, 1902-06-30
WHAT CAN Be DONE
BENEFITS OF IRRIGATION MEA.
SURE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
PEOPLE THINK.
Editor MiddauJh of the Wheatiand
World Discusses the Matter In a
Sensible. Thoughtful MANNER In
the Last Issue of His Paper-An
immense Storage Basin.

the Wh.atlaud World thus speaks of
tn" Importance. Of the irrigation law
as applied to the conditions in Wyo-
ming:
Tn" benefits which may and should
accIu" to Wyoming under the irriga-
ton bill just passed by congress are
more important than most people be-
lievc or understand. There is little said
about tn" irrigation bill except among
those who are cOuvcrsant with its true
the most important piece of lcgisla-
ton for the west which has been plaC-
ed on the national statAto books since
the homestead law was first passed.
On tn" Laramie plains, southwest
of Laramie, Their" is an immense stOr-
ag" basin. ha one drives over the
country its value would scarcely be
detected. but nevertheless within the
contour of this immense depressed area
may be impOundCd millions of cubic
feet of water at a comparatively small
! IA ~ lltlIlllI'. nus 10 ~ I'o'I NolI
which Captain Chittondcn surveyed
and which was especially recommend
ed in his report to the government.
Captain C]hittcnden says tn" COnstruC-
ton of this reservoir is feasible and
moro than that the conditions are all
favorable. The basin which it is pro
posed to transform into a vast inland
sta is Ten miles in length, two miles in
width and tn" water would be an aE-
erage depth of 10 feet. the greater
part OF which could be drawn off for ir
too large TO be filled from the Big and
Little Laramie rivers as at first con
templatod. but Captain Chittonden
outlines another source of supply, that
of tn" Platte. He explains in his re
port how a canal carrying 1000 or
y feet of water per second may be
constructed from the Platte and used
to turn this volume of water into the
Laramie at some point near Woods
landing. and then used to fill this big
reservoir. This supply could be tax.
en- from the Platte during flood water.
and if there were appropriations below
these would not be in any wise injur.
ed. But the truth about the Platte is
this. that the stream is unappropriatcd
so far as Wyoming is concerned. but
that the stream is being rapidly appro-
priated in Nebraska. The doctrine of
priority of rights, irrespective of state
lines is now before the United States
supreme court in the case of the apprO-
priators along the Arkansas river in
Kansas against like appropriations in
Colorado. and in case the court up
holds prior appropriations. which many
lawyers believe it will, the status of
the North Platte will he defined to the
prejudice OF any benefit to Wyoming.
In other words, We'll have to hurry If
We get any of the surplus waters of
the North Platte. Otherwise our Ne
braska friends will take the entire
stream, save a few small bitches now
constructed, and which are incense
quently in utilizing the waters of the
stream.
The construction of this reservoir.
with the necessary canal from the
Platte. would mean the saving to Wy
oming of vast volumes of water now
flowing out of the state. and it would
n {hp procnrrnt;Dr ~c u-Dt.r riubt-
which would be of immense value to
Wyoming in the years to One. More
than this. it would mean the rccla-
nation of large areas of fine agriCul-
tural lands in both Albany and Lara
mic counties.
A number of years ago. Hon. John
Hunton had surveys made and a sys-
TEN of bitches constructed covering
large bodies of fine table lands in the
Chugwater valley. The plans for the
reclamation OF these lands We're feas-
ible and practicable. but the supply of
water available from Chugwater creek
was misunderstood. and the enterprise
had to be given up after much b
and money had been expended. These
lands are still in the Chug valley. as
may be supposed. and they are admir-
ably situated for irrigation. The soil
is excellent. and all conditions arc ripe
for their reclamation, save one--that
of a water supply. The big reservoir
On the Laramie plains which Captain
Chittenden surveyed and recommend
ed would supply the missing link in
the chain of success. Water from this
reservoir could be easily turned into
the Chug valley. as well as utilized in
the entire Laramie valley. We men
ton the lands which Mr.. Hunton
sought to reclaim years ago, but these
are only a tract in the area which nay
be covered by the waters that would
be impounded in the Chittenden reser-
voir. There are ample areas of land,
good land too, and every foot of water
| which can be stored in the water shed
of the Laramie can be put to a highly
beneficial use.
The construction of the Chittenden
reservoir, with its complement of a ca
nal from the Platte, is too expensive
an undertaking for private capital. but
the irrigation bill just passed will furn-
ish the means. The only question to
be solved is to get the necessary &C