Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-01
rBByGarroy IN Nr1BssKa


IL is an Ill wind that blows nobody
good The deficiency in normal rainfall
in Nebraska in the past two or three
years has not been an unmixed evil.
1t has stimulated irrigation in the semi
arid section OF the state beyond all eX-
pectation and will soon demonstrate
what can be accomplished by artificial
waterways for improving the fertility
OF the soil.
AS shown ijy the records in the state
house, of which an exhaustive compila-
tion made by The Bee is presented in
today's issue the canals and bitches
constructed within the past three years
are computed to have a capacity for
rrgating more than one and one-half
million acres and the canals and bitches
under way when completed are caleu-
lated TO carry water enough to reclaim
nearly a million more acres. The capi-
tai already invested in this vast system
of internal improvements is said to ex-
coed SG,OOO.OOO and the authorized capt.
talization of the numerous Incorporated
irrigation companies runs up into the
tens of millions.
Unfortunately, the records of the
State Board of Irrigation do not afford
the information upon which reliable
estimate can be based as to the immedi-
ate future of irrigation. The all-essen-
tial point is the available water supply.
How much water Is there available for
irrigation in Nebraska? In other words,
what acreage can be irrigated with the
average water supply which can be de-
pended upon for irrigating purposes?
We might cover the whole state with a
network of canals and bitches, but un-
less we have assurance that they will
be filled with water at the proper sea
son the expense and labor would be
the example of the great Ogalalla dry
ditch, which was built at heavy cost
and literally subsidized, but proved to
be worthless because 1t was engineered
regardless of the water flow.
One of the objects of state control of
irrigation is to regulate canal construc-
ton in accordance with the known
sources of water supply. 1t Is known
that the Platte, Elkhorn and Loup Fork
valleys combined, embracing over half
of the irrigable land in Nebraska, can
not draw for irrigation purposes more
than G,OOO cubic feet of water per sec
ond from the streams by which they
are watered. This quantity of water
can irrigate only 100000 acres of land.
Whether this limit to the available
water supply has been kept in view by
the various irrigation companies that
are operating in that area will be dis
closed when the practical test is made
during the coming season. One thing
is certain-that filings have been ad-
mitted and approved by the State Irri-
CATION Board far in excess of the ca
pacity of the available water supply.
Another menace to successful irriga-
ton in Nebraska Is the reckless over
capitalization Of the irrigation COM
panies. There is no doubt that properly
located and honestly constructed irri-
eating canals and bitches in Nebraska
will pay handsomely on the capital in
vested. But bitches promiscuously To-
Gated without regard to water supply
and stocked and bonded for millions
where only thousands are actually in
vested will work incalculable mischief
and cause untold injury to the agri-
cultural interests of the state. Instead
Of promoting the cause of irrigation,
such swindlng schemes will frighten
away capital and retard legitimate en-
terprise Nebraska has reached that
stage of irrigation progress which calls
for prudence on the part of canal pro-
jectors and the best engineering skill
in state supervision. There will be re-
quired also at the hands of the next
legislature such revision Of the irri-
CATION laws as will afford the most
ample protection against wildcat irriga-
ton schemes and dry ditch engineer