Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-18
GOVERNMENT TO
TAKE OVER CANAL
Secretary Lane Gives Sanction
Desired by Irrigation Men
of Morrill, and Scots
bluff Counties.
Washington Bureau
Of The Omaha Bee
s24 Fourteenth St., n. w.

1
! of The Omaha Bee
| s24 Fourteenth St., n. w.
(From a Staff Correspondent
Washington. July 17.-(Special Tel
egram.) )-Secretary Lane today grant
ed the application of the land owners
and users of water under the old Tri-
State canal in Scottsbluff and Morrill,
counties that it be made government
project and that Uncle Sam act as its
| trustee.
This action was taken after a con-
ference with the Nebraska delegation
and the representatives of the land
holders last Saturday. The sanction
OF Secretary Lane means that the
management of the canal shall vest in
the reclamation service, and is a real
benefit to the water users under the
ditch, which covers some 10000 acres,
$4,000 of which are planted to crops.
Means Big Saving.
This means a saving of 100000 to
the water users and reduces the inter-
est charges from 6 to 4 per cent and
what is still more important it legal
ICES the government plan of pay
ment on the balance of the bonds out
standing, namely 2 per cent of interest
and principal on bonds shall be paid
for each of the first four years, 4 per
cent for the fifth and sixth years and
6 per cent for each year thereafter for
fourteen years.
Judge Kinkaid, who has taken the
liveliest interest in the government
taking over the management of the
Tri-State canal, said that it would uni
fy the whole question of drainage in
the North Platte valley. "The ditch"
said Judge Kinkaid, carries all the
expenses. There are no charges on
the government under the terms of
the agreement. Under the arrange
meflt every farmer and every water
used will be benefited.
Secretary Lanes decision will give
new impetus to this great domain and
insure its future prosperity"
Lobeck Comes Back.
Congressman Lobeck resents hav-
ing his Americanism impugned by the
secret head OF the State Defense
league of Nebraska, who states over
his own signature, shat upon every
proposition involving the safety of our
country Mr.. Lobeck has voted against
the president of the United States"
and that he has never voted right on
patriotic question.
Mr., Lobeck prepared a reply to Mr..
Metcaffe's statement as follows:
Voted for the armed neutrality bill
at the close OF the Sixty-fourth con-
gress; voted for the declaration of
war against Germany: for the $7,000,-
100000 bond and loan to allies issue;
for all army and navy bills; for the
war revenue bill passed by the house;
for the food conservation bill; for the
aviation bill; for every measure large
or small which had the approval of
the president, the purpose OF which
meant the successful prosecution of
the war against Germany and had no
hesitancy in so doing so"
Find Much Red Tape.
w. ]. Boyle, Hugh J. Birmingham
and w. B. Stannard of O'Neill, a
likely trio Of Sixth district young men.
two of whom are graduates of the
University of Nebraska, are in Wash
ington thoroughly disgusted with the
red tape surrounding entrance to the
naval reserve corps. They reported
to the naval training station at
Charleston. S. c.. but found they were
a day too late to be received, notwith-
standing they were told in Nebraska
that they would be in ample time.
Now they are in Washington looking
up conditions for all three want to
join the colors.
Everything closed in the navy"
came a reply to Judge Kinkaid's
query, except aviation"
"You know that's pretty Aighty
proposition, said the judge as he
looked over his spectacles at his
young constituents"
sr