, 1902-05-06
MEAD0N|RR|GAT|ON


from the main stream Will @ to r.
duce the late water supply OF Ncbras.
ka, M | am not entirely clear as to
what would be the result Of a combina-
ton of the two
3rd. | believe that prioritics for use
of water should he respected across
state lines. just as they are within the
boundaries of "A state. and | believe
there should be such legislation by
congress as will insure such protection.
enact such Legislation. notwithstand-
ing the declaration of some of the state
constitutions. | am fearful that if the
principle of priority of right is not mu-
tually recognized by the western states,
it will lead to litigation in the United
States supreme" court which will not
only be expensive but may result in a
decision which will endangcr The right
of irrigators generally. BY this | meal
that n doctrine may be established
which will practically prohibit the use
of water in irrigation by requiring
streams to flow wholly AS they did be
fore settlement began. Such a loo
trine would give the steamboat owner
on the Missouri power to close bitches
in Nebraska as well as in Colorado. 1t
is not to the interest of any of the west.
ern states to have such n doctrine eS-
4 a h1tehnI nh. ,nt.r ls tt- ;,r.-r
should be used for irrigation. but an
early user in Nebraska should not be
cut off by a later user in Wyoming. nor
a user in Wyoming or Colorado be cut
off by II riparian land owner who does
not used water in a state lower down.
There is need of Il better understand
interstate rights than now exist, and |
believe it would be of greater benefit
to all the states affected by these prob.
lens if the irrigation investigation of
the department OF agriculture should
be called upon to make a report on the
problems of some important stream like
the Platte river. This investigation is
now charged with the study of state
laws and the water right problems
within the states. | believe it would
be well to extend these studies to the
problems of interstate streams.
4th. There are many favorable rcser.
voir sites on the tributaries of the
North Platte. The non along the
Sweetwater river at the Devils Gate
and above the Natural bridge of Lap
relle creek are illustrations Of the OPP
%portunities for conserving water now
country where water can be stored at
less expense.
5th. | doubt if any fixed rule can be
laid down as to the land II person
can farm under irrigation in the lati-
tude Of Nebraska. I should say any.
where from so to 100 acres, depending
upon whether the farmer puts most
of his land in hay or devotes it largely
to cultivated crops.
9th. No specific answer raj be made
to your 9Th question: it depends apo
the kind of soil. Alfalfa needs to be
irrigated about once a month in Wyo-
ming and western Nebraska. Farther
east in Nebraska where there is a
larger rainfall, it will get along with
fewer irrigations. Potatoes need two
or three waterings in the season. The
number OF waternigs which crops re-
| have known oats to require five water
ings in a session when hot winds pre-
vailed. while in other seasons the crop
has been grown with one irrigation.
18th. A miners inch of water is the
quantity which will flow through an
inch square orifice under a pressure
varying from 4 to 6 inches. In Cali
fornia. the miners inch is the guam
tity of water flowing from an inch
square opening with a pressure of 4
inches above the center of the oriiice.
In Idaho INT Montana the law makes
so miners inches equal to one cubic
foot per second.
Sth. There are so many uncertainties
regarding where the money would be
spent and as to. whether it would be
spent in the construction of reservoirs
or bitches, that I have no idea what its
effect would be on your state. If the
projects recommended in the report of
the secretary of the interior were first
to be carried out there would be no
effect whatever for the next five years
because they would absorb for that
time all the money which the bill will
provide.
9th. don't believe the flow Of water
in western rivers has any effect on
rainfall. The changes in forest and
grass conditions on the headwaters of
the streams may have.
Since Prof. Mead's letter was writ
ten the house has amended directing
that the irrigation investigation Office
shall examine into and investigate
water rights of riparian owners and of
those holding such rights by virtue of
prior appropriations. These questions
are also the principal ones involved in
the suit now pending in the United
States supreme court by which the
state of Kansas seeks to enjoin resi-