, 1921-05-19
SARATOGA
PROJECT
Senator Warren Secures
Sttement from ReCIa-
NATION Service Re-
garding The Sierra
MadFe Project

Especial to Republican,
Warrington, D. c., May 17-In or
der that there might be a more de-
unite understanding of the Govern
ment's views respecting the much
talked-ebout Sierra Madre Project,
Senator Warren addressed q letter
to Director Davis IS follows:
May Z. 1891
Honorable Arthur P. Davis,
Director. Reclamation Service,
Washington, D. G.
Dear Mr.. Direstor:
Several letters have been received
BY me In regard to the so-called Sier-
n Madre Carey Act Project in the
Saratoga Valley of the North Platte
River. in Carbon County, Wyoming,
which indicate that the writer's hold
the opinion that your department had
ruled that there was not enough wa
ter in the Platte River and its tri-
butaries above the Pathfinder Re-
servoir sufficient to warrant CON
struction OF additional irrigation
projects. Mr.. George e. Brimmer
of Rawlins, Wyoming, advises me
that Mr.. Dudley. Of the General Land
Office, and he called upon Mr.. Morris
Bien, Acting Director, today in re-
gard to the matter and had . very
extended discussion ii to the situa-
ton. During the course Of this
discussion the report of the Board
Of Review on the North Platte CO.
operative Investigations, which was
forwarded to the Secretary Of the In
terror on September 4, 1890, by the
board composed Of L. G.. Carpenter,
Frank c. Emerson and e. A. Moritz,
was considered, and Mr.. Brimmer adj
vises me that he understands that
the attitude Of the Department, as
set forth by Mr.. Bien, In relation to
this report, was as follows: First,
that the finding to the effect that
there was sufficient water available
in the North Platte River and its
tributaries to provide for all irriga-
ton projects that are now contem-
plated, is In accordance with the
facts, provided 1t be understood that
cient capacity 10 store all Of the va
ter that would be required for such
new projects. Second, that II storage
Is provided Of sufficient size to care
for water needed upon new projects,
xthe Reclamation Service would have
Ano objection to the construction of
further irrigation projects, both
above and below the Pathfinder Res
ervofr. Third. that unless water fof
additional irrigation porjects is stor-
ed, 1t would be unwise to recommend
the construction of such projects.
Fourth, that the Service would not
insist that all available water be Inn
pounded before 1t would consent or
agree to q construction OF any pro-
ject,. but It would insist that suffi-
Gent storage for the special project
under consideration be provided be-
fore 1t would give Its full approval
to such project. Fifth, that in the
construction of new projects 1t should
be borne In mind that priority rights
govern In the State of Wyoming, and
that In q dry year the latest projects
would be the first to suffer II there
were insufficient flow. Inasmuch az
the question has been raised as to
the attitude Of the Reclamation Ser
vice in regard to these various mat
ters II would be appreciated II either
the Director o. the Acting Director,
Mr.. ;Bien. would advise me-, at the
earliest possible date, as to whether
or NOT Mr.. Brimmer has correctly set
forth the attitude Of the Reclamation
Service In this matter.
Very truly yours.
(signed) F. q. WARREN.
The following response was re-
ceived BY Senator Warren from Act
ing Director Bien:
Department Of the latsrior
\ United States Reelanation 8srvice
Warrington, b. C.
kag ~, 1881