1904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 573 



the Department of Agriculture, who public domain in the interest of the 



have so ably contributed to the sue- entire people, we urge the repeal of the 



cess of this congress. Timber and Stone Act, of the Desert 



We heartily commend the work of Land Law, and of the Commutation 



the Weather Bureau in the prepara- Clause of the Homestead Act. 



lion of the Climatological Dictionary As a substitute for the Timber and 



now in progress, and we bespeak for Stone Act, we favor the adoption of a 



this publication the widest possible bill passed by the upper branch of 



publicity. Congress at the last session, repealing 



We repeat and emphasize the reso- the said act, and providing for the sale 



lutions of the previous congresses in of stumpage and for the application of 



favor of the consolidation of all gov- the proceeds thereof to the Reclama- 



ernment forest work in the Depart- tion Fund. 



ment of Agriculture, owing to the pe- As a substitute for the Desert Land 



culiar fitness of that department for Law and the Commutation Clause of 



the work, and urge the immediate the Homestead Law. we recommend 



passage of the bill for this purpose an Arid Homestead Law, which shall 



now before Congress. limit the entry of any one individual 



We indorse the policy of the Gov- to one hundred and sixty acres, which 



eminent in the construction of a ship shall permit a reasonable intervening 



canal along the west shores of the Sa- period for reclamation before acquir- 



bine Lake in Southeast Texas, with ing continuous residence, provided, 



the view of opening to navigation the however, that after reclamation the oc- 



Sabine and Xaches rivers, which, in cupant shall be required to live on 



addition to opening the inland fresh the land five years before securing title 



water harbors nearest Kansas City as settlers are required to do under 



and St. Louis, has aided in conserving the National Irrigation Law. We al- 



the fresh water supply of these "streams so recommend and urge the repeal of 



for rice irrigation, and we urge all acts permitting the selection of lieu 



that similar work be extended to the lands, including any and all laws au- 



localities throughout the nation where . thorizing the issuance of any kind of 



practicable. land scrip, and recommend legislation 



It is the sense of this congress that for the valuation and purchase, by the 

 the remaining public domain should Government, if necessary, of all lands 

 be sacredly preserved to all the people in private ownership within the limits 

 of the United States, and should be of the forest reserves, 

 rigidly reserved for the benefit of actu- We fully recognize that the funds 

 af homeseekers, who will live upon the now available are inadequate to the re- 

 land and in good faith cultivate the alization of the National Irrigation 

 soil. We recognize that much has Policy upon a scale commensuniir 

 been accomplished to this end ; and un- with the opportunities of the West, and 

 der the provisions of the National Ir- the needs of the nation, and we favor 

 rigation Law, 40,000,000 acres of ag- a non-interest-bearing loan by^ the 

 ricultural land has been withdrawn Government to the Reclamation Fund, 

 from entry, except under that act and to be used in the construction of proj- 

 from the operation of laws which per- ects approved by the Secretary of the 

 mit the absorption of public lands for Interior, and to be repaid by the own- 

 private speculation, and the 80,000,000 ers of lands benefitted, in accordance 

 acres of timberlancl have been with- with the provisions of the present law. 

 drawn from entry in order to protect But we would not have the West 

 the watersheds," thereby increasing depend alone upon national aid in the 

 the source of water supply, and con- development of its resources, and urge 

 serving the public good. the several Western states and territo- 



In further pursuance of this wisely ries to adopt legislation providing for 



established policy, of preserving the the formation of irrigation districts, 



