Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-02
DEPLETE WATER OF PLATTE
Expert Says Amount Taken Above for r.
rigation Robs the Lower River.
SHOULD RESPECT RIGHTS OF OTHERS
Referee Appointed TO Take Testimony
in Suit Between Nebraska and
Missouri over Possession
of Island.

Missouri over Possession
of Island.
tFrom a staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON May 1.-(Special Tele
gram. )-Elwood Mead, irrigation expert Of
the Department OF Agriculture has written
letter to Congressman Stark in reply to
ipterrogatories submitted by the represent
ative from the Fourth Nebraska district,
which is regarded as one OF the most valu-
able contributions to literature on irriga-
tion and is especially valuable in view OF
the position Nebraska occupies in relation
to this most vital question. Mr.. Mead in
reply to a question says he believes that
the present systems Of irrigation in Colo
RADIO and Wyoming are wholly or partially
responsible for the absence OF water in the
lower Platte river from July to January and
that it has reduced the flow by diversion
from the South Platte. He says the North
Platte has been Of little use in Wyoming
the reason assigned being that the country
which 1t traverses is too broken for irriga
tion and because of high banks and other
obstacles to its diversion. Mr. Mead. in
discussing the reason for the reduction OF
the water supply in the North Platte. says
the change has not been brought about by
the extended use Of water for irrigation in
Wyoming but is due to burning and cutting
of timber at the head OF the main ard trib |
utary streams and the tramping down and
hardening OF the soil by rains and live
stock on both the mountains and plains
regions bordering the heads Of the two riv-
ers.
Storage Would Help.
II is his opinion that the storage Of early |
flood waters will tend to increase the late
water supply in the river in Nebraska. He
believes that storage in Wyoming will BEN
eft rather than injure the water supply in
Nebraska while an extension of irrigation
through the building of large canals from
the main streams will tend to reduce the
late water supply in Nebraska. AS to a
combination of the two he frankly says
be is not clear. AS to priorties OF use
of water, which has been the subject OF
very serious consideration by members OF
the Nebraska delegation. Mr.. Mead believes
they should be respected across state lines.
He emphatically states that congress has
power to make such legislation as will as
sure protection OF water rights notwith
standing the declaration OF some state con-
stitutions To quote from his letter:
l am fearful that If the principle OF
priority of right is not mutually recognized
In the United States supreme court which
will not only be expensive, but may result
in decision which will endanger the right
that a doctrine may be established which
will practically prohibit the use OF water
wholly as they did before settlement be-
gan. Such a doctrine would give steamboat
on the Missouri power to close
1t is not to the interest of any of the
western states to have such doctrine
established The water of the rivers 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 Wyo
land owner who does not use water in a
state lower down.
states at Law over Island.
Attorney General Prout has submitted
to the supreme court a stipulation agreed
upon between the attorney general OF Mis-
souri, and himself in regard to the boundary
question affecting some $4,000 acres In Nc
Kessick's island, which is now held to be
a part of Nemaha county, Nebraska. Mis-
souri, claims Jurisdiction over this island,
and the supreme court has appointed two
commissioners to take testimony and pre-
sent findings OF facts at the next term Of
court, Alfred Hazlett being named by the
attorney general OF Nebraska as one Of
the commissioners on the part of that
state. The island in question is located at
a point in the Missouri river where Ne
braska, Iowa and Missouri almost come to-
gether and is just below Hamburg, Ia, and
so far as Nebraska goes is known as Island
precinct. Attorney General Prout, speak
ing today of the stipulation which he pre-
sented to the supreme court, said that he
had received petitions signed by nine -tenths
he ~ IN
keep the island out OF the state Of Mis-
souri,.
Captain Hull. representative from the
Seventh Iowa district said today that he
would ask the committee on appropriations
OF the senate to increase the amount ap-
propriated for the purchase OF a site for
the new public buildings at Des Moines
from $l25,000 to $780, 900. 1t appears that !
several OF the papers in Des Moines are
diserediting the appropriation made by the |
house for the purchase Of site and are
saying exceedingly mean things about Cap
tain Hulls action in the matter. In justi- |
ncation Of the amount appropriated in the |
omnibus bill Representative Hull cited that |
New Orleans, with a population OF 29O OOO |
had an appropriation OF 5000, 900 for a site |
which was to cover one block; that Toledo |
with a population of 10000 and whose low
est estimate Tor a site was 1880 OOO re- |
ceived appropriation OF but sl25 OOO |
while Des Moines, with a population Of
81. 900. receives sl25. .0O0 although the lowest |
estimate for a site was $3.50, 900, furnished |
by the custodian Of the Des Moines post
ONCE and customhouse.
KIttredRe saves Appropriation.
Senator Kittredge had a session with the
conferees on the Indian appropriation bill |
The conference report on the bill had been |
made up and signed by the conference when |
the junior senator from South Dakota dis
covered that the conference report had re-
duced the appropriation for the Canton In
dian asylum to $4,000, Before the report
was presented to the two houses Senator
saw the chairman OF the house
conferees and induced Chairman Sherman
to restore the amount OF s25 900 as orig
inally appropriated. and just before the re-
port was read Mr.. Sherman took It upon
himself te make the change suggested, and
the Canton asylum was thereby provided
for.
The delegation Of live stock growers
who have been in Washington for the past
week with a view Of securing legislation
looking to a general land leasing law, left
for Nebraska today. They had a hnal con-