1UK IRRIGATION AGE. 227 



the surveys for the purpose of ascertaining the cost, and, in order that 

 the United States may be protected, the amendment proposes to with- 

 draw from settlement a large tract, which is practically desert land, 

 but which would be pounced upon by all sorts of schemes if there was 

 an idea that it was to be irrigated. It will probably irrigate one hun- 

 dred of a hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, capable of support- 

 ing fifty or a hundred thousand people. It Is a great enterprise. The 

 ditch necessarily goes through it, and before the ditch is located it is 

 necessary to withdraw the land, so that the Government can hereafter 

 dispose of it. 



This commits the Government to nothing that it is not already 

 committed to, It directs the prosecution of the investigation, and in 

 order to compete the investigation and at the same time protect the 

 United States it is necessary to have a survey showing where the ditch 

 will be and what land will be irrigated. So the. amendment proposes 

 to withdraw the land until the survey is made and until all the esti- 

 mates are in. 



You cannot make a complete contour survey with a little money. 

 It takes considerable money. A hundred thousand dollars will be 

 required to survey this, and then you will have the proposition before 

 Congress. It is simply carrying out the policy of Congress already 

 settled upon. It involves nothing further than having the facts of 

 this great enterprise fairly brought before Congress. Then, that be- 

 ing done, if it is thought that the policy of irrigating by the Govern- 

 ment shall not be adopted, Congress can provide for the sale of this 

 enterprise to private parties, the land will be reserved, and there will 

 be something for the Government to sell. 



Mr. BEVERIDGE. May I ask the Senator from Nevada a question? 



Mr. STEWART. Certainly. 



MR. BEVERIDGE. I understood the remarks of the Senator from 

 Connecticut to be directed to this point, and I think they were very 

 pertinent: Why should the investigation be confined to this particu- 

 lar method of irrigation:* Wny should it not parmit any method of 

 irrigation that may be wise to be investigated? 



Mr. STEWART. There is a pamphlet here showing why. They 

 have already gone on. There is no other method". 



Mr. BEVERIDGE. The Senator from Connecticut says the other 

 methods have not been exhausted. 



Mr. STEWART. He thinks they have not. I think they have. 



Mr. PLATT of Connecticut. Will the San ttor par jait ma? Wny is 

 the clause which was contiinel in the original authority to investigate 

 left out of this provision? It provided that nothing in it shoull co n- 

 mit the Government to this enterprise. 



Mr. BEVERIDGE. If I understand 



