The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1900-06-02
Fighting For Water.

Supreme Court of the United States is
to be asked to decide the case Of Kansas
against Colorado in the matter of the
Arkansas River in the latter state.
This river in Kansas flows through some
thirteen counties forming valley of
2,0O000 acres, almost as rich as the
valley of the Nile. The claim made is
that Colorado has diverted SO much of
the water of the river as to seriously
drmage Kansas farmers.
Commenting upon this litigation be-
tfeen the two states. Mr.. F. IL. Newell,
hSving charge of the irrigation survey
inSs of the Geological Survey, made
sofie interesting remarks. THAT
trouble would sooner or later ensue,"
Mr.. Newell said, between these two
states over water rights, has been for 3
long tine evident to people familiar
with the condition affecting them. A
-pnnber q years ago the Geological
Survey undertook some important sur
veys of Colorado with view to deter
mining the perennial water supply of
its rivers and Its capacity for water
storage. The rivers he;,ding in Colorado
furnish a vast water supply and the
sites available for rese,voiring the flood
waters Of these streams are very numer-
Gus. Our work enabled us to locate
and survey large number of such sites,
but there are hundreds of others,
although right in the midst of the work
OF making these surveys. We were cut
of through lack of appropriation.
"Very expensive litigation is likely to
result from this attempt of Kansas to.
compel Colorado to stop using water,
and think when they get through with
10, they will be just about where they
are today. cannot but think that ii
this expense could be devoted to the
continuation of the work upon which
the Rovertment surveyors were engaged
some yetrs ago a definite knowledge
would be|obtained as to the possibilities
|of supplying both states with water
supply Oh business basis.
!, iii the -apois ,ef ths zipssssansing
though these states wore properly con
served in storage reservoirs there would
be enough water to supply all the lands
1t present under irrigation, and to vastly
increase the irrigated area, whereas
now therp is scant and unreliable
supply even for that land which is said
to be under irrigation"
'flow would a proper distribution of
wafer between the two states be
AFFECTED, II all the water possible should
be ktoredp' p
vt would necessarily have to be
THROUGH some third disinterested party
acting as agent, and in whom both
states would have confidence. Ibelieve
that in general interstate matter of
this kind the federal government is the
most logical and natural party to decide
and administer such a case equitably
and satisfactorily"
tThere are other cases are there not,
besides the Arkansas river which are
likely to cause trouble and litigation?"
"Dozens. This is simply one of many.
litigation must necessarily ensue be-
tween Colorado and Nebraska. between
Colorado and Wyoming; in fact until
some general system such as l have
suggested is adopted. there will be law
suits and controversies between states
wherever river crosses from one state
to another, which will involve an aggre-
gate cost Of enormous proportions, while
the ebutcome cannot in any sense be salts
factory. 1t appears to me to be very
largely the old question of people who
should be good neighbors, fighting over
a dividing fence and wasting time and
80, u h,,li ;~Lk