The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1924-04-30

Last week Dill was introduced IL
congress to take care of the reclama.
tion projects along the line suggest.
ed by the fact finding commission
Aside from appropriating $500, ,00J
for preliminary work ON the Spanish
Springs reservoir the bill provides
First, that no new project or diyi.
sion of a project shall be approved
for construction until detailed infor-
nation has been obtained by the sec
retary of the interior as to the water
supply, engineering features. cost of
construction, and prices and the
probable cost per acre of develop
ment, climate, soil, kind of crops,
suitable transportation facilities,
markets and other economic factors
affecting the project.
Second, that hereafter no moneys
shall be expended for construction
until an appropriate repayment con-
tract, which has been approved by
the secretary of the interior Is prop
erly executed by a district organized
under state law, and that the exeeu-
tion of such contract shall be con-
firmed by the decree of a court of
competent Jurisdiction. That the con-
tract shall contain an appraisal, ap~
proved by the secretary of the in
terror, showing the bona fide value
of all such irrigable lands without
reference to proposed government de-
velopment, and shall provide that
until the government construction
charges against such lands have been
fully paid, that fifty per cent of all
moneys, credits and property re-
ceived from the sale of land shall
belong to the United States to be
credited TO a reduction of the con-
struction charge against the lands
so sold, but no moneys shall be ex-
pended for construction on account
OF any such project until all the
areas or irrigable lands Hereunder
and owned by any individual, in ex-
cess of one hundred and sixty irri-
gable acres, shall have been con-
veyed IN fee to the United States free
of encumbrance, and the lands so
conveyed shall be subject to disposi-
tion under the reclamation law when
ordered by the secretary of the in
terror. This does not apply to Indian
lands or to lands served with water
under the Warren act.
Third. that the secretary of the
interior is authorized 20 require of
all applicants proper qualifications
as to industry, experience, character
and capital.
Fourth, that the irrigable lands
of a project hereafter shall be classi-
fled by the secretary of the interior
with respect to their power to sup
port settlers and pay water charges,
that different construction charges
shall be fixed for different class of
lands, that reclassification surveys
may be made from time to time by
the secretary.
Fifth. that the secretary shall, as
to each irrigable area of land issue
two public notices relating to con-
struction charges. The first notice
shall be issued when the land is
ready for settlement. The second
notice when the land is sufficiently
advanced to warrant the first of the
installment payments. and shall fix
he date when payments begin, which
date shall be not less than five years
from the date of the first notice.
Sixth, that the construction charg-
Il ha I, 4
shall be the equivalent of five per
cent of the average gross annual
acre income for the calendar years
first preceding, or for the period dur
ing which records are available If
less than ten years. The decision of
the secretary as to the amount of
such installments shall be conclusive.
The annual payments shall continue
until the construction charge is fully
paid. A penalty of one-half of one
per cent per month shall be charged
against delinquent accounts. The
secretary of the interior shall be au-
thorized to amend all existing con-
tracts accordingly
Seventh, that when a farm unit is
found insufficient to support a fam
lily and pay water charges, the entry
man shall have the right to exchange
it for another unit. Ex-service men
shall be given the preference. All
operation and maintenance charges
shall be payable in advance.
Eighth, that hereafter the cost and
expense of maintaining offices In
Washington for the bureau of recla-
nation shall be charged to the gen.
eral reclamation fund. and not to
construction, operation and mainte-
nance cost.
Ninth, that the secretary of the
interior shall be authorized to re.
serve to the government rights OF
way or easements over public lands
when they are required in connec-
tion with projects. All entries shall
be subject to this ruling.