, 1891-11-07
AN0KEL QUENTIOM.

Il NObEL QOEO LLON.
There is a great deal more significance
attached to the attempted diversion by
Colorado parties of water from the Big
Laramie river than is generally supposed
and it involves a question which has never
vet been taken cognizance of in the courts
or by the law making powers.
The Big Laramie river has its source 10
a very mountainous section Of Larimer
county. Colo. Its source Is probably
twenty five miles from the Wyoming
state line, and of course wholly within
the jurisdiction of Colorado. Colorado
as well as Wyoming under the approval
by congress OF Its constitution, is granted
the ownership of the waters within its
boundaries, although the language
is not quite SO specific as
in the case OF this state. A
company has been organized in Colorado
to divert the waters OF the Big Laramie
river, say for the first five or six miles of
It's course. This work. and much more
OF it oould for that matter, will be per.
formed entirely upon Colorado soil. 1t
will involve the outlay of a very great
amount OF money, but the company I'm
dertakinR it is satisfied that it will be
well repaid for labor and expense. All
the water collected from the first five or
six miles of the stream, instead Of flow
ing into Wyoming as heretofore and event
ually into the North Platte will be diverted
into Chambers lake, which is the head
waters OF the Cache la Poudre, aud
through that stream be devoted TO the
irrigation and reclamation of the COD
tiguous country 10 Colorado.
To put a stop to such proceedings in
wolves a question of interstate rights.
Wyoming, on its W soil, is supreme on
the question Of water appropriation; Col
orado is equally so on its own soil. The
question therefore involved is, can Colo
RADIO through appropriations Of water now
made on its own soil destroy the value OF
long pre-eristing water rights on the soil
of Wyoming? 1t is a question which the
United States courts will probably be
called upon TO decide, and it interests Col
orado in its relation to Kansas and vice
versa even more than it does Wyoming.
Besides the many small ~ranchmen along
the stream in Wyoming the town of Lar
annie and the Wyoming Development
company are very largely interested in
the outcome. The Big Laramie river
has its origin in the region OF almost per-
petual snow in Northern Colorado. Its
first five or six miles are therefore of
vast importance for through them the
supply is unfailinR even through the
periods OF drought. Just how ~sreatly
the scheme of the Colorado people
would affect the water rights in Wyom-
ing cannot at present be determined but
that it would destroy the value OF some
claims and lessen the value Of others can
not be doubted. Laramie may he put in
a very awkward position by it.. Until
within tho past six months the town has
relied exclusively upon its fine springs as
a source of municipal water supply. 1t
recently filed water rights along the Lara
mic river, but should the supply of water
in that stream be materially lessened and
it should at any time be necessary to en-
large the city water supply it may take
a good deal Of money to condemn and
pay for existing water rights. The de-
velopment company, as one of the earliest
in the field. will fare much better pro-
portionatelY than many others.
From thi. presentation, however, it will
be apparent that the own of Laramie.
the development company and the ditch
owners along the stream have a very d.
rect aud personal interest in the work now
in progress at the head waters of the Big
Laramie in Larimer county, Colorado. 1t
will also be apparent that the question in
volved is unique and that for the good of
all concerned it should receive speedy set
Element in the courts. The state engi-
neer says it is a question that in some re-
spects goes entirely beyond his jurisdic-
ton and the case must receive attention
through a concerted movement on the
part of those who own valuable rights in
the Laramie river water supply.