Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-27
Nv G. Il. CnNnRA.

IdpSIS elOs alo bllu l0O OF Jne United
states geological survey Most of tho
rivers fluctuate much in their seasonal
flow. This is especially true Of tho Re
publican.
Several Republican river projects have
been damaged by washouts and ham
pered because of a lack of water at
times in summer. Three powers now
operate from water of the trunk stream
They are at Superior. Orleans and Arapa-
hoe. There are several powers I'm the
tributaries of the Republican. most OF
them being in the Frenchman. Medicine
and Beaver-SappR-
The Platte Is used extensively for irri-
cation in the western part Of the state,
hut not much for power. II it ever be-
comes OF advantage to do so, much power
could be produced at the drops during
the irrigation season and from the nor
nal supply OF the river at other times
Power is now developed In connection
with irrigation at Gothenburg and
Kearney. The Pumpkinseed. Rush creek.
Blue creek, Birdwood and the Wood
river tributaries have small discharges.
yet enough for power development.
Floods in State,
Floods are features of the Big Nemaha,
Little Nemaha- Salt creek and Logan
creek. They hinder water power develop
ment. In fact, powers have been re-
moved from Salt creek and the Nemahas
because of floods and the interference
Of dams with drainage.
The streams of our state best de-
veloped for power are the Big Blue and
the Little Blue. These have fairly uni
form flows. not much affected by dry
times and the cold of winter. The cost
of construction is relatively low, and
there Is q good market for the power.
Among the best known developments I'm
these streams are at Seward, Milford,
Crete, Dewitt, Beatrice, Holmesville.
Blue Springs, Fairbury, Hebron and
Deweese. They are used in milling and
in generating electric current.
Bazile creek, Bow creek and the Elk
horn river have powers The Elkhorn
has large flow most Of the year. Its
floods ana the changing channel are
drawbacks
Tho state has moro than 100 developed
water powers, most of them being small
The largest amount OF undeveloped power
is in the Nlobrara, Loup and lower course
of the Platte.
The NIobrara, or Running Water. heads
in Wyoming but IL receives very little
water from that source. The drainage
area is about 1900 square miles of high
plain and sandhill country. The prevail
ing soils of it's basin are fine sandy loans
and dune sand. with small areas of clayey
soil and stony land The valley proper is
deep and narrow as a rule, especially so
in its middle course Much of the water
of this river comes from springs Issuing
from the sandhills and table lands
Flow IL Uniform.
The flow is quite unit Urm, with dis
charge of about 800 second feet at Val
entine and more than 1000 at Niobrara'
The leading tributaries Of the Niobrara
are Snake river, discharge 200 to go SEQ
ond feet; Minnechaduza creek, about .
second feet; Plum creek 10 to 70 second
feet. Long Pine creek, 20 to 100 second
feet; Keya Paha river. 20 TO 800 second
feet: Eagle creek, 10 to % second feet
and the Verdigris 40 to 100 second Feet
These discharges are only approximately
correct. Among the powers in operation
are those of the Minnechaduza- PUN
creek, Eagle creek and the NerdlgHs
The best development is in Plum creek
northwest OF Ainsworth.
large amount of power could be de-
welcomed in the tributaries and trunh
streams of the Niobrara. Some OF inc
most desirable sites are In Snake river
The following sites are now being dis
cuased: Four miles east of valentine
south of Spencer and near the mouth u
the river These have been talked OF loI
wears. The principal drawback FOR THESE
is the lack of market for the power. some
persons thought that industries might Dc
brought to Valentine and other power
sites. but practically all hope for sucf
deyelopments has been abandoned Apou
5000 theoretical horsepower could o.
generated in the NiObrara basin, yet ther'
Is no economic demand for it. A marke
may yet be found by long distance trans
mission. Sioux City wishes to secure
power from this source.
I.ouD I'm Center of state.
The Loup system is in the center
Nebraska. The drainage basin' with al
area of about 1900 square miles, INCLUDE
sandhills, loess plains, loess hills an
broad valley bottoms, in which benc
lands are a feature The rivers head i
the sandhiHs, from which they draw
steady water supply. The rainfall soak
into the hills, is thus conserved and dole
out TO the rivers through thousands O
springs. The ground water gives TO IN
rivers a uniform flow, so characteristi
OF this ystem. Furthermore, the run-oi
IL larger, compared with the drainag
area, than in the other Nebraska riveri
The principal tributaries and their ar
proximate mean discharges are the Sout
Loup $50 to 800 second feet; Mud creel
no record; Dismal river, 800 to 400 sccon
feet; Middle Loup, about 1000 to III
second feet; North Loup. about l,OOO sec
ond feet; Calamus river, 400 second fee
Spring creek. no record; Cedar creek, i
to 800 second feet, and Beaver creel
fifty TO $50 second feet. Dismal river
a branch OF the Middle LOup and Gala
mus river is a branch Of the North Lou
The Loup proper is formed by the june
ton of the Middle and North brancht
near st. Paul. The discharge Of the Lor
at Columbus Is rarely below 1900 secon
feet in the summer and early fall II
about $500 second feet most Of the yea
Though the headwaters OF the Loup al
not much affected by floods, the lowe
courses experience them practically ever
spring. due to thawing of snow and rain
The Loup has valuable power possibil
tisS. There are several developments