Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-04
INSPECT IRRIGATION WORKS
Congressman and Reclamation Com.
mission Make Tour of Scots
Bluff District.
SPECIFICATIONS NEARLY READY

] SCOTS BLUFF, Neb., July S-(Spe-
cial.)--The visit. to the valley Thursday
of Chairman John J. Fitzgerald OF the
appropriations committee OF the house
Of representatives. together with other
members OF the committee consisting of
William p. Morland OF Missouri. Joseph
w. Byrns OF Tennessee. Charles r. Davis
| Of Minnesota, Frederick II. Gillett OF
Massachusetts,. James w. Good of Iowa.
Frank w. Mondell OF Wyoming, James
IN. ArcAndrews of Illinois. George w.
Rauch of Indiana and swager Shirley of
Kentucky portends great things for the
future of the SCOTS Bluff country.
With the congressional committee was
the National Reclamation commission.
which was formed by Secretary Lane at
the beginning OF his administration, and
It was observed that their work was con-
Itinuing upon the trip Just the same as IL
In the offices at Washington. Sidney
EB. Williamson. the chief Of construction,
is busy organizing the work Of beginning
the Fort Laramie unit of the Pathfinder
project. which is to water 10000 acres of
land on the south side of the river, about
half of which is in Wyoming and the
other half in Nebraska. The other mem
bers Of the commission who were here
were Director A. p. Davis. who has been
in the reclamation service since its be-
ginning, and whose first-hand knowledge
is Of tremendous value.
Members study Chart.
Mr.. Davis gave a chart study OF this
project to the members Of the congress
sional committee. w. a. Ryan, comp
troller OF the commission, had direct
charge of the itinerary OF the party hers
and was a very busy man. but not so
busy but that he had his eye, out at all
times observing where the money has
been going, and that the fund be d.
! rected into useful channels. Judge WIN
r. King. the genius-of irrigation law
and diplomat, with his able assistant, A.
K Honnold. went into a technical de-
tail OF the legal phases OF the project
Words of appreciation Of the industry
ana accomplishment OF the commission
were heard from several members OF the
congressional committee and others.
f. S. McCaffree, secretary OF the as
ISOLATED canals of western Nebraska,
and G. L. Subway. as special repre-
sentative Of the Farmers irrigation dis
triet, met the party In Denver, aud came
.
Congressman NJ. p Kinkaid of this
district. and Senators Clark and Warren.
also met the party at eDnver. and were
splendid in the work of showing up the
merits OF the project But each voiced
the expression OF Congressman Kinkaid,
that II was much better than Their own
conceptions, had II pictured. As Judge
King said. This is not project It il
an empire"
Tour Valley in Automobiles.
Local people met the party here with
: ten automobiles. The trip taken was a
short turn about Gering valley, then the
big MinstRre dam. which is just com.
pieted, and at cost OF approximately
%OoVOO. with a storage capacity OF 5000
acre fet OF water. From there, pas
Lake Alice, over the Scottsblufs, Sun
flower and Dutch Fiat table lands tina,
have been reclaimed by the government
and Tristate canals. This gave excelien
demonstration OF the result OF six Of
seven years development Then the part,
returned TO Mitchell for midday lunch
in the afternoon fourteen automobile,
conducted the party over the tarritor,
Of the Fort Laramie untt. which Fhowes
: the raw material. or the native prairi.
In its undeveloped state. arrivinE. at Tor
rington in time TO take the special pro
. vided by the Burlington to the whalel
/, dam. wherer 40 second feet OF waite
/, were being diverted into the heacgatei
OF the Interstate Unit and 5000 seeon.
!, feet plunging over the dam TO suppl,
! other canals farther down the river
4 A public hearing vas held in the new
{ court hou'e ~ Torringtcn. In the even
+ ing. 81 epslt vas r,ires nted by ia.
! Williams. 81 Z. smith mad ) l.. Guthrie
who are sepl Tag TIE ste isIon Of n
Farmers eanl 10 csyer the terii.or
north Of Bridgeport Nesor ations nov
pending foI csuhr- Contract Tor a.
: government through tha Farmers cana