The Parker post., 1913-02-15
RECLAMATION
OF STATE LAND
BILL INTRODUCED IN LEGiSLA-
TURE PROVIDING FOR BOND
ISSUE OF $4,000, 900 TO RE-
CLAIM ARID LAND.

A bill providing for the creation of
a state reclamation service and a
bond issue of $20,O00,000 to re-
claim arid or semi-arid lands was
introduced in the Legislature Wednes-
day by Senator c. B. Wood
Primarily, it is learned the measure
has been introduced for the purpose
of providing an irrigation system for
the Colorado River Indian reservation
at i'arker, and if it succeeds i'm pass
ing this project will undoubtedly be
the first to be undertaken by the
state.
.Probably no bill introduced at this
session. of the Arizona legislature will
cause more discussion, either in the
legislature itself or throughout the ma.
tion 1t is yet too early to tell what
chance the measure has of passage.
In the house of representatives Dren-
nan will make hard fight for it. In
the senate it will have strong cham
Grande
The bill provides for the issuance
of $2O,OOO,OOO worth of bonds by the
funding and loan commission They
-shall not bear interest of more than
five per centum per annum, or be
sold for less than par
The bonds shall be sold in denomi-
nations of 1000 each as rapidly as
money is needed for carrying out rec
lamation projects the state decides
to undertake.
Money raised from the sale of
bonds shall be placed in the state
reclamation fund This fund will be
under the control of the state recla-
nation commission Section A of the
bill reads as follows:
There is hereby created a state
reclamation commission which shall
be composed of the governor, secre-
tary of state, state auditor, attorney
general, who shall constitute the per-
manent members of said commission,
with power to transact business, and
AN irrigation engineer. The engineer
to be appointed by the governor with
the approval of a majority of the re-
maining permanent members of said
commission and the president or presi
dents of the board of directors of
each ifrgiation and drainage district
or districts who shall have filed APP
plication for state aid as provided in
this act"
The reclamation commissioners
shall examine such project for which
aid is desired If it is approved, the
land owners shall form an association
and issue bonds. The bonds shall be
taken UP by the state at par, out of
the reclamation fund, and held till
they are worth par In the open mar
ket. They will bear interest at a
rate of one and one-haf percent.
greater than the states reclamation
bonds
Following is the full title of the
act:
the arid, semi-arid and other lands in
the State of Arizona.
Declaring the policy of the state
and purpose to foster the develop
ment of it's agricultural resources, to
invest its permanent funds in irriga-
tiOn and drainage district bonds,
and other bonds of the state. Great
ing a State reclamation fund, and
providing for the issue of $4,000, 900
purchase of irrigation and drainage
district bonds, for the investigation
of the water resources of the state,
for the investigation, protection and
improvement of the watersheds of the
state, for the construction of ilTiga-
tion and drainage systems and works,
and to pay all costs and expenses in
cident to the work of reclamation of
arid and semi-arid and other lands in
the State of Arizona.
Creating a reclamation commits
sion and prescribing its powers and
duties. Authorizing the state to take
title of unpatented lands in irrigation
and drainage districts and providing
for the disposal of such lands under
the homestead and desert land laws
of the United States and rendering
such lands liable to all liens and as
SeSsments for irrigation and drainage
district purposes prior to the issue of
patent Providing for the acquisition
of arid lands for reclamation pur-
poses under the laws of the United
States and for the reclamation and
disposal of such lands to actual set
tiers
Providing for maximum farm