The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-05
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Nj. M MUIR X, EDITOR.
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR BAILEY.

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR BAILEY
The Seventh congressional district, Of Kansas,
is the biggest congressional district in the United
States in more than respect, comprising one
third Of the entire of the state. But that is
not the point The Arkansas river the tenth river
in length in the world and the third this con-
tinent courses the Seventh congressional district,
east and west, from end to end That is more to
the point but still not the gist Of this in its en-
tirety. The waters of this consequential river for
long time were proftably utilized, by the people
of the congressional district, aforesaid. in kind
of a subteranean, yet substantial way. The waters
were also employed for all the ordinary domestic
and agricultural purposes such the subirrgating
of the lands of the valley the livestock of the ad
joining sandhils and for dishwashng and the like
Subsequently and after many years of undisputed
employment and enjoyment of the profits arising
from the utilizing of the river in question, years
and years subsequent to the time when the set
tiers of this section had paid the government its
price for clear title to the lands with all their
riparian rights appertainng. it incdently dis
closed by some frontier adventurers that by the
application of Arkansas river water TO the desert
valuable variety of edible squash or hybrid pump
kin was of possible production. Thereupon these
sagebrush subduers and melon manipulators, pro-
ceeded to sequester and STEAL to appropriate and
apply, the entire flow known and enjoyed as the
Arkansas river, by the residents of the Seventh
congressional district alluded to- and to the great
damage of the bona fde landowners. last named,
ing of the state agricultural report of Kansas. at
large This unlawful appropriation, though perpe-
trated in broad day light not in the nature of a
holdup. It was a piece of sneaktheving, in
sinuously consurlated and withal with such an air
of innocent Indifference would have deceived the
very elect.
When the people of this valley in Kansas finally
realized what they were up against got on to what
was cutting their bank balances they rallied to
man, fell into line and retained eminent lawyers
with the view of recovering stolen values, but still
with little expectation of otherwise Furnishing the
ditchthieves when if convicted. Right at this
iuncture the state Of Kansas state put its foot
in it. It's attorney general decided that the suit
should be brought in the of the state Where
suit at least far as to hang the contention up for
long time When he did finally get into the SUI
preme court to his establishment no doubt and to
the utter dismay of the ditch promoters of Colo
RADIO. that court declared that Kansas had sure
enough case. And there the thing is resting In
the meantime the Eagle which originally gave voice
to the cry OF stop thief is becoming dsconsolate
fJa ,l-f
age
What we desire at this time is to call attention
of Governor Bailey to the that this congressional
district is not only due the honor of discovering the
wrongs here set forth, but the honor of having
discovered that w J. Bailey was good gubernatorial
timber. And farther and of what is more import
ance TO the people of not only Kansas, but of the
entire west is that all of the proposed appropra-
tions for irrigation purposes for the construction of
reservoirs and for the storage of waters were held
in congress because of the tendency of the Kan
sas- Colorado contention. The members interested
argued, what sense would there be in providing for
surveys of doing any preliminary work until it
was determined by the supreme court whether or
not the individuals companies of one state have
a right to appropriate interstate waters, as also
whether the government itself has any such legal
power.
What the Eagle is insisting upon is that
the legislature having made an appropriation for
the prosecution of this contention to final determin
alton that the attorney general the governors
crown officer get a move him, to the end Of
accommodating the necessary evidence as shall go
to the merits of the cases. and to the doing of all
that is necessary for conclusive hearing and final
adjudication.
PROBABLY A WRONG INTERPRETATION
The French papers apropos of the none,s iubi1aa