Weekly Independent

THE ARID LANDS.

Provisions of a Bill Providing For Their Cession to the States.

One of the most important bills that is likely to receive the attention of Congress this session is that prepared by the House Committee on the Irrigation of Arid Lands, ceding such lands to the States in which they are located, and providing for their reclamation, and Chairman Lanham, of Texas, will ask for its early consideration by the House.

The bill as prepared by the sub-committee, recites that inasmuch as the proper irrigation and reclamation of that portion of the public domain of the United States known as the arid region, lying west of the ninety-seventh meridian of longitude, presents many difficult questions relating to the locating and demarcation of catchment areas and basins, the construction of reservoirs for the storing of storm and other waters and the equitable distribution to the greatest advantage of such water for agricultural purposes, which difficulties can only be surmounted by laws, rules and regulations made by those who are best acquainted with and most interested in the problems to be solved and who, as they are to receive the greatest direct benefits, ought in equity and justice, to defray the vast expenditures of money necessary and requisite as the improvement, reclamation and settlement of such land as can be reclaimed, therefore, in order to turn over and remit to the people of the States and Territories in which such arid lands are situated all questions relating to the irrigation of the same and to save further expenditure of the money of the United States thereon, the bill provides that subject to all rights, inchoate or perfected thereto, all lands of whatever nature or description and rights thereto, including water rights, now belonging to the United States in the States of Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas and California, and in the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Utah, shall severally be granted, ceded and confirmed to these States and Territories, the grant to each to be of the lands contained within its present boundaries and territorial limits.

The bill further provides that the President shall issue letters patent for the same to the several States and Territories designated, whenever the States and Territories shall, by act of Legislature, accept this possession of the lands as provided, within four years from the time of approval of this act.

The act will in no manner affect any of the lands held by the United States for parks, naval, military or other public purposes, for any Indian or military lands, nor the Territory of Alaska. The Governors of the Territories of Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mexico are required, within a reasonable time after the passage of the act, to call special sessions, if need be, of their several Legislatures, to pass upon the provisions of the act and the questions submitted to them.

No State or Territory accepting the cession of lands shall in any case sell, lease or dispose of the lands in greater quantity than 160 acres to any one person, corporation or association nor shall any such State or Territory in any manner impair or abridge the homestead privileges now granted to soldiers and sailors under the land laws of the United States.