Source: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1138562
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 06:53:57+00:00

Document:
180 reservation paved the way for future national reclamation legislation.172 In the following year, Congress granted rights- of-way through public lands to canal and ditch companies for reservoirs and canals.173 This latter statute also authorized entrymen on public lands to associate together in the construc- tion of reclamation works.174 A notable increase of federal interest in irrigation appeared inthe 1894 Carey Act.175 It authorized donations to each pub- lic-land state of a maximum of one million acres of desert land in order to aid them:176 in the reclamation of the desert lands therein, and the settlement, cultivation and sale thereof in small tracts to actual settlers * * *. The state is required to agree to cause the lands to be irrigated, reclaimed, occupied, and cultivated by actual settlers.177 Tracts sold by the state must be limited to 160 acres for one person, and the lands may be used only for reclamation, cultivation, and settlement.178 An 1896 amendment empowers the states to provide for liens against reclaimed lands for actual cost and necessary expense of reclamation.178 This provision eased the financial or constitutional difficulties encountered by the states in constructing large canals and irrigation works.180 It was pointed out, however, that this amendment would result in the acquisition by wealthy individuals and corporations of large bodies of land, to the exclusion of the settler.181 Operations under the Carey Act were fraught with a number of difficulties. Surveys of available water supplies were inade- quate, and data respecting the type, character, and produc- 172 2 Kinney, Ierigation and Water Rights, §936, p. 1653 (2d ed. 1912). 118 Act of March 3, 1891, § 18, 26 Stat. 1095, 1101, as amended, 43 U. S. C. 946. 1M § 2, 26 Stat. 1096, 43 U. S. C. 327. 175 Act of August 18, 1894, § 4, 28 Stat. 372, 422, 43 U. S. C. 641 et seq. 176 § 4, 28 Stat. 422, as amended, 43 U. S. C. 641. m Id. inId. 179 Act of June 11, 1896, § 1, 29 Stat. 413, 434, 43 U. S. O. 642. 180 3 Kinney, Irrigation and Wateb Rights, § 1323, p. 2397 (2d ed., 1912). m Ibid.

References: §936
 § 18
 § 2
 § 4
 § 4
 § 1
 § 1323