Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-18
WORK ION PATHFINDER DAM
Irrigation Engineer Talks Of Conditions in
North Platte District
CONTRACT FOR BIG DIXIE TO Be LET
bids VIII he Opened in washington
February ST-Contract for High
Pressure Gates Are
Awarded.
From a stan Correspondents

kfTOm a StaH correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.--CSpecial Mr.. |
Charles r. Wells, supervising engineer for
the North Platte irrigation project, wyom-
ing-Nebraska, and the Belle Fourche pro-
ject, South Dakota, is visiting the Wash
ington once for few days on business
connected with his work. Mr.. Wells sad
this morning:
We were obliged TO close down the
masonry work on the Pathfinder dam about
the middle of November on account of
freezing weather. but the contractors are
continuing work through the winter at the
quarry and spillway. excavating the dam.
A large force OF teams is also employed
hauling cement from Casper to the dam
site, distance Of about hfty miles. At
present about 10000 barrels of cement are
stored at the dam site, and It is expected
that the work of laying masonry will be-
sin early in the spring and be prosecuted
with vigor before the foods occur in May
and June. during which time work will
have to be suspended.
The floods usually last until early In
July, when the waters in the North Platte
river subside. The working season will
then last until probably about the middle
of November 1t is expected that the bulk
Of the work on the dam will be done the
present season and that the dam. will be
completed by the contractors before No
vember 1908
Advertisements are out containing SPEC
ihcations for the construction OF the Path
Under dixie. and bids will be opened for this
work February "a, The dixie els an earth
structure reinforced with rock on the water
side and is constructed for the purpose of
supplementing the Pathfinder dam. On the
south side of the dam is low place
which requires to be filled, and the dixie
( is constructed for the purpose OF prevent
ing the water running through this place
1t will be about a quarter OF a mile long
and about IS feet high at the highest point
1t Is expected that contracts will be let
soon after the opening of bids, and that
the dixie will be completed by 1903.
The contract for the high pressure gates
which are to control the flow of water from
the Pathfinder dam has already been
awarded and the gates will be placed in
position before March l. 1905"
Pension Voucher Checks.
Representative Ryan of New York has
introduced resolution calling on the
secretary OF the interior TO report TO the
house whether or not in his Judgment the
voucher check system can be adopted
with advantage in the payment of pensions.
Asked as to the reasons underlying his
! resolution, Mr.. Ryan said today: MY
! object is twofold, first, a desire to simplify
the system of payment of pensions. and.
second, the saving OF expense to the PEN
sioners Under the present system pension
agents send out vouchers to pensioners,
| who are required to execute them before a
notarial officer Justice Of the peace or
some other person having power to adj
| minister an oath. and then to return the
voucher to the pension agent, who subse-
| quently forwards a check in payment of
! the quarterly stipend. 1t not unfrenuently
happens that the pensoner living on some
| remote country road is compelled TO travel
many miles to find a justice or a notary
and to repeat the journey to cash his
check. With voucher check at least one
of these trips could be avoided and the
cash obtained at the time the journey was
| made do not believe that the jurat of
notary should be required. The voucher
/ could be executed with simply a witness
as to the identity OF the holder. The gov
| eminent does not require n sworn instrur
ment every time it's public servants are
| paid; members of congress- employees and
clerks of the departments are not required
/ to take an oath of their identity every
time they are paid; soldiers and sailors
draw their pay without an affidavit; then
| WHY SHOulu the pCubAbueI bC titdleu III a
! different manner?
There are on the various pension rolls
today. in round numbers. $4,000 pensioners.
Each is required to execute four vouchers
every year and each voucher represents an
outlay of Is cents. at least, in fees. That
means that the United States levies a tax
! of S930O00 per annum on the pensioners,
which goes into the pockets of magistrates,
notaries aud commissioners The adoption
of the voucher check system, which has
proved so successful among business men,
/ will save all this, will simplify pension
payments and will make It possible to ma
! terially reduce the clerks in the pension
! agencies. believe II TO be in the interest
of economy to the government as we'll as
TO the pensioner and I shall certainly do
whatever 1 can to bring about its adop-
ton"
Work of Congress.
The Fifty ninth congress will pass into
| history in less than three weeks. with a
record for great things accomplished TO a
greater degree than any Of its predecessors.
! In the last two years railway rate bill
has been enacted into law which promises
| to revolutionize railway practices. A pure
/ food law has been enacted which is des-
| tined to ensure 10 the consumer of food
/ products drugs and drink an absolute
guarantee that the foods which he buys
| are not adulterated. Another measure Of
worldwide Importance which has been
placed to the credit Of the congress so
/ rapidly drawing TO a close is the enact
ment into law OF the bill to provide for
the cleanliness and wholesomeness OF all
meats and meat food products. Again, the
enactment into law Of the Vreeland bill
/ to compel silversmiths and jewellers TO
brand their products for Just what they
are. Heavily alloyed silver cannot be
stamped sterling and eight carat gold