The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-07-22
CHANGING INTO A DESERT.
COLORADO PLAINS DRYING UP AND
THE INHABITANTS SUFFERING.

wild Animals Becoming Tame Under the
Influence OF Thirst-Cutting of Irriga.
ton Ditches-Cattle Dying-Danger OF
Observation-Disclosures Water Supply.
DENVER, Col, July 2l-The great plains
are hot and parched and daily they are be.
coming more like the veritable desert of the
pioneer days. Not for many years has there
been such a scarcity Of water in Colorado,
and especially in the region of the Platte.
Vegetation is becoming brown and "risp. The
grass is withered, wells are drying up, irriga-
tion bitches are dry, crops are burned up by
the intense heat. Cattle are dying, and at
some points on the plains the people are
almost perishing for water.
Pitiful are the tales told by ranchmen of
crops destroyed. cattle perishing and their
families in great danger of suffering. Re
ports from the eastern parts Of Arapahoe
and Weed counties, near the Colorado and
Kansas line, present terrible state of af-
fairs This section seems fated to disaster
and misfortune Last winter it is estimated
that 100 people lost their lives near the state
line in snow blockadas and terrible storms
that prevailed Now they are scourged with
an intense heat that is bringing ruin and di,
aster. M emigrants for many years have
suffered such extremes of heat and cold as
they.
Induced by the favorable reports of the
rainfalls of the two previous years. and in
auenced by the commonly accepted theory
that the rainfall is each year increasing and
the rain center moving westward, hundreds
of new settlers have attempted raising crops
without irrigation, but the present season
has been a very unfortunate one, not only the
crops totally destroyed and their stock dying,
but the unfortunate ran 'hmen and their fam
lilies are in some places suffering for water to
drink. Nothing but misery'is ahead Of them,
and unless relief of some kind is soon OBJ
tanned it is said that they will be obliged to
move away or perish. Cattle are choking
with thirst, and often the poor brutes are
seen standing at the dried-up watering places
with tongues lolling out of their mouths.
In some places the wild animals are becom-
ing tame, even the antelope, the fleetest and
most active animals on the plains, in some
instances have become so exhausted from
thirst that they have been easily captured by
boys from the ranches The reports from all
the ranchmen confirm the statement that un-
less water is procured the suffering among
cattle will result most fatally, and that the
loss to ranchmen will be immense, as these
little punches are in many cases all The ranch
men possess to lose them would be most dis
astrous. In fact, as one ranchman expressed
it, it is a matter of life and death to them
The great stock rang , which it had been
hoped would escape, are now becoming
brown, and the leading stockmen are begin
ming to feel apprehensive. The cattle have
suffered more in the southern sections, and
many have persisted,
About 100000 head have been rushed
through the state from the dry regions of the
Northwest. The Rio Grand river has good
volume but the Arkansas and Platte rivers
are low, and at some points the Platte is now
but ankle deep, below the great irrigation
bitches, and many troublesome questions
have have arisen over the irrigation problem.
In many places along the Platte the ranch
men are armed, and will fight unless they
obtain their rights The big ditch COM
panies are monopolzing what little water
there is and the feeling is very bitter. There
have already been several encounters, but no
loss Of life has yet resulted. Representative
ranchmen from the plains have just held
convention in Denver, and say if they cannot
have water by peaceful means they win take
it by force "Water, water; give us water"
is the cry that comes from the plains.
Governor Eaton has just given an audience
to Il committee Of ranchmen, and is devising
means for fair distribution of the water,
and it is hoped that he will succeed. Unless
something is done there is danger Of blood
shed, The great ditch monopoies are guard
ing their bitches with armed men, and the
ranchmen, hundreds of whom are now
secretly organized and armed, say that unless
relief is soon given they will cut the canals,
Denver is feeling the result Of the drouth.
The city's water suppy comes from the
Platte, and the water works company has is.
sued a requeet to all citizens to be as econom.
ical as possible in the use OF, water, and es
pecally for lawn purposes. Some of the
small towns to the east of Denver are supplied
with water from this city, and were it not
for the water shipped to them on the rail
roads the inhabitants would soon perish OF
thirst.