Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-13
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-(Special Tele-
Eram.)-Senator Burkett has beer inter-
BHted through friends Of his in Nebraska
IN securing from the reclamation service
some definite ruling as to payments on
the North Platte project. now about due.
IL has been the senator's contention that
the reclamation law was weak In demand
ing payment from entrymen AZ the be-
ginning of the first year Of his taking up
the lano and water rights on the ditch.
Recently the senator received a letter from
NJ T. Getter, who had a holding on the
North Platte project, asking for an exten-
sion Of time IN which 60 begin payments
upon the lands taken under that project
and which promises to be one Of the great
enterprises which the government has
undertaken for the benefit Of the people
in the arid or semiarid regions Of the
country.
Director Newell. IN a letter to Senator
Burkett today states that on July %
lsG. the secretary Of the interior gave
notice that water would be furnished for
certain lands In the North Platte project
at the opening Of the irrigation season of
1905 and the first installment would be
$50 per acre, consisting Of the building
charge OF $3.50 per acre on the basis Of q
total cost Of S36 per acre and charges for
operation and maintenance Of 40 cents per
acre. Under these explicit directions no
payment is necessary until 1909 on the
theory. as Director Newell states, that the
reclamation act provides that two pay
ments must be in default before an entry
can be cancelled. Accordingly, the entry
viii NOT be subject 10 cancellation on ao-
count Of the failure of payments until
after December J. 1903.
The entryman win receive water during
the season Of 1905 before any payment can
be forced.
Question Of Graduated Payments.
The question of graduated payments
which has been a subject of serious thought
on the part OF Director Newell and his
associates. especially the twenty-payment
proposition which Senator Rurkett has had
in mind. does not meet with the approval
OF the reclamation service. Mr.. Newell
tersely says:
Experiences has shown that no matter
how easy the terms are there viii be a
considerable portion of the men in q new
country who viii not succeed and who viii
ask further favorE. In fact, we are even
now asked 10 enasavor TO have the law
amended 20 make payments in twenty an
nuRl inEtAllments, but with this concession
It viii not be possible TO carry TO COM
pletion many Of the works now planned
out"
In the judgment Of Director Newell this
year-ls0S-is the most crucial year for the
reclamation service because returns are
expected to come in 10 the reclamation
fund and the success Of the act Is largely
dependent thereon.
The requirement Of the reclamation act
Is that one-fourth OF one-fifth is TO be
PAID down and the balance 10 be paid in
ten annual instRllments The government
believes that it has gone to the limit TO
give SETTLERS two years In which TO get
started Ia their home building and then
asking only one-tenth Of the total price TO
be paid for the land under the water
pro1ect
once Seeking a Man.
Senator Brown has almost abandoned
hope Of securing n successor to G. w.
Davis as postmaster at Gilmore, sarpy
county Davis has resigned and is anxious
to quit He is still holding the job and
draws the munifieent salary attached 10
A. but the commission OF his successor
cannot come too soon for Mr.. Davis. Sem
Htor Brown has asked others 10 take the
sob, but he has met with little success.
lie has appealed 70 the politicians OF Sarpy
county 10 recommend someone, either friend
OF enemy for the sob, but they have failed
20 find him a man. Senator Brown may
recommend that the office be abandoned
and Davis be released from the position
he nov holds. Two rural routes have re-
Gently been Installed out OF Fort Crook
ana they have sapped The territory Ie-
Gently tributary 20 Gilmore and the office
has been left high and dry far busi-
ness, ana consequently salary, is concerned.
II psyE about o per month now.
Miner Matters az Capital.
committee Of the senate committee on In
dian affairs. today recommended for pas.
Eage the biIl OF Senator Knox, which pro-
vides Tor issuing patent 10 School Dis
trict No. 80 in Knox county of a school
house site on lands IN The santee reservA-
ton. The bill calls for a patent for an acre
and a half Of land
John J.. Webster OF Omaha appeared be-
fore the Interstate Commerce commission
today IN the interest Of the business men Of
Omaha Kansas city and 81. Joseph against
the Rock Island road. The complainHnts
allege that seaboard rates are discriminal-
ing as against St. Paul and Minneapolis
Hon. william Lawler Of Fremont. for
merry Of Lincoln. Is IN the city.
Rural free delivery carriers appointed:
Nebraska. Orchard. route ., silas c. Lud-
Eick. carrier; Lora A. HolhrOok, suhst
lutte. South Dakota. Aberdeen. route p
George II jenkins. carrier; M. T. Van
Winkle. substitute. Avon, route g Eddie
p Roose. carrier Dan W. ltangpenen. SUB
Etttute; Gregory. route Archie B. Cul- /
hertAon. carrier Wallace r. culbertson. 1
substitute.
south DRk0th pOstmasters appointed: /
Canning, Hughes county. Clarence T. Tay- I
ior, vice NJ. r Rediek, resigned; Ludlow I
Butte county, Fred l. Clark. vice c. NJ 4
Cornell. resigned.