, 1921-05-12
PLENTY OF WATER IN PLATTE

u recent ISSUE OF tne SDminS IT'D
une will prove OF interest to readers
OF The Republican owing to the fact
that the main project affected would
be the Observation-Disclosures pro-
ject:
Wyoming has reached a point in
its relationship with the United
States reclamation service where the
two are at sward's points. Land in
Wyoming which was to have been
placed under irrigation by the serv-
ice is still arid. Nebraska has bene-
fitted but Wyoming has very little
to show for the granting OF a per-
init which allowed the United States
to reclaim certain specific areas OF
land under drainage OF the North
Platte river In both of these states.
Twelve years ago during the time
Of Governor Brooks administration
the state OF Wyoming gave to the
federal reclamation service a permit
to build the Pathfinder dam above
Casper. 1t was agreed that a large
area OF land would be put under ir-
rigation in this state, there being
named several tracts between Casper
and GlendO. as well as in Goshen
county adjacent to the Nebraska
state line.
Since then the federal department
has constructed the Pathfinder dam.
stored water from the upper North
Platte in its reservoir, but has OPEN
ed to irrigation but very little Wyo-
ming land. or the land which it
has reclaimed most Is over the
Nebraska state line. less than 90
per cent Of the total being within the
limits OF Wyoming. The permit is
sued by the state engineer called for
development Of specified lands. but
the United States reclamation serv-
ice has completely ignored Its origin
al agreement. It has gone ahead
and irrigated Nebraska lands in
amounts Of all proportion with its
aggregate work In Wyoming.
The state has consistently main
tanned hat there has been and is
sufficient water In the North Platte
to develop lands in its region under
the Carey act, desert claims act and
others, but the secretary OF the in
terror and the general land office
have been prevailed upon to disre-
gard all attempts to file upon desert
claims or to approve OF segregation
OF Carey act projects adjacent to the
river in question.
While Senator Kendrick was gov
ernor of Wyoming the legislature
provided and appropriated funds for
an amount OF water from the North
Platte River available for reclama-
ton work in both Wyoming and
Nebraska. 1t was arranged that the
preliminary investigation and sur
vey should be conducted by the state
engineer and the engineer OF the -Far
clamatiOn service as specified by the
secretary OF the interior and the
governor of Wyoming. Its findings
were then to be submitted to an i'm
partial board comprised of one men,
Der to be named by Wyoming, and
the third to be selected by these two.
Thus in accordance with the con-
tract entered into between the state
and department Of interior the out
come and final decision resulting
from investigation by the appointed
committee was to be binding and to
be regarded the criterion for future
reclamation work in the valley of
the North Platte.
The review was made in the sum-
mer of 1920 and it was found that
three is ample water in the Platte
river for irrigation OF all land in
that valley under the Carey act and
dester claim act, and hat enough
water enters the river below Path
finder dam TO make profitable the
building Of another dam within the
boundaries OF Nebraska for purposes
OF storing water for irrigating the
Platte valley lands in hat state.
Further, that If this were done the
great bulk of water stored in the
Pathfinder reservoir would be avail
able for use in irrigating Wyoming
lands in consideration Of the fact
hat sufficient water goes to waste
annually as flood washes to make
valuable an ample the construction
of a second dam over the state line
in Nebraska to store and provide
this now lost water for irrigation of
land there.
Despite an understanding to
abide by the boards report, Mr..
Davis, director Of reclamation, has
been induced to connive at the I'M
mistakable arrangement between
Wyoming and his department. and
has likewise found the general land
office to be in conjunction with him
In refusing the right of segregation
to lands under the Carey act In what
Is known as the Sierra Madre pro-
ject," said a state officer to the
Tribune-Leader recently.
Appointment Of q committee to
investigate and survey reclamation
projects along the Platte river near
Saratoga was made by the last leg
islature and 1t appropriated $4,000
to carry On the work.
But 1t is useless to proceed. The
reclamation service has arbitrarily
decreed that there Is no water for
irrigation. Under the existing stat
us the state 10 merely p%lunging In
mist and throwing away its good
Intentions and financial backing. A
place has now been reached where
1t Is absolutely essential that Wyo-
ming protect itself against the mon
archial attempts OF the United States
reclamation service to proceed in OPP
position to and in entire disregard OF
the states supulations and rights.
NA