The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-05-24
FIGHTING FOR WATER.

FIGHTING FOR WATER.
) After years of threatening, tho Su-
preme court of the United States is to
be asked to decide the case of Kansas
against Colorado in the matter of the
diversions of the Arkansas River in the
latter state. This river in Kansas flows |
through some thirteen counties, forming |
a valley of $500, 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 |
damage Kansas farmers.
Commenting upon this litigation be-
tween the two states, Mr.. f. H. Newell,
having charge of the irrigation survey
ings of the Geological survey, made some
interesting remarks. "That trouble
would sooner or later ensue," Mr. Newell
said, "between these two states over
water rights, has been for long time
evident to people familiar with the con-
dtions affecting them. A number OF
years ago the Geological survey under
took some important surveys of Colorado
with view to determining the perennial
water supply of its rivers and its capa
city for water storage. The rivers head
ing in Colorado furnish a vast water sup
ply and the sites available for reservoir
ing the food waters of these streams are
very numerous. 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 off through lack of appropria-
tion.
Costly Litigation.
Every expensive litigation is likely to
result from this attempt Of Kansas to
compel Colorado to stop using water,
and I think when they get through with
it, they will be just about where they
are today. I cannot but think that If
this expense could be devoted to the
continuation of the work upon which
the government surveyors were engaged
some years ago, definite knowledge
would be obtained as to the possibilities
OF supplying both states With a water
supply on a business basis" "If tht
floods of the rivers flowing through thes,
states were properly conserved in storage
reservoirs there would be enough water
to supply all the lands at present under
irrigation, and to vastly increase the
irrigated area, whereas now there is {
scant and unreliable supply even for tina
land which is said to be under irriga
ton" How would a proper distribu
tion of water between the two states b'
effected, il all the water possible shoulc
be stored?" at would necessarily hav
to be through some third disintereste
party acting as agent, and in whom botl
states would have coni1en believ5
that in general Interstate matter o
this kind the federal government is tn
} most logical and natural party to decid
and administer such a case equitabl
and satisfactorily
"There are other cases are thoir no
bes ldes the Arkansas River which al
Likely to cause trouble and itlgatioa?'
Dozens. This is simply one OF man.
Litigation must necessarily e1sue be
: tween Colorado and Nebraska, between
Colorado and Wyoming; in fact unit
50 ne general sy stem such as have su2
gested is adopted, there will be lawsui
d and contr OVERSEES between states Wher
r ever river crosses from oae state
: another, which will involve an aggrega
n cost Of enormous proportions, Wall7 th
q outcome cannot in any sense be atisfa
It tory. 1t appears to me to be very larg
IS ly the old question of people who shoul
l. be good naighbors, fighting over divi
It ing fence ana wasting time and mont
IL enough to build gool DULL tight fenc
e instead OF getting together IN the oa5i,
r ming. and CO operating. Ii the irrigatiI
II interests in question would come t
le gether and benl their efforts toWal
getting the government to complete i
d half finished work OF re5rg0ir surveying
m in that section, then the matter wouI
r be in such condition as to enable Il
h parties in interest to proceed intalligan
+ ly on definite business basis"
20 Irrigation Appropriation,