and Indian lands. 1869 acres, show
Ing an Increase of 65Oso0.32 acres as
compared with the aggregate disposals
for the preceding fiscal year.
The total cash receipts during the As
cal year from various sources, includ-
NJ "A 4
TO 49, 1856, Ss799, and Indian land, s7Jl,-
$685.; from depredations on public
lands, $22,Si450, from sole OF timber on
forest reserves, $50, iOli7; from sales Of
government property, $l0.2G774, and for
furnishing copies of records and plats.
s24,l02; aggregate. NOl7sll3S de-
crease of 81, s65. $1,000 from the preceding
fiscal year.
The total expenses of district land
offices. for salaries and commissions OF
registers and receivers. incidental eX.
penses and expense Of deposting public
moneys, during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1905, We're sSls,339.32, decrease
Of s2i,636.l9. as compared with the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1904.
The aggregate expenditures and es.
tifnated liabilities of the public land
service. including expenses Of district
land offices, as stated, were sl,9Ss,3 1888 80,
leaving a net surplus In the United
states treasury of s5,O29, i22OS.
construction work has proceeded rap
idly and satisfactorily. The building
OF large works has already been in
augurated I'm most OF the western states,
particular attention having been given
To those localities where the largest
areas OF public land We're available for
reclamation. or where the extreme arid
ity OF the climate and the character Of
the soil gave assurance of the ultimate
success OF the works. In the semi-ard
parts OF the country, where irrigation
is stu In it's experimental stage and
where the farmers and landowners are
yet to be convinced OF its benefits,
greater caution and slower progress
have been necessary In order To avoid
risking investment of public funds
where the results would be OF question
able value.
Already in one Of the extremely arid
states most needing development ne
Nada) large and permanent works,
built under the provisions of the re-
clamation act, have been put into
service in the presence of well-known
statesmen and citizens. and other no.
table works are almost ready for use.
All Of the land which can he irrigated
within the next few years has already
been filed upon, and there is an APP
parently Unsuitable demand for more
irrigable land.
The problems which now confront
the reclamation service are not those
relating TO the construction of works
or to the disposal OF lands, but those
concerned with a wise enforcement OF
a
act In respect to small farms and ac-
tual settlement upon them. Many
of the persons taking these irrigable
tracts are obviously endeavoring 10
hold them for speculative purposes. and
under one form or another are trying
to acquire as large areas as possible
This can be prevented by tactfully but
firmly enforcing the letter and spirit of
the law.
owing TO the lavish disposal OF the
public lands during recent years there
remains I'm the possession OF the gov
eminent only a comparatively small
amount Of land which ultimately may
be irrigated, most Of the reclamabe
land being I'm the hands OF individuals
or corporations. One Of the wisest pro-
visions OF the reclamation act Is that
which states that mo right to the use
Of water for land IN private ownership
shall he sold for n tract exceeding 100
acres To any one landowners and no such
sale shall be made to any landowner
unless he be an actual bona fde resi-.
dent on such land. or an occupant
thereof residing on such land or an oc-
cupant thereof residing In the neigh
borhood." 1t Is believed that the iud.
clous enforcement Of this provision VIII
brng about the cultivation OF the re-
claimed land in small holdings thus
indirectly many Of the errors Of the
past In respect TO prohigate disposal
Of irrigable land may be partly rene
died
II Is obviously not the intent OF the
act 10 irrleate ut pubic
expense large private holdings and in
crease the wealth OF n small number
OF men unless the public receives an
equivalent gain The strongest argu-
ment for the law s not that II adds
wealth To the state. but that ID builds
the greatest number OF homes md Gre
ates n community Of owners ~ the soil
who live upon the land and derive their
suefcnAnce from II,
The operations under the reClama-
ton net have stimulated development
OF the west In many lines ana have
aroused private ENTERPRISE 20 take up
similar work, Experience has shown
that there are many localities where
owing to complications ~ vested rights
and partial DEVELOPMENT Of the country,
snch private enterprise can conduct
the work ~ reclamation 10 better adj
vantpee than can the government on
the other hand, there are many local
tiles whore because Of Interstate prob
lens or the magnitude OF the work
only national agencies can bring about
the best development. The work OF
tho government IL being conducted IN
harmony with all such enterprises,
whether under private corporate or
state control
FUNDS PROVIDED BY ACT,
Tic frgs- nroy.S.t, b.: the at 1,
June H. 1902. constituting the proceeds
from the disposal OF public lands in the