, 1906-09-24

before the secretary OF the interior in
a letter of some length. The plan sug.
gested then was for the secretary OF
the interior to permit a number of re
sponsible companies 10 make surveys
and prepare plans for the irrigation OF
the ceded lands. These plans would
later be submitted 10 the state and i,
could select the one which promised
the most for the settler. The interior
department, upon recommendation OF
the Indian office, refused to permit this
work to be done. Plan number one
therefore failed. There seemed to be
but one course left and that was for
the state itself to secure permission
and conduct the surveys. The state had
no money appropriated for this pur,
pose, but 1t seemed that some way
could be found for meeting the expense
of the field work.
In January, 1906, the state engineer
went to Washington and after several
weeks he obtained the consent of the
secretary of the interior to put parties
in the field for the purpose of laying
out n comprehensive system of irriga
ton for the lands which were to be op
ened during the following summer. The
surveys were accordingly carried on
The general plans were made public
early in the spring. 1t was decided &c
complete the surveys early in July and
prepare all plans and specifications sc
that they could be inspected by the
middle of that month. Bids for con
structing all works and supplying the
settlers with permanent water rights
were to be opened on the first of Au
gust. The money for meeting the ex
pense of the surveys had been borrow,
ed by the state engineer and the sue.
cessful bidder was to pay the cost OF
this work from a certified check in
the sum of $4,000 inclosed with each
bid.
This plan was carried out. The bids
were opened on August /. Public no
tioe had been given months before that
this would be done, After considering
the bids for two days that of the Wyo
ming Central Irrigation company wa!
accepted. The state engineer called
IN many to consult with him before ;
final decision was reached. No repre-
sentatives of the bidders were present
Irrigation authorities were consulted
regardless of political afiliation anC
one of these men stated that he fell
that the whole state would fare better
If 1t could be treated as the ceded por
ton of the reservation had beer
handled.
OF the many who have read the bic
of the Wyoming Central Irrigation com
pany as it stands of record in the of
fee of the state engineer, o one ha.
advanced a criticism of the proposition
as accepted. 1t guarantees the loves
price of permanent water rights tina
prevails in the west; it provides 70
the best kind of construction; it prom
ises early commencement of actua
work; it plans the reclamation of al
irrigable lands covered by the stat
surveys; it outlines the best kind of
water contract and presents plans 70
the organization of the people in orde
that they may conduct the affairs o
the company after the parent corpora
ton ceases to exist.
By making possible this extended
development some smaller projects
have become impossible. This is /;
necessity wherever plans are mad,
looking toward the greatest good tt
the greatest number. 1t would doubt
less be preferable to many living il
the small towns of Wyoming to pre-
vide independent water works TO
themselves and for their neighbori
rather than to depend upon the system
constructed and maintained by the mi
nicipal corporation. This is not per
mitted for reasons which are recogni7
ed. If the same rule is applied to
large country susceptible of agricultu
raj development, 1t seems REASONABLE
that the homebuilder and actual SET
tier must in time profit by the recogni
ton of this principle in the beginning
The state protects every large projec
as it must protect the works to be cor
structed on the coded portion Of tn
reservation. The government woul
withdraw its assistance in twenty-fou
hours if the state were to issue pei
mits for canals which would cover
portion of the lands included in the es
Inmates and plans of the agents of tn,
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