The Ordway new era., 1912-11-29
Kansas-Colorado
Water Row Is On
Adverse Action May Seriously
AfectAgricultural Interests
of the ArkansasValley

Evidence in the famous Kansas Col.
Orado suit over the waters OF the Ar
kansas river Is now being taken in
Garden City and Lakin. Kan, before
Harry g. Watt, OF Denver. who was
appointed by Judge Riner Of the fed
eral court to officiate as commissioner
in the case. The case was opened for
the taking of evidence at Garden City
on October Is, and up to the present
date. which covers a period Of nearly
a month and half, only nineteen
witnesses have been examined. There
are 100 witnesses to examine and 1t Is
said that IL will take over year and
half to complete taking testimony
In the case.
Fred A. Sabin OF this city Is one Of
the attorneys In the case for the de-
tense and associated with him are
Platt Rogers and Henry Dubbs, Of
Denver, and w. L. Hartman OF Pu.
eblo. Henry Trowbridge OF Denver
represents the United States Irrigat-
ing company, owner OF the Great East
ern and South Side bitches, com.
plaintants In the case. who claim the
right to $50 second feet OF water, bas-
ing their claim on prior rights dating
back to 1881. This claim OF prior
right antedates the priority OF every
ditch In the valley, with the single
exception Of the Rocky Ford ditch,
which dates back to 1874.
n. 10, has hn
farmers we're using the waters OF the
Arkansas In the year 1881, at which
time but very few Of the bitches now
In operation in the Arkansas valley
were In operation. The Kansas far
mers claim that the Colorado bitches
took all Of the water out OF the river
and put them out OF business. The
United States Irrigation company
owns two canals located about forty
miles east OF the Colorado state line
near Hartland, one known as the
Great Eastern canal, about sixty
miles long. and the other the South
side canal, about twenty-five miles
long. both utilizing the same dam
across the river to secure n water sup
ply. The two canals supply water to
about SO, 900 acres Of land.
In case the Kansas people win the
suit there will not be much water left
for irrigating purposes in the Arkan-
sas valley and IL would probably re.
suit In numerous other old time
bitches in western Kansas making
similar claims To more ancient ptiOri-
ties than Colorado can boast OF. At
least that is what the lawyers say.
and of course its the difference OF
opinion as to prior rights In ditch
matters that makes business for the
lawyers, both In Colorado and Kansas.
They say there Is the same element OF
doubt In a lawsuit as there Is In u
horse race-there Is always a chance
TO win. and its the difference OF Opin-
ion about the "chance" that makes
both lawsuits and horse races.
Very few people In the Arkansas
valley seem to realize the Importance
OF this suit-outside OF the lawyers.
1t practically means life or death to
the agricultural interests OF this val.
ley. II Kansas should win this suit
It means that in order to deliver $50
second feet Of water to the Great
Eastern canal In Kansas, forty miles
the other side OF the Colorado state
line. it would require flow of about
1900 second feet In the river at La
Junta. and the bitches In this valley
could not take any water from the
river until Kansas had been supplied.
When it Is remembered that at no
time, save In instances Of flood or ex-
tremely high water, Is there more
than 300 second feet nf water passing
at this point, 1t is evident II Kansas
Is successful In her contention there
will not be much water left for irri-
cation purposes anywhere in the Ar.
kansas valley.
All OF the lawyers say that the Kan
sans have u very strong case and they
are rather inclined to view with alarm
the fate that awaits this richest val
ley ON earth providing we are com.
PEELED by Uncle Sam to go down to
the river bank and sit idly by while
the water OF our own Colorado river
flows down into Kansas to make the
desert wastes OF the Jayhawkers
bloom and blossom. Very few people
can be induced to cross bridge until
they get to it, 50 most Of US will not
worry over the outcome OF the Kan
sas.COlOradO suit-nOt yet, not until
all the evidence is 10, aud that will
be q year and half hence, and the
case will just have q good start by
that time.-La Junta Tribune.