Bisbee daily review., 1914-04-08
HAYDEN OFFERS BILL TO MEET WITH NEW IRRIGATION NEEDS

.lkklGAIlUN NEEDNI
 WASHINGTON, April 7.-Carl Hay. den, of Arizona, has introduced bill GIT. R. I521s) to revise and amend the Carey Act. The original act was passed in 1894 and has been amended in al number of particulars since that time. but. owing to the failure of a number of the Carey Act reclamation projects there has been 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 resulting in inability to secure financial back ing. The settlers under a number of the projects have suffered great losses on account of the delay in construct ing the irrigation works, SO that it is also necessary that confidence be re- stored in the minds of prospective houseseekers on the arid lands of the west.
 The Hayden bill provides for a more strict supervision both ou behalf of the sta'te and the United States wi,h respect to the feasibility of proposed irrigation projects, thus protecting both the investor and the settler. The bill reduces the area that may be ac- quired by any one person from l6Q to so 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 protected by provision which prohibits the sale or entry of land until water is avail able for its irrigation.
 At the suggestion of the secretary of the interior on irrigation, conference will be held at Denver beginning on April ninth. It is expected thas the governor of all the public land states will be in attendance, together with representatives of the irrigation inter- ests of .he entire West. The revision and amendment of the Carey Act will be one of the principal questions at this conference and Mir. Hayden has introduced his bill at this time in order that a definite proposition for remedial legislation might be consid- cred by 'the conference.
 The difference between the reclam- ation 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 funds while under the Carey act the public lands are donated to the States and the ir- rigation works are constructed under '.he supervision of the state from the proceeds of bonds secured by a lien on the irrigation lands. The bill by Senator smith, Of Arizona, to extend the time of payment on the Govern ment reclamation projects from ten to twenty years, which has passed the Sena.e. will furnish relief to the settlers residing on the two million acres irrigated from the projects con structed under the reclamation law. The passage of the Hayden bill is necessary in order to complete the .e- vision of the federal laws relating to irrigaion and will make it possible to irrigate large acres of land that are now in desert condition. The re- clamation fund Is exhausted so that it is necessary 10 provide means whereby private capital will be en. couraged to enter into irrigation en .er- prises.
 The Department of the Interior has declined to make a report on the bills introduced by Senator Smith and Con gressman Hayden opening the Colo rado River Indian Reservation to set. Jement under the terms and condi- tions of the Carey act for the reason that the present Carey law is in such chaotic condition that it is feared that the project could not be properly fins anced. II the Carey act can be amended So as to make it workable the Secretary of the Interior will un. doubtedly report favorably on the | bills opening this reservation to settle. ment. There are over one hundred thousand acres of excellent land near rarker on this reseryatioE, enough land to furnish homes for at least iifteen thousand people and to add twenty million dollars to the taxable wealth of Arizona. There are a nun. Der Of other irrigation projects in Arl. zona that could be constructed under me Carey act so that it is of great Importance that this law be revised in the near future