Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-07-20

pil WITHOUT giving the state of
oregon that consideration which is
rightfully to be expected from legis-
lators of the United States.
The Chamberlain-Ferris bill pro-
vides the means for the disposal of
the oregon-California railroad grant
lands and the division of the funds
10 be secured therefrom. No obiec-
tion is made to the manner of an
praisal and settlement of the lands
and we are accepting the division or
the money as provided in the bill
which was 20 per cent to the school
fund of Oregon, 25 per cent to conn
ties In which the lands are situated
40 per cent to the general reclama-
tion fund and 10 per cent to the fed
eral treasury. A general objection
does come, however, from all sections
OF the state as to the plan allowing
the reclamation bureau to expend the
moneys represented by the 40 per
cent division wherever its officers
may decide.
The contention is made that the
40 per cent referred to, whatever the
general sum may be, should be spent
Tor the reclamation of Oregon desert
lands which can never be brought
under settlement until irrigation
plants are constructed and water car
ried to them. Oregon lands are lust
as deserving of attention from the
Reclamation Service as are lands in
Wyoming, Montana, Colorado New
Mexico or Arizona, and the fund be-
ing taken from the resources of Ore
gon, it would appear that Oregon des-
ert lands should in all fairness be-
given the preference in the construc-
ton of reclamation works.
In support of the Sinnott bill, the
Portland Chamber of Commerce has
sent copies thereof with explanatory
letters to all of the state societies
represented in Portland, to all the
clubs and chambers OF
commerce Of the state, and to every
newspaper. Each is asked to make
an urgent request Of every resident
Of Oregon whom II can reach to be-
gin writing series of letters to.
of congress with whom thew.
may be acquainted, particularly
hose from the eastern and southern
states, and to persons with whom
hey have an acquaintance residing
N such states. In these letters the.
request will be made that they ask
heir representatives and senator's to
10 justice to Oregon in this matter.
md support the Sinnott bill.
For the benefit of those writing
etters, the following information has
been tabulated and it is considered
advisable to quote
The taxed lands of all kinds in the
state of Oregon amount to 25,931.-
,76 acres.
The non-taxed lands in the state of
Oregon amount to 35,257,204 acres.
These include Indian reservations,
national parks and monuments, ma
.ional forests, military reserves. pow
'r sites, reservoir sites, coal reserves,
lnappropriated government lands,
ands filed on but not patented, state
school lands, and the Oregon Califor-
Tia land grant.
There are in the state, largely I'm
he southern, central and eastern
iers of counties, 80 projects forS
reclamation of desert lands. These
'over 1,10S,599 acres and the total
mount of money which will be need
ID to complete them is $54,644,OO0.
Is not expected that such a sum OF
money can be realized through the
70 per cent of the sale price Of the
rant lands which will be devoted to
he reclamation work, but whatever
he sum may be, it will serve a valu-
BILE purpose in preparing these lands
or the occupation of settlers. II all
4 the lands could be reclaimed they
'ould furnish homes for over $1,000
antilles and add materially to the
ak valuation of the state. 1t is prob
BILE that over 2,O60,O00 acres Of
uch desert lands can be ultimately
eclaimed and turned into prosperous
arms in this state.
Oregon has already contributed
to the reclamation funds
Il the United States, most of the
money being used in the construction
f projects in other states. Only $S,-
$1,000 have been expended by the
exclamation service within the state
+ Oregon.
From the foregoing figures it is
pparent that Oregon has the best
lain on all the revenue to be de-
lved from the grant lands which lie
'ithin this state, and we earnestly
rye every citizen Of the state to be-
in an aggressive campaign for writ
fC...4f.., -. ~. c,,,.N