, 1904-02-17
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1901
THE RECLAMATION SERVICE.

HI Cheyenne Leader publishes a
Cheyenne dispatch to the Denver
News which avs strong opposition
is developing in Wyoming to the meth.
DDS employed by the geological survey
In undertaking irrigation enterprises,
and in the great Shoshone project. for
which the government has just set
aside S2,250.O0O VI the reclamation
tund, affairs may develope into an OPP
en- rupture on the question. Wyoming
engineers, who claim this state has
the best system of irrigation laws in
the union, are arrayed among the op.
ponents of the survey"
The Republican fears there is a sha-
dow of truth in the Denver News dis.
patch, but sincerely hopes the cloud
Will pass away n that there will be
no opposition to the geological survey
in this state. After years of hard.
ernest work our congressional delega.
ton was enabled to secure, through
the cooperation of President Roosevelt,
the passage of the reclamation act.
In the senate Messrs. Warren and
Clark were able to secure the passage
of the law without strenuous opposi.
ton, but in the house the larger rep
resentation of the eastern states gave
Mr.. Mondell the fight of his life.
Having secured the passage of the
act, our representatives have been &C
tive and insistent in urging the begin
ming of work in Wyoming. Much pre-
liminary work has been performed.
The Shoshone project has been ~investf-
gated. the North Platte proposition
has received favorable consideration
and the Lake De Smet site has been
patch, the secretary of the interior
has set aside sufficient funds to carry
the Shoshone project to completion.
Instead of growing in the manger,
wyoming engineers" should lend all
possible aid and encouragement to the
geological survey, to the end that Wyo-
ming shall receive all possible benefit
from the act we have struggled SO hard
to secure. The work now laid out by
the geological survey involves the eX-
penditure of millions. 1t means the ad-
iition of a vast area OF agricultural
lane, and the bringing in of thousands
of people. No man loyal to Wyoming
interests can afford to stand iii the
road-unless he has In his heart the
narrow. selfish policy of private inter
est.
Other western states are taking ev-
cry possible advantage of the act, full
ly realizing the vast benefits to be OBJ
tanned, not only in the development
Of agricultural interests, but in the OK
penditure of large sums of money with
in Their borders. giving employment
to labor and stimulating every branch
Of industry. Utah las a commission
consisting of an engineer and an at
torney which devotes it's entire time
to aiding in arranging water rights,
looking up projects, etc. and other
states have moved in the same direc,
ton. In all the arid states, with the
possible Exception of Wyoming, great
efforts are being made to assist the
government in taking up work under
the national irrigation law.
In the interests of all our people
n particularly in the interests of the
agriculture development Of the state.
The Republican sincerely hopes any
seeming complications may be rapidly
brushed aside and actual development
under the reclamation act begun. Wyo-
ming OF all the arid states cannot af-
ford to place an obstruction in the
way. lie Wyoming engineers" be
loyal to the people.
In this connection. a Washington
dispatch states that Congressman
Mondell and Colonel Cody called on
the president Monday and the colonel
stated that he had relinquished all
rights in the Shoshone project to the
government. If this is true. all that
relinquish its rights to the segregation
OF 6 5000 acres under the Carey act
and it is hoped that this may be &C
c.,,rpnshed in the neal future and not
hold the matter up indefinitely, as sug,
gested by the Denver News dispatch
t. which reference has been made.