A Drowned Empire 



A 97 



DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN SURVEY OE SACRAMENTO VALLEY (u. S. GEOLOGICAL 



SURVEY PARTY) 



sufficient to keep the several branches of 

 the government each hard at work on 

 the particular problem it is best fitted to 

 do, and calls for the most earnest and 

 hearty cooperation of all. 



PUBLIC DEMAND EOR NATIONAL DRAINAGE 



The apparent popularity of the national 

 drainage issue is evidenced by the large 

 number of bills that have been introduced 

 in Congress at this session, while very 

 substantial progress has been made in the 

 way of proposed legislation. The Senate 

 Committee on Public Lands has consid- 

 ered and digested the various bills and 

 has unanimously reported to the Senate, 

 with favorable recommendations, a com- 

 prehensive measure. It is predicted by 

 the author of the bill, Senator Flint, of 

 California, that it will undoubtedly pass 



the Senate in the near future. What its 

 fate will be in the House remains to be 

 seen. It is believed that the majority of 

 the members of that busy body favor 

 national drainage enactment, but it is a 

 question whether the bill will be allowed 

 to come to a vote. 



The provisions of the bill are in the 

 main as follows : 



The proceeds from the sale of public 

 lands in the non-arid public-land states 

 (those not contributing to the national 

 irrigation fund) are appropriated as a 

 "drainage" fund, dating back to June 

 30, 1 90 1, in order to give drainage an 

 even start with irrigation. The work of 

 drainage reclamation is to be carried out 

 by the Secretary of the Interior, who is 

 given wide discretion in the premises ; 

 among other features, he is empowered to 



