Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1901-03-14
IRRIGATION OUT WEST
Department Of Agriculture Reviews the
Condition in Wyoming.
CANADIAN METHODS ARE STUDIED
Guiding Principle is Security Of Title and
Use of Available Water for Lasting
Benefits to Greatest Number-Progress
of Work.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE De-
partment of Agriculture has issued
as bulletin No. Sc paper entitled "Ir-
rigation Laws of the Northwest Terri
tories of Canada aud Wyoming" with
discussions by J. S. Dennis, deputy
commissioner of public works of Can
ada; Fred Bond, state engineer, OF
Wyoming, and ]. NJ. Wilson, agent and
expert in the Office Of irrigation IN
vestigations at Cheyenne, Wyo.
The builetin was prepared under the
direction of Prof. Ellwood Mead, irri-
cation expert in charge of the office
of irrigation Investigations, who, In
submitting the subject matter of the
publications to the Department of
Agriculture, stated:
"This publication has been pre-
pared because of a demand for in
formation regarding the Wyoming law
and the Canadian northwest irrigation
act, both of which were partially de-
scribed in bulletins numbered So and
60 of the Office Of experiment stations.
Several of the western states are now
earnestly seeking for some way to put
an end to the litigation and contro-
versy and TO provide some simpler,
cheaper and more effective method Of
establishing titles to streams than is
possible through resort to the courts.
The success which has attended the
operation Of the two laws therein Civ
en- makes them worthy of study and
the six principles noted as having
served as I guide in the framing Of
the interpretation of the northwest
irrigation act are believed to be so
sound and fundamental as to be
worthy of general adoption. 1 believe
the publication Of the bulletin will be
Of service in pointing the way to much
needed reforms in many Of the arid
states"
The six principles upon which the
Canadian northwest irrigation law is
based are as follows:
''First-That the water in all
streams, lakes, ponds, springs or other
sources is The property of the crown.
"Second-That this water may be
obtained by companies or individuals
for certain described uses upon CON-
pliance with the provisions of the
law.
"Third-That the uses for which
water may be so acquired are "domes-
tic" irrigation" and "other" pur-
poses, domestic purposes being limited
to household and sanitary purposes,
the watering of stock, the operation of
railways and factories by steam, but
not the sale of barter of water for
such purposes.
"Fourth-That the company or in
d1Vldual acquiring water for irrigation
or other purposes shall be given clear
and lndfsputable title to such water.
"Fifth-That holders of water rights
shall have the protection and assist
ance of permanent government officials
IN the exercise of such rights.
"Sixth-That disputes or complaints
regarding the use Or diversion of water
shall be referred to and settled by the
officials of the government charged
with the administration of the act and
that decisions so given shall be final
and without appeal
Deputy Commissioner Dennis in his
review of the operation of the Can
adian northwest irrigation act based
upon these principles, gives briefly but
comprehenslvely an Interesting lac
count of the operation of the law.
which is in the main successful. He
concludes "that while the Canadian
laws relating to irrigation are in their
infancy or formative stage and possi-
DIV weak in many respects, the guild
principle and aim of these laws is Sc
curlty of title and the use of the avail
able water in such manner as to bring
the greatest and most lasting benefit
to the greatest number"