, 1892-01-14
THE Union Pacific shops at Omaha will
not, it is stated by authority, be enlarged.
THE CASE WELL STATED.


MIR. f. II. Harvey of Douglas writes
the Omaha Bee, calling that zap to task
for mt conceptions of the proposed arid
land laws. He first sets it right upon the
conditions under winch it is proposed to
ask the government to cede the land, and
then goes on IT, say:
You say. further, ''all our water courses
rise IN Wyoming and Colora 10 If these
latter states are given absolute control Of
the irrigation question, as il applies to
arid lands OF those states, they will have
1t IN their power to deprive us absolutely
of the water which now courses across the
state in the Republican. Platte and Mo
brara rivers.
In passing it should be noted that the
Niobrars is almost exclusively a Nebraska
stream While it heads about twenty
FIVE miles within Wyoming. it is quite in.
significant where 1t leaves Wyoming soil,
carrying less than ten cubic feet flow per
second Neither can the Republican be
Il very large stream where it leaves Colo
RADIO. Practically the question concerns
the water of the North Platte river only.
With Wyoming and Colorado the move
ment in question does not involve an at
Atiup i " plOlulC SohNihl VI u "altlo
within those states. They have that already
gwen them by the congress of the United
States. absolutely and Internationally.
The constitutions of these two states.
as ratified by congress, provide as fol-
lows: The w.ters of all natural streams,
springs, lakes or other collections OF still
water within the state are hereby declared
to he the property of the state.
That property right Is effectuallv vested
in these states, TO be construed, however,
by the courts.
Congress can't l~egislate it away from
them now.
Assume that there may be II controversy
between appropriations Of water from the
North Platte in Nebraska and sppro-
~priators above them in Wyoming.
Congress has no power to settle such a
controversy 1t Is a matter exclusively
for the courts. If it should be taken
before the United States courts it may be
held that the old doctrine of riparian
rights prevails among states and that
one state cannot appropriate water to the
damage and detriment OF another.
But why raise the Question now2 1t
can't be settled as part of this movement.
1t can be used only to postpone the do
velopment of the arid region.
II Colorado and Wyoming by their
superior vigilance have secured the prior
right to these waters, it is hardly the
gracious thing in Nebraska to now play
the role OF the dog in the manger
Practically, however, the question will
never be raised.
The North Platte river, during the irri-
cation season. as shown BY measurements
made las simmer. carries n volume OF
water sufficient to ~iIriRa'e 800, 900 acres
OF land. 1t Is a most cxtravaRant iDaei-
nation that dreams of covering SOC, 900
acres in Wyoming from that stream.
There remains water for ! ZOO. 900 acres
to flow on into Nebraska. Did you ever
try to figure out where you will find
1000. 900 acres in arid Nebraska that
can by any reasonable expenditure be COW
cred by water from the North Platte
river? Such an area cannot be found.
Assuredly this is a cause in which the
West should stand together, for in prac-
teal results it promises more than any
other movement that has been instituted
IN TWENTY-FIVE wears past.