54 THE UTILIZATION OF THE VACANT PUBLIC LANDS 



(2) tlirongh the agencj^ of irrigation companies; and (3) by the 

 states controlling the waters within their respective borders. 



On March 20, 1888, Congress passed a joint resolution direct- 

 ing the Secretary of the Interior, through the direction of the 

 Geological Survey, to make an examination of that portion of 

 the arid region where agriculture is carried on by means of irri- 

 gation, as to the natural advantage of the storage of water, and 

 the practicability and cost of construction and capacit}'' of reser- 

 voirs, and such other facts as bear on the question of the storage 

 of water for irrigation purposes. This resolution was followed 

 by legislation making appropriations to enable the Director of 

 the Geological Survey to make the necessary examination, and 

 he was authorized to select sites suitable for the storage reservoirs 

 contemplated by the resolution, which were to remain segregated 

 and reserved from entry, occupation, and settlement until other- 

 wise provided by law. Under this authority 120 suitable sites 

 have been selected, and the lands covered by such selections 

 have been reserved from entry, occupation, and settlement, but 

 to this day no provision has been made for their utilization. 



The plan of reclamation through the agency of land and irri- 

 gation companies would not, in my judgment, be commended 

 by the people, and although it might be effective in putting 

 under irrigation all the territory possibly susceptible of irriga- 

 tion by the water that could be stored, yet it would hardly be 

 possible to make such limitations and restrictions upon a grant 

 of such power as would absolutely protect the settler against ex- 

 tortion and oppression. 



The third appears to be the most feasible plan for the utiliza- 

 tion of the arid lands. The right to the use of the water being 

 under the absolute control of the state, it would, if it controlled 

 the land also, be enabled so to direct and govern the appropria- 

 tion of it as to secure, by a judicious selection of the lands to be 

 irrigated, the most economical and practical use. It would en- 

 able the state to check the waste growing out of faulty construc- 

 tion of dams and imperfect systems of applying water. The 

 settler on a tract of desert land who has acquired a right to the 

 use of water is interested solely in the application of it to his 

 particular tract, with no responsibility for its economical use. 

 The land is abundant, but the water is scarce, and if we expect 

 to reap advantages by utilizing the water to the greatest extent, 

 it must be accomi)lished by reclaiming the lands before they are 

 disposed of. This can be accomplished more effectively by the 

 states than through the general government or other agencies. 



