Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-02
WORRY OVER IRRIGATION
Delay in North Platte Project Incon'
venient to All Concerned.
FUNDS NEEDED TO FINISH PLANE
settlers in the Meantime Can Get No
Water-Direetor Newell Sug-
gests Method of
Cooperation.
- a So CorrespordentO


WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-CSpecial Tele-
I gram The irrigation project now under
I process Of construction in western Ne
braska and eastern Wyoming Is causing
T both projectors and beneficiaries ounsid-
I cradle Inconvenience. one because they
cannot complete Il at once and the other
I because they cannot have water turned
on their lands at once The farmers liv-
I ing in the proposed irrigated area are
urging upon Director Newell the necessity
for early completion.
Senator Burkett has taken the matter
Up with Mr. Newell. and az a recent con-
ference between the two the situation was
pretty thoroughly csnvassed-
I According 20 Mr.. Newell. Il Is inpossi-
I bic TO set an exact day upon which the
completion Of the work may be expected.
/ depending as It does upon the rspidity
with which funds may be provided The
I fact that homesteaders along the uncom-
pleted portion OF the work are growing
4 discouraged is one Of the features that
was anticipated when the work was be-
gun. II was then even n-ged mat the
/ land should be withdrawn from entry.
since IL could not be foretold upon what
I portions water could be diverted. This
I was done. il is said. in one or two cases
elsewhere. with gratifying results In the
! North Platte country the land vas never
withdrawn from entry. and the result
has been so the director states. that
those settling on lands not now irrigated
are suffering from arid or semi-arid con-
ditions
Cooperation Is Suggested.
Last spring a year ago Senator Burkett
! suggested a cooperative plan. whereby
the settlers could construct. under proper
directions their own laterals and receive
credit for this work in proving Up on
their lands The director stated that this
plan had not been as universally adopted
BY settlers in the district now suffering
as he had hoped and that it was a source
Of great regret 10 him
1t was made clear also that in a WORK
OF as great magnitude as this enterprise
plans must necessarily be made which
could not az once be executed, for funds
must be provided. Private capital tried
all the easy schemes for irrigation. and
when the government took hold Of the
matter IL is said IL was with a knowledge
that little could be accomplished with
out large expenditure. In western Ne
/ brsska there were storage works and
canals, large and expensive. to be CON-
pleted before the laterals could convey
water; yet the plans must be made pub
I liNs anu stAA4tulenN zol4OWeQ upon Janus
that could not be irrigated for a Iona
, time
Senator Burkett learned that IL Il In
tended TO continue work on the storsg
Gam OF the North Platte project under
contract which must be FINISHED socn. Wit
cooperation On the part Of the settlers tn
distribution system Will be carried as IA
as available funds viii permit after tn
completion OF the head works Of the diver
sion canal.
! Some Queries Answered.
] Director Newell mentioned certain inQui
% ries about the project that were often re
p ceived. First, why not build the dlstribu
ton system first and later finish the NOR
expensive structures? This is snswere,
that II the water failed the work OF build
: ing the distribution system would thus b
wasted. There Is also danger Of losing con
! troll Of the dam under such conditions An
other question is TIE criticism for plsnnin
such an extensive system without havin
funds available to complete IL, but the d
rector feels that comprehensive plans ar
L justified in the long run upon their CON
; pleton- Another pertinent inquiry has bee
: as 10 getting more funds. The reclamatio
$ fund estimated as being available from Ne
= braska from the passage Of the act Up
De enbeT 81. 1909. is SsI6IsO, The act allow
S4s--555 II is stated 10 be spent. Yet II
declared that II the present plans are caI
ried cut S2.Ssl.00 will be spent for Ne
: braska-snore than six times the amour