Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-03-06
Some Needed Legislation
More Information as to Water
Supply and Irrigable Lands
a Necessity.

reforms for the better protection Of
settlers on Carey Act projects, fully
believing that the lack of proper
protection was instrumental in driv-
ing settlers from the state and keep
ing new ones away. Now comes
report of the committee on state
affairs fully conforming all we have
said on this important question, and
a synopsis of this report is given as
follows in the Boise Statesman,
which has always been a most ar
dent advocate of the interests Of the
corporations Of the state:
Startling disclosures Of the situa-
ton existing on some Of the Carey
act projects Of the state j. contained
in a report made to the house by
the committee on state affairs at the
afternoon session yesterday. 1t
comes in the form OF state affairs
committee report, but the state
affairs committee in reality only
passed on and referred to the house
report on the Carey act projects
that was compiled by the state
Carey act agent.
The report goes into detail in tell
ing of the status OF the Big Lost
river project, where the situation j.
said to be particularly alarming. In
addition to other difficulties and
entanglements into which the pro-
ject has become enmeshed, the re-
port says that the available water
supply for the project is not ade-
quate for more than 30 per cent o
the Carey act lands alone, OF ahicl
approximately 80 per cent have
been sold.
After reciting in detail the wrong,
that have been worked by the pres
ent system Of administering Carey
act lands and showing the short
comings of the present irrigation
laws, the report briefly summarize
the recommendations Of the Care,
act agent as follows:
Accurate data on the available
water supply should be had fo
more than one year.
Arabic and irrigable lands shoul,
be accurately known, and contrac
should specify by legal subdivision
the state and private lands tina
would be susceptible of irrigation
from the proposed works, as well a
Carey act lands and to specifcall
state the quantity of water To b
furnished.
Require all consumers contract
for state and private lands, as we
as all Carey act land to be approve
by the state.
At the time of all openings, re
quire the date to he fixed when a,
tually available.
Protect entrymen for payment
made for land and water when pun
chased before water is actual
available.
Require publication Of availabilit
notices as fast rs water is available
but only upon approval 10y til
state.
Grant two years time after sue
notices before requiring performanc
: of work of reclamation by the entry
man, which is now required to /
, done within one year.
Make provision in contract bt
tween state and constructing con
pany, fixing the date for the pay
ment of the second installmcnt fC
! purchase of water So that paymeI
may be reasonably expected froi
the products of the farm.
>. Amend statute requiring the sa
of Carey act lands at uniform priC
of SOC per acre.
10 Provide for reservation of wat,
| for state and arid lands.
h The total expense of maintainir
e the Carey act land department frol
] August |, 1911, to December
n 1912, is given rs SSOS6.34. ii
expenditures by all department