Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-15
WOULD DRY UP THE PLATES
So Declares b. $. stoneI Concerning
Result of Proposed Irriga-
tIOn Measure.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY. Neb.. Feb. 1S.-To
the Editor of The Bee: l see by your val
liable paper that George Maxwell, secretary
of the National Irrigation congress-, is OPP
posed to the compromise irrigation bill
which is now before the house If represen-
tatives. The bill, as | understand it, has
for its object the building of large reser-
voirs for irrigation in the semi-arid dis
tricts OF the west. This is all right so far
as it goes. but the reader should not be
misled, as the bill goes farther and al
lows each state to control the supply Of
water IN the reservoirs.
Now, the last clause is the Que that will
cause all the mischief. and IL allowed to
become a law will work untold injury to
the people of western Nebraska.
The people Of western Nebraska depend
on the Platte river (both the North and
South Platte) for their water with which
to i~rrigate, but how are they going to get
the water If this bill becomes a law?
To secure the water would be an utter
impossibility, for If every state controlled
the water in It's own territory, what is to
hinder the states of Colorado and Wyoming
from stopping the flow Of the Platte at the
state line and thus forcing the farmer in
semi-arid Nebraska into bankruptcy be-
cause Of his inability to raise crops for
lack Of water?
There is also inserted In the bill a clause
which has for its object the following: 1t
virtually says that the farmer who takes a
homestead after this bill becomes a law
shall have the right to use the water from
the government bitches, but at the same
time prohibits the farmer who has spent
half his life in this semi-arid region from
the use OF this water. Now, If this isn't
class legislation l would like to see the
friends Of the bill explain to me what 1t
is meant for.
The government is no respecter OF per-
sons, and such being the case, l would like
to know why 1t is that this bill discrim-
mates against the pioneer, who has braved
the drouths and sandstorms of western
Nebraska for twenty years with the ex>
pectation hat some day the government
would construct irrigation canals and thus
bring happiness to him and his posterity.
l also believe that a law should be
passed repeating the desert land act.
which allows persons to file on $40 acres,
providing he irrigates the same. I claim
that by irrigation a man can make a living
for himself and family en- eighty acres,
and $40 acres irrigated would furnish a
happy and prosperous home for eight men
and their families, or forty persons all
told. ! claim that forty persons, situated
on a farm and having all the necessities OF
life are of a greater value to a community,
both as settlers and citizens, than one
person would be on a section of land.
Again l claim that eighty acres Of land,
irrigated, will bring more happiness to a
man and his family than a section Of land
would to one individual. Governments, as
I understand, are instituted to bring happi-
ness to the greatest number, and this being
the case with irrigation assured), l believe
this nation is morally bound to repeal the
desert act.
/ also believe that all these selfish con-
gressmen and senators who want the United
States to build reservoirs and then let
the states control the same are advocating
a cause which will certainly meet a de-
served defeat every time its head appears
In congress, and If the constituents would
do their duty they would hurl them beneath
an avalanche Of popular indignation from
which they could never arise.
What is wanted is irrigation controlled
and owned by Uncle SAM. II the govern
ment can run postofices and the like. why
can 1t not dig and control irrigation
bitches? 1t can, is my answer.
B. S. sToFFEL