The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-11
THEY GET into LINE
Arkansas Valley Protective As
ISOLATION Formed.
WILL FIGHT FOR WATER
Delegate ConvoCation of Four
Counties Formed.

The fight on the Colorado irrigation
ditch companies has commenced in earn
est. A meeting of the most prominent
farmers along the Arkansas river in
Sedgwick county and citizens Of Wichita
was held at the court house yesterday,
and definite steps taken to stop the hog
Eing of water by Colorado IL such an
extent as entirely dries up the Arkansas
river. Representative Silas Rutledge and
Messrs. Oldfather, D. n. Jones, E. 3.
Jewett and others of the county and city
were present. An organization known as
the Arkansas Valley Protective associa-
ton of Southern Kansas was formed and
a cali made for a meeting of the mayors
and councilmen Of the towns in Reno,
Sedgwich, Sumner and Cowley counties,
and the county commissioners of these
counties, in the appellate court room at
the Sedgwick county court house on Sat
urday, Feb. 10, at o'clock p. m. The in
vitation is not to be considered as limited
TO these four counties but TO all the coun-
ties or cities or individuals everywhere in
Southwest Kansas that are interested in
protecting the property in any way af-
fected by the condition Of the Arkansas
river.
The mayors and city councils of Hutch
inson, Burton, Halstead, Sedgwick City,
Arkansas City, Belle PLANE, DIulvane,
Conway Springs, Winfield and Caldwell,
and the officers of Mount Hope, Colwich,
Derby, and individuals in the valley Of
the river will be expected to come or send
delegates to the next meeting and help
to push the work along.
The men pushing the scheme are sub
stantial farmers and business men and
will stay b ythe proposition until it is thor
oughly tested.
The attorneys interested in the case say
that where counties have land taken for
tax along the river appropriations can be
made to the fund for prosecuting the suit
as such an action would come within the
matter of protecting the county's inter
ests. Everybody will be asked to help
and it is thought that $40 900 will be need
ed. and probably more.
Below is the report of Secretary Graves:
1.-The meeting called to order in the
basement of the court house by f. b.
Jewett. who stated the object, viz: To in
of Southern Kansas Of their right to the
water of the Arkansas river, and of the
serious injury to them of the tapping of
that river by irTigating bitches Of Colo
RADIO and western Kansas; and to discuss
the means of protection against this in
vasion of their rights and serious menace
to the welfare of the agricultural inter
ests of this portion of the state of Kan
eas.
"A temporary organization was effected,
Of which the Hon. Silas Rutledge was
chosen chairman and Walter II. Graves
secretary.
After some discussion 1t was unani-
mousy voted that when this meeting adj
journs it shall adjourn to the appellate
court room in Sedgwick county court
house, Wichita, on Saturday, Feb. 10, 1893,
at 100 p. m.
THAT the secretary be instructed to
correspond with the mayors and councils
of the various cities and the county COM
missioners of the various counties of
Southern Kansas which are by their To-
cation interested in the object of this
association and invite them to send dele
gates to the meeting of February 10. and
that general lnNitatlon De EXTENDED 10
the farmers of the Arkansas valley Of
Southern Kansas to attend said meeting.
THAT the chair appoint committee of
three TO wait On the mayor and council
of the city of Wichita and the county com
missioners Of Sedgwick county, and invite
them to the said meeting.
THE chair appointed Messrs. T. B. Jew
EFT. D. NJ. Jones and Walter II. Graves
to serve on said committee.
Meeting adjourned
WALTER H. GRAVES,
ssSacra+ar ~ Dro tenn "