The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-04-10
NEW|RR|GAT|ONLAW
NEEDED FOR
THE WEST

Hon. Carl Hayden, of Arizona, has
introduced a bill Oh. R. 1919 to
revise and amend the Carey Act. The
original act was passed in 1894 and
has been amended in a number of par
ticulars since that time, but, owing
to the failure of a number of the
Carey Act reclamation projects, there
has been a growing demand for a
general revision of this important
branch of the national irrigation law.
The chief obstacle in the way at pres
ent is a general lack of confidence.
on account of the past failures re-
sulting in inability to secure financial
backing. The settlers under a num-
Der of the projects have suffered great
losses on account of the delay in con-
structing the irrigation works, so that
it is also necessary that confidence
be restored in the minds of prospec-
tive homeseekers on arid lands of the
West.
The Hayden bill provides for
more strict supervision both on behalf
of the State and the United States
with respect to the feasibility of pro-
posed irrigation projects, thus pro-
jects, thus protecting both the in
weston and the settler. The bill re-
duces the area that may be acquired
by any one person from 160 to 80
acres and requires actual residence
on the land for two years, and the
cultivation of one-half of the irrigable
area of the entry before patent can
issue. The settler is further pro-
tected by provision which prohibits
the sale or entry of land until water is
available for it's irrigation.
AS the suggestion of the Secretary
of the Interior an irrigation confer
ence will be held at Denver beginning
on April ninth. 1t is expected that
the Governors of all the public land
States will be in attendance, together
with Representatives of the irrigation
interests of the entire West. The re-
vision and amendment of the Carey
Act will be one of the principal ques-
lions considered at this conference
and Mr.. Hayden has introduced his
bill at this time in order that a dein-
lite proposition for remedial legisla-
ton might be considered by the con-
ference.
The difference between the reclaim
alton law and the Carey Act is that
under the first named law the money
to construct the irrigation works is
furnished by the United States through
the reclamation fund while under the
Carey Act the public lands are do
mated to the States and the irrigation
WOThS are COuo uCISo Tic oO-
pervision of the State from the pro-
ceeds of bonds secured by a lien on
the irrigated lands. The bill by Sen.
Smith, of Arizona, to extend the time
of payment on the government reclaim
alton projects from ten to twenty
years, which has passed the Senate,
will furnish relief to the settlers re-
siding on the two million acres irri-
gated from the projects constructed
Under the reclamation law. The pass
age of the Hayden bill is necessary in
order to complete the revision of the
federal laws relating to irrigation and
will make it possible to irrigate large
areas of land that are now in desert
condition. The reclamation fund is
exhausted so that it is necessary to
provide means whereby private CAPT
al will be encouraged to enter into
irrigation enterprises.
The Department of the Interior has
declined to make a report on the bills
Introduced by Senator Smith and
Hayden opening the
Colorado River Indian Reservation to
ettlement under the terms and con-
itions of the Carey Act for the rea-
on that the present Carey law is in
UGH a chaotic condition that it is
cared that the project could not be |
financed. If the Carey act |
an be amended so as to make it !
the Secretary of the Inter |
1r will undoubtedly report favorably |
n the bills opening this reservation
} settlement. There are over one |
undred thousand acres OF excellent
md near Parker on This reservation, /
nough land to furnish homes for at
,ast fifteen thousand people and to !
id twenty million dollars to the tax
BILE wealth of Arizona. There are a
umber of other irrigation projects
1 Arizona that could be constructed
nder the Carey act so that it is of
eat importance that this law be re-