, 1908-05-25
BASIN OPENING.

The current number of the Sheridan
Enterprise comments with some asper-
ity upon the recent attempted opening
OF the oregon basin irrigation project
and lays no little blame for the adj
verse comment and criticism upon
state officials. A careful summing up
of all the facts surrounding the matter
leaves little doubt but that the at
tempted opening was a grave mistake.
To sell land before the water is ready
for it is not wise. To misrepresent
actual conditions is always bad and
works everlasting injury. While lit
tie good can be accomplished at the
present time in discussing the action
of state officials in this matter, there
are certain things that should be set
right. The Enterprise says:
GLOSS 1t over as we may, blame the
unfortunate circumstances that de-
layed the completion of the work as
much as we van to, the real fact is
the Oregon basin opening was one
of the worst black eyes the state of
Wyoming has received for many a
day-and one that will require years
OF persistent effort to overcome. The
participation of the state officials In
this opening that didn't open will add
nothing to the standing of the official
integrity of Wyoming abroad wher-
ever these returning settlers live, and
is a matter for prayerful regret"
why the Wyoming state land board
consented to this opening at this time
nobody seems to know. They told
me in Cody that State Engineer John
ston, after returning ito Cody from a
trip of inspection to the Wiley pro-
g, 1ect, wired the governor that the open
ing must not take place May 49, and
that the governor wired back it was
too late to call it off now UP to that
time, the people of Cody were opposed
to having the opening pulled off at
this time, but when the state land
board decided to allow it to go ahead,
-thera- WAS ,pa9biaRuf -theerram the Wis
itors-which the enterprising people
of Cody certainly did. 1t now devel-
ops that had the state board-after
having been informed of the real con-
ditions by its state engineer-called
the opening of, the people of the state.
as well as the Oregon Basin promo
tiers. would have been vastly better off.
The Oregon basin project is ali
Eight; it gives promise of II of our
largest irrigated areas, but to attempt
to induce easterners to invest eight
hundred and forty dollars in a quarter
section upon which there was no water
seems short-sighted policy-and ended
in disaster as many predicted. Had
they waited until the water was on
the land and ready for the settler, the
opening would have proved a boost; as
/ twas, it has proved a serious knock"
that the state land board was entirely
To blame in the first instance for de
Gliding upon having the opening May
~, 1908. 1t had been advertised by
the irrigation company and the board
had been assured hat the water was
ready or would be on that date, In
order to make assurance doubly sure,
the board directed Secretary of State
William II. Schnitger and State Engi.
neer Clarence T. Johnston to proceed
TO the scene of operations, make full
examination of the irrigation works
and report to the board. This was
done. After going over the works
and finding that it would be impossi-
BILE for the company to deliver any
water through their bitches for this
year and that the canals were not at
all what they had been represented TO
be in advertising matter, and after ad
vising fully with leading citizens of
Big Horn county, the secretary of
state and state engineer wired the
land board as follows:
Cody, Wyo., April 81, 1908. To B.
B. Brooks, Cheyenne, Wyoming. After
two days investigation justified advis.
ing postponement opening at once. Nc
water for six months or year possible.
Citizens here very generally satisfied
with such action. Notify Burlington
and Hamilton, Chicago, of board action
today. Advise here your action.
(Signed)
WILLIAM r. SCHNITGER.
C. T. JOHNSTON.
After receiving the foregoing tele'
gram, the board of land commissioners,
which is composed of Governor
Brooks, Secretary of State Schnitger
and State Superintendent A. D. Cook.
after hearing statements from attor-
neys for the irrigation company, decid-
ed not to postpone the opening. This
action was taken before the return OF
the examining officers to Cheyenne.
In the record it was set forth that this
action was taken upon" the represen-
tations of Secretary of State William
r. Schnitger and State Engineer Clar-
ence T. Johnston. This was not &C
curate. The word upon. was not
the proper one. 1t should have been
set forth that the action was taken
Notwithstanding" against or lin
spite Of the recommendation of the
officials sent to make examination aud
report.
But there is no use of crying over
spilled milk. The board doubtless did
what 1t believed to be right and the
state engineer and the secretary OF
state unquestionably did what they be-
lieved to be right. The honest DIFF