The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-20
1ai1Ys eagle
Judge Babb's Bill.
u. VI. MURDOCK. Editor.

Judge Babb's Bill
farmers of the Arkansas valley distance up
and hundred miles, more or from
City City several years past
greatly concerned of the waters of
stream year year several the bed
has practically gone dry the of the
Little Arkansas westward to Garden City The annual
formerly banfull during the two
month some years holding the volume till
July as totally disappeared to the great
lands The waters of the river have
squestered being utilized by later corners
state in retaining desert lands
lands that did could produce anything
irrigation. other words Colorado is making her
blossom with profit at the
arable Kansas lands; robbng real agrcul-
tura lands lying within rain belt of their value TO
render of value lands in Colorado which were for
ery absolutely worthless for grazing purposes The
bed Of the Arkansas river the surface of the val
ley that crops miles each side and
for distance miles up and down
the river greatly the only
but the regular Eagles cognomination
Of years ago: nile Of question water
stealage has become serious not only to the far
and live stock of Southwest Kansas but to
the cities along banks. the towns
and cities which been depend
ing upon navagabuity
dress, way compelling Colorado to restore
that through
rgatng rendering thousands farms then
Northwestern farmers may legally
river for them own use.
There being strong desire rights
mater determination upon the part of the
valley Kansas to prevent their
properties being in
valuess resolve of cities not to
be robbed rights sanory privileges
several meetings within the past months
organizations completed which have been authorized
Representative Babb of THO city has
introduced enabling authorizes the commits
soners the response majority
petition Of the voters, levy to make an appro
pration half mill on every dollar of as
sessed property any township which shall so pe
tion purpose protecting properteh of such
townships injuries by the diversion of
the waters Arkansas river The bill amply guards
against population protects the tax payer against
fraud snap judgment
In the estimation men, as from the exper-
farmers hortcutuss and stock raisers the pro-
ductiveness large valley has been visible
affected for past by diminishing
volume of waters diverted by corporations dch-owners
and observation-disclosures Of the valley within
boundaries Of Colorado For fifteen years
ment Of the lower valley in Kansas were
attempted in the valley there question
Of our prior vested rights The formerly con-
strcted and utilized in Western Kansas
less and the lands adjoining abandoned for
agricultural purposes In short there stop put to
1t many Of the irrigated farms lower down in Colorado
to the Kansas line viii be rendered worthless.
So far as the agricultural valley Kansas
are concerned the value Of them destroyed totally
they rich and the fall Will in
sure fair crops. But the taking of is der
men in many nevertheless both country and
to the towns, and the question should be judi
caly determined by the highest land and that
win take some hence the necessity and wisdom Of
Iuoge Rabb's bill /,