The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-03
Interior Department Will AS
sess Lands Being Withheld
From Cultivation.
LIFTS BURDEN FROM MEN
WHO IMPROVE THEIR FARMS
Heretofore Tracts Were Held So
Improvements Would In
crease Their Value.
Special to The Tribune.


WASHINGTON, Dec. On the Mini
doka irrigation project there are approx
mately 5000 acres of private and state
lands which are not being irrigated
These lands arc not contributing In any
way toward the repayment Of the cost
OF constructing the irrigation works. but
apparently arc being held cut OF culti
walton for the purpose of gaining the
increase in value which results from the
Improvement Of adjacent lands by the
settlers.
Such practices have retarded the de-
velopment OF the project AS whole
frustrating the purpose of the laws in
tent OF making homes on the land. and
has endangered that part OF the govern
ment water right filing which is in
tended for use on this land.
The vacant lands are infested with
"a bbits and other pests which destroy the
crops OF the farmers. The settlers who
are developing the country complain that
owners to withhold lands under this
project from settlement indefinitely in
order TO secure an unearned increment
through the labors Of the bona flde resi-
dents on tho ncighboring lands.
The settlers are compelled TO build
roads and to maintain bitches across
these unoccupied lands, while the value
OF their own property is greatly lcssencd
vicinity
Secretary Ballinger's Order
Recognizing tho business of this COM
plant. tho sccretary OF the interior has
Issued the following public notice:
"Firsst-Nearly all OF the private school
land shown on the farm unit plats Of
the minidoka project. Idaho, heretofore
made subject to public notice under the
terms Of the reclamation act of June
II, 1902 (32 Stat. 3SS). Is being held out
of nj va lon 4 In, nal nj
dition will result in the forfeiture OF
that part of the water appropriation Of
the project filed in 1903. which is In
tended for use on this land, and the post
ponement of its priority to much later
date More stored water will then be
required for such land, which Will In
volve q greater cost 10 provide storage,
''Sccond-It is. therefore. equitable that
an added charge for the necessary add :
tional cost Of storage should be assessed
against such Of the private and school
lands are not included In water right
application within reasonable time af-
ter the publication Of this notice
''Third-The areas in question arc
shown on farm unit plats OF the follow
Ing townships:
Boise mcridian-Townshlps and 10
south, ranges % and % east: townships
s. and 10 south. range "a east; town
ships and south range % east;
Approved by the secretary OF the in
terior on June IS, 1910.
''Fourth--Noticc is hereby given that
for all lands shown on such plats for
which water-right application shall be
fled on or after July /, 1911. and which
are at the time in private ownership. the
building charge shall be $40 per acre OF
irrgable land, payable In not moro than
ten annual instalments. each payment
not less than 81. or some multiple there
Of per acre. The term private owner
ship as here used shall apply - lands
not heretofore entered subject TO the
terms Of the reclamation act, or not now
subject to such entry.
Payment of Installments.
"Fifth-Such water right applications
shall be accompanied by the first in
stallment of The building charge. 81 per
acre If irrigable land plus the portions
of installmcnts for operation and mainte ,
nance which would have become due had
the application been filed on March 81,
1909 The second instalment of the
charges for building. operation and
maintenance shall become due on Decem-
ber I OF the following year and subse-
uuent installments on December l OF
each year thereafter until fully paid.
"Slxth-In case of transfer OF land for
which water-risht application was made
prior to July I, 1911. and payment made
assigned by the former applicant in all
cases where such application has not been
Cancelled for failure to comply with the
law, but no such credit Will be allowed.
nor may the new applicant have the
benefit Of the lower building charges un-
less proper ASSIGNMENT OF credit has
been fled. II the former water-r right ap
plication had been Cancelled for failure
to comply with tho law or If at the
time of assignment nc payment had been
made on the watcr-right application, one
or more payments being due under the
public notices. the assignee shall not bo
permitted to apply under the former rates
OF charges