The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-06
% AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Our land laws for the entry OF agricul-
tural lands are now as follows:
The original homestead law, with the
requirements of residence and cultivation
for five years much more strictly en-
forced than ever before.
The enlarged homestead act. applying
to nonirrigable lands only. requiring five
years residence and continuous cultiva-
tion Of one-fourth of the area.
The desert-land act. which requires on
the part OF the purchaser the ownership
Of water right and thorough reclama-
tion OF the land by irrigation, and the
payment Of S1.25 per acre.
The donation or Carey act, under which
the state selects the land and provid ss
for Its reclamation, and the title vests In
the settler who resides upon the land and
cultlvntes II and pays the cost of the rec
lamation.
The national reclamation homestead
law, requiring five years residence and
cultivation by the settler on the land ir-
rlgated by the government. and payment
by him to the government OF the cost of
the reclamation,
ficient general Importance to call for men,
tlon unless II Is the stone and timber
act, under which every individual. once in
his lifetime. may acquire 100 acres OF
land. II II has valuable timber on II or
valuable stone. by paying the price OF not
less than $3.50 per acre, fixed after ex-
animation Of the stone or timber by a
government appraiser In times past a
in the acquisition Of lands under this act;
but II Is now being much more strictly
enforced, and the entries made are so
few in number that II seems to serve no
useful purpose and ought to be repealed.
In Aid Of Settlers.
The present congress passed a bill of
great Importance. severine the ownership
Of coal by the government in the ground
from the surface and permitting home
stead entries upon the surface OF the land
yyh1n p,il.
the right TO farm the surface. while the
coal beneath the surface is retained in
ownership by the government and may be
disposed Of by II under other laws.
There Is no crying need for radical re-
form In the methods OF dsposng of what
are really agricultural lands. The pres
ent laws have worked well The en-
larged homestead law has encouraged the
successful farming OF lands in the semi
arid regions. OF course the teachings OF
the agricultural department as to how
these sub-arid lands may be treated and
the soil preserved for useful culture are
Of the very essence of conservation. Then
conservation OF agricultural lands is
shown In the reclamation OF arid lands
by irrigation, and should devote a few
words to what the government has done
and is doing In this regard
Reclamation,
created OF the proceeds Of the public
lands of the United States with which
TO construct works for storing grea,
bodies OF water at proper attitudes from
which. by a suitable system of canals
and ditches. the water is to be distrib-
uted over the arid and sub-arid lands OF
the government to be sold to settlers at
price sufficient to pay for the improve
ments. Primarily. the projects are and
must be for the improvement OF public
lands Incidentally. where private land
Is also within the reach OF the water
supply. the furnishing at cost or profit OF
IN rri 1,,rt - he.
ernment Is held by the federal court OF
appeals not 10 be a usurpation of power
But certainly this ought not to be done
except from surplus water, not needed
for government land. About thirty prof.
ects have been set on foot distributed
through the public land states in accord
| with the statute. by which the allot-
ments from the reclamation fund are
required to be as near as practicable In
| proportion TO the proceeds from the sale
| OF the puhlic lands in the respective
| states, The total sum already accumu-
lated in the reclamation fund Is 500 273.
25S. 90. and OF that all but 81, 491 $50 "a
| has been expended. II became very clea,
| TO congress at Its last session. from the
statements made by experts. that these
thirty projects could not be promptl,
completed with the balance remaining or
hand or with the funds likely 10 accrue
| In the near future II was found. more
over that there are many settlers whc
| have been led into taking up lands WITT
the hope and understanding OF havins
water furnished In short time, who arc
left In most distressing situation
recommended TO congress that authorlt,
| be given TO the secretary OF the interior
TO Issue bonds In anticipation of the as.
| surcd earnings by the projects. so thu,
| the projects. worthy and feasible, Nigh
be promptly completed and the settler.
might be relieved from their present in.
! convenience and hardship. In author
izipg the issue OF these bonds coneres S.
limited the application OF their proceed.
to those projects which IA board OF arm,
| engineers. to be appointed by the presi.
| dent. should examine and determine n -,
| feasible and worthy OF completion. Tho
oonrd has been appointed and soon Will
make It's report
suggestions have been made that tb,
United States ought TO aid In the drain
! age OF swamp lands belonging to tn,