The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-29
KANSAS GETS WATER
If Colorado's Proposition Is
Accepted Ply Gov. Bailey
TAKE ONLY FLOOD WATER
From Arkansas River Letting
Natural Flow Come This Way

It is reported that the governor Of Co
dorado is about to make a proposition to
Governor Bailey for a settlement of the
Arkansas injunction suit.
According to the agreement, Colorado
is to take no water from the river for
irrigation purposes during the months of
July, August and September Of any year.
In addition, Colorado is to reimburse
Kansas for the $1,000 spent in prosecuting
the suit"
The above dispatch was received last
night from Topeka Judge S. S. Ash
baugh. one of the attorneys of the suk
was shown the dispatch and asked what
he thought Of it.
We'll. Well" said Mr.. Ashbaugh. 81
an surprised and pleased with that an
nouncement It means, if true, that Kan
sas has won practically every point she
contended for in her petitions Kansas
asked the supreme court of the United
States to make a decree keeping the Ar
kansas river river throughout its en-
tire length. BY this we mean that the
usual flow Of water should be allowed at
all times and not having parts Of the
river bed dry during the summer. This
was our contention throughout the case
ana if the governor of Colorado makes
such proposition It is one perfectly fair
and upright in every respect and one that
Kansas can accept
IN fact should this proposition be car
ried out it would be better for Colorado.
Senator Fred Dumont Smith and / were
in Colorado a few weeks ago and made
q careful investigation Irrigation en-
gineers told US that they allowed enough
water TO pass down the Arkansas river
every year TO irrigate the entire eastern
slope Of the state We know this TO be
true right here. Every June we ex-
perience q big rise in the river when for
DAYS the water fills the entire channel of
the stream. Enough water passes Wich-
tia every year to iTrigate good portion
OF Colorado.
The reservoir theory is receiving a great
deal of attention in Colorado just now.
The reservoirs could be filed with the
food waters and Colorado would have
more water for irrigation that at the pres
ent time. In July, August and Septem-
Der of each year of course there is not
a great supply of water in the river. Some
years there is less water than others and
the people find themselves confronted
with the same proposition as We do here
when there is scant rainfall
But every spring they told US that they
allowed enough water to pass over their
dams TO food the eastern slope of the
state. Why should they not store this
water that is really wasted and it would
furnish them an abundant and never fail
ing supply of water for their crops. They
would not have to figure on crop losses
on account Of low water in the river.
The natural conditions of the country
are such that great reservoirs can be built
at little expense and thus store the flood
waters for use in the heated summer
months when water is needed most and
the river cannot be depended on to
furnish an abundant supply each year.
kansas does not need this flood water.
What we want is the natural flow of the
river The food is abnormal We do
not want II or need it. 1t may be a
menance to US at some time. Let Colo
RADIO keep this water for her own use
Kansas win not begrudge it to them but
we do want the usual flow of the water
in the Arkansas river during the balance
OF the year.
1.-The proposition submitted to Governor
Bailey is an acknowledgment of the
claims of Kansas. They viii take the
flood waters during the winter and spring
months and store ii in great reservoirs
but during July. August and September
they Will open their dams and let all OF
the water in the Arkansas river flow on /
ward through Kansas
Il cannot say what will be done in this
matter The attorneys in the suit will
meet in Topeka about the first of the
month to prepare a new bill of particu-
lars to be filed with the supreme court.
The proposition may be submitted TO us
at that time and action will be taken. 1
do not know what the other attorneys ,
will do and would not care to express an
opinion until l have talked with people ?
directly interested in the suit but I do
think it is a fair proposition"