Carey Act

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The Carey Act of 1894 (also known as the Federal Desert Land Act) [1] allowed private companies in the U.S. to erect irrigation systems in the western semi-arid states, and profit from the sales of water. The Carey Act was enacted into law by Congress by the Act of August 18, 1894 (28 Stat. 422), as amended (43 U.S.C. 641 et seq.). It was a new approach for the disposal of public desert land, as the federal government decided this task was too large for individual settlers. [2] Through advertising, these companies attracted farmers to the many states which successfully utilized the act, notably Idaho and Wyoming. [1]

Senator Joseph Maull Carey of Wyoming introduced the bill in 1892 but it was not passed by Congress until 1894 when it was attached as a compromise measure to the 1894 Civil Appropriations Bill. [2] The Act established the General Land Office, which was controlled by the federal government. This land office assigned as many as one million acres (4,000 km²) of land for each western state. Each state then had to regulate the new land, selecting private contractors, selecting settlers, and the maximum price they could charge for water. Potential settlers who met specific requirements were granted 160 acres (0.65 km2) each. Projects were financed by the development companies, who eventually handed over control to an operating company.

In most states, settlers had to pay an entry fee, plus a small amount for the land, and meet several guidelines. In Iowa, for example, settlers had to cultivate and irrigate at least one sixteenth of their parcel within one year from the date which water became available. After another year, one eighth had to be cultivated, and by the third year — had the settler lived in the land, and paid all necessary fees — they would receive the deed to that parcel.

In general, the act was not as successful as intended, because few western states had the financial resources to make it effective. [2] However, both Idaho and Wyoming achieved some successes. In 1908 Idaho received an additional two million acres (8,000 km²) and Wyoming received an additional one million acres (4,000 km²) of land to develop under the Carey Act. [3] Today, approximately 60% of the Carey Act lands irrigated in the United States are in Idaho. [1] Examples of successful Carey Act projects include Boise, Minidoka and Twin Falls. [1] Wyoming was home to some of the first projects under the Carey Act, including the Cody Canal financed by a group of investors led by William F. Cody and supported by then state engineer Elwood Mead. [4] Many of Wyoming's irrigation projects also began following World War II. [5] Wyoming senator Francis E. Warren was also responsible for bringing the Carey Act to effect. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Carey Act in Idaho http://www.gchshome.org/careyact.htm%5B%5D.
  2. 1 2 3 Encyclopedia of the American West. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 1996 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HistRC/hits?docNum=BT2330500244&tab=1&locID=pool11244&origSearch=true&hdb=US&t=RK&s=1&r=d&items=0&secondary=true&o=&sortOrder=&n=10&l=dR&sgPhrase=false&c=1&tabMap=1&bucket=gal&SU=Carey+Act.
  3. Pisani, Donald (2002). Water and American Government: the Reclamation Bureau, national water policy, and the West, 1902-1935. University of California Press. p. 394. ISBN   978-0-520-23030-9.
  4. Bonner, Robert (2007). William F. Cody's Wyoming empire: the Buffalo Bill nobody knows. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 318. ISBN   978-0-8061-3829-9.
  5. Carey Act in Wyoming http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/Research/Topics/SubTopic.asp?SubID=4&nav=1&homeID=1 Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine .
  6. Francis E. Warren http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/RobertsHistory/New_History_of_Wyoming_chapter_13_water.htm Archived 2009-08-13 at the Wayback Machine .

See also

Newlands Reclamation Act

The Reclamation Act of 1902 is a United States federal law that funded irrigation projects for the arid lands of 20 states in the American West.

Timber and Stone Act

The Timber and Stone Act of 1878 in the United States sold Western timberland for $2.50 per acre ($618/km²) in 160 acre blocks.

Public domain land is land that cannot be sold because it legally belongs to the citizenry. Public domain land is managed by a public entity—such as a state, region, province or municipality—directly or by institutes or state companies. It is called dominio público (Spanish), domínio público (Portuguese), domaine public (French) or demanio pubblico (Italian).