File:Irrigation in the United States - testimony of Elwood Mead, Irrigation Expert in Charge, before the United States Industrial Commission, June 11 and 12, 1901 (1901) (14595781620).jpg

Identifier: irrigationinunit105mead (find matches)
Title: Irrigation in the United States : testimony of Elwood Mead, Irrigation Expert in Charge, before the United States Industrial Commission, June 11 and 12, 1901
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Mead, Elwood, 1858-1936 United States. Industrial Commission on Agriculture and Agricultural Labor United States. Office of Experiment Stations
Subjects: Irrigation United States
Publisher: Washington : U.S. G.P.O.
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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is not the water or it is not available. Wecan never make use of but a small fraction of the Columbia, it iscertain we can never utilize all of the Colorado, and it is doubtful ifwe can ever completely use the Missouri. Q. (By Mr. Litchman. ) Have you gone into the question of artesianwells?—A. Yes; I know something about artesian wells. Q. Would it be true if the land were irrigated, as you propose, thata given quantity of stock could be raised on a less area of land?—A.Oh, yes; I think so. Q. And would not the limited amount of land as suggested by you.be compensated by that fact?—A. Oh, yes; only you would have agreat many more people. As it is now a great many men interestedin the stock business will occupy 50,000 or 100,000 acres of land withflocks and herds. This plan I have suggested would make smallerflocks and herds and larger farms. r Q. (By Mr. A. L. Harris.) Would the lease system be better thanthe absolute title?—A. The only objection to the disposal of the public
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35 land by absolute title would be that there may be some of the land-so disposed of for grazing purposes which is irrigable. I should saythat the better plan for the present as a tentative measure would bethe lease system; perhaps not ultimately, but simply as an alternativeor a temporary measure. Q. How long would you have the lease?—A. Not for more than liveyears, and I would have every tract of land leased remain subject toentry under the public-land laws and have the man who leased it takeit with that condition. I would not restrict the operation of acquiringtitle under the present land laws at all, but would leave those openeven on leased lands. It is my judgment that men would lease landand take those conditions; that is, men who leased land would knowwhether or not a homestead or a desert-land filing can be made on it,and if they select land that is irrigable and subject to cultivation theytake their chances. Q. (By Mr. Farquhar.) These remarks that you make are predi-cated

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