The Greeley tribune., 1906-05-10
WATER
GREAT INTERSTATE PROJECT
OPENED SATURDAY
First of the Government Irripa.
tion Systems in Wyoming
Starts With Great
Promise

Last Saturday the first section Of
the great interstate canal between
Wyoming and Nebraska by the gov.
ernment was put in operation at Wha-
len, Wyo. While there was no large
demonstration, the opening marked
In all probability the most import.
ant epoch in the history of Wyoming
and Of western Nebraska.
Fifty miles Of canal will be in
operation during the present season
and some 200 acres will be irri-
gated. which has heretofore been
desert and scarcely able to support
either man or beast.
The country, which is thus opened
up, is in all respects similar to
northeastern Colorado In soil and
climate. The water right is prob
ably equal, or perhaps superior, to
anything in the west, as the entire
flow of the North Platte river will
be under absolute control through
the construction Of a gigantic reser-
voir on that stream.
The project Is unique, in that
there is more water than land. The
portion Of the canal which was
opened Saturday is As miles in length
and has cost exclusive of structures
some 5000, 600. 1t is expected that
the two remaining sections will cost
about the same when completed.
These. together with the reservoir
and lateral systems, which are con-
structed by the government and
engineering and other expenses, will
bring The total cost to about 50, 50O,-
900. On this project the government
has demonstrated that it can work
as rapidly as private enterprises, 1t
being but 10 months since the first
shovel full of dirt was moved and
but two years since the surveys were
begun.
1t is also to be remarked that no
accidents have occurred and there
has been no. loss of life in the entire
work, which speaks we'll for the
manner in which the work Is
handled, and the efficiency Of the
men.
The greater part of the material
and supplies used in the construction
of canal had been furnished by the
wholesalers of Denver and the engi-
neering force was drawn almost en-
tirely from Colorado. Colorado has
"so supplied the larger part of the
labo. and some of the contractors
and subc>,tractors. A large part of
the lano h,s been settled on by
northern Colora"s farmers, for it
was in this district til. exPresident
Ellis of the agricultural cos,pe and
r. c. Henry did considerable -nrk
in the early zoos.
The interstate canal is the first of
the great canals which will be built
from the North Platte river. The
Fort Laramie canal, when con-
structed, will cover $4,000 acres and
the Goshen Hole canal about $50, 200
acres. so that from the government
canals, when the entire project Is
completed, there will be at least
35O. 600 acres irrigated in the North
platte valley, exclusive OF that al
ready irrigated. which amounts TO
obout $50, 900 acres; a total OF ooo, :
600 acres. or approximately one-hfth
of the entire irrigated area OF Colo
RADIO. and as this area is compara-
lively compact and with an uh-
limited water supply it is sure to
hecome one of the most prosperous
valleys in the United States.
There we're several hundred people
from different points at the opening
If tbe canal. A unique feature was
embodied at the exercises at the con-
clusion of the first speech, the SUD-
iect of which was real estate'
Flowers were scattered on the IN
rusbinp waters and then fruit ano
l,st bread, symbolical Of the luture
~ the valley. the supervising engi'
noor G. r. Wells, and John n,
Tield, engineer in charge, delivered
remarks relative to the WORK ano
,.,, for the future.