OCR Text |
Show DECLINES TO OPEN LAND TO SETTLERS WASHINGTON, Feb. 14. The secretary of the interior has declined to restore to entry, as petitioned for by a large number num-ber of prospective settlers, the 150,000 acres within the Minidoka irrigation project, proj-ect, whieii it is intended to reclaim under un-der a ,pumping system. The department officials are hopeful that it will be a question of a comparatively short time until all these lands in be reclaimed, as there is ample water and povrer for pumping purposes available at the Minidoka Mini-doka dam. and as -soon as funds are available there is no doubt that the authority au-thority will be granted by congress for the completion of the entire project. The opening of the lands to homestead entry would complicate and make more difficult diffi-cult the consummation of tTre plan which the reclamation service has formulated to bring this land under the pumping system. |