The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-22
RECLAIM TIE SWAMPS'
I. PLEA. IN SOUTH ].
Success in Minnesota and North Dakota Prompt.
TO Ask Government Reclamation for Millions Of
Acres Of Land by Drainage Ask General Law
az More Forcible Than Local Bills.
there WASH sufficient time to bring it
up before adjournment.
Bills Lost to Sight.

there WASH It sufficient time to bring it
up before adjournment.
Bills Lost to Sight.
Besides the Stevenson bill. one put
thru the senate by Mr.. Hansbrough Of
North Dakota, providing for the diver
sion of $1,000,000 from the reclama-
ton fund for the drainage Of lands in
me Red River valley was also reported,
PIT it was opposed by Speaker Cannon
and remained on the calendar at the
close of the session Another bill that
was introduced, but which never saw
the light of day after that, provided
for further diversion of $3,O0O,OOO Of
the reclamation fund for the drainage
OF the Dismal swamp of Virginia!
Nobody took this bill very seriously
except the Virginia and North Caro-
INA delegations and it is probable that
ITS present status will not be changed
before congress dies by limitation on
March 4, next.
Southern members of congress, how.
ever, will not depend upon merely local
bills for drainage, but will probably
work for the passage of general law,
covering all the states in which there
are large or small areas Of swamp
lands. A bill along this line was
introduced by Representative Steiner
son Of Minnesota in the last session.
but the members interested in it
.couldn It agree on all it's provisions, so
it was not acted on by the public lands
committee: Representative Lacey Of
Iowa, chairman Of the committee, was
also opposed to it, saltho his state would
fbeneft by such legislation to a large
f:extent. It was also understood that
|Speaker Cannon wasn't exactly friend
w n vrrhi -
| delay action, as it was known that
there wouldn't be any chance to pass
| the bill even if it had been reported to
the house.
Suggests State Cooperation.
I In a: recently issued bulletin, the
geological survey suggests that the CO.
operation Of the, state and national
governments can easily be brought
about in this matter, and points out
| that the Typographical surveys already
clamation projects. It is said that
differences Of elevation on the topo-
graphic maps would indicate to an
engineer the probable results of con.
structing drainage bitches in certain
places, and that but little further in.
vestigation would be necessary to en-
able experienced men to prepare com.
plete plans for most of the projects.
As an argument in favor Of federal aid
for reclamation in places where private
capital is not available, or where the
projects would be too large for the in
dividual or corporation, the great en-.
'hancement Of values in reclaimed
lands in California and other places
where drainage works have been
erected is mentioned in the bulletin.
The advocates Of drainage legislation
say they may not get what they want
| during the short session, but they
won It be discouraged. They point out
that the western members worked fol
years before the irrigation act was
4 passed, and they are prepared to make
a long fight for the reclamation of the
swamp lands. f.: "--.: