57 



more reliable. ITnder the present arrangements there are irrigated 

 from the South Platte and tributaries in Colorado about 750,000 

 acres of land yielding annual crops Avorth from $15 to $1,000 per 

 acre," supporting a large population in comfort, not only Avithout 

 working any lasting harm to the farmers in Nebraska, but actually 

 improving their water supply. Stopping the use of the water in 

 Colorado might increase the supply in Nebraska for a few years, 

 until the water supplied to the soil by years of irrigation had drained 

 out, but there is everj'^ reason to believe that eventually the river 

 would return to its former condition, and Nebraska would receive no 

 lasting benefit, while Colorado would sulfer the loss due to the return 

 of 750,000 acres from intensively cidtivated and highly productive 

 farms to their original desert condition or worse, because the natural 

 grasses have been destroved. This Avoidd involve the loss of the 

 capital invested in irrigation works, in railroads, in sugar factories, 

 in farm buildings and implements, and in all the industries and 

 business enterprises which are supported by a prosperous agricul- 

 tural community. It would mean the ruin of other industries which 

 now run on a narrow margin of profit, because of the increased cost 

 of living due to the stopping of the local production of a food 



supply. 



Even assuming that the natural flow of the stream would reach 

 Nebraska if it were not used iji Colorado, its use in Nebraska would 

 necessitate the construction of new canals, farm buildings, grain 

 elevators, mills, sugar factories, business houses, and residences. 

 All over the United States the development of new sections by irriga- 

 tion has been attended with financial losses and misunderstandings 

 and recriminations between investors in irrigation works and the 

 settlers under these works. The South Platte Valley in Colorado has 

 passed through this period. At present 85 per cent of the land in the 

 valley is watered by ditches owned by the farmers, and a satisfactory 

 and economical system of ditch management has been worked out. 

 This condition has been reached only after years of trouble between 

 investors and settlers. 



Under present conditions the water used on the lands near the head- 

 waters returns in part to the streams to be used again farther down 

 along their courses. This process continues doAvn to the State line 



a Mr. Adams collected complete crop retiu-ns for 24..329 acres, sliowius annual 

 returns of .$19.84 per acre. This land was not in the most hijilily productive 

 section of the valley. The area i)lanted to sugar beets in l!)n;{ was l."..!)?:'. 

 acres, with an average production of 1.3.4(5 tons per acre. At ^4.7>0 per ton. 

 the usual price, this is $(;0..57 per acre, a total of .>?luiT.4S4 for the whole area. 

 Raspberries yielded as high as .$1,018 per acre, potatoes $80 to ^S^y per acre, 

 and alfalfa $15 per acre. The acreages of these various crops are not avail- 

 able, hence no statement of total crop returns can be made. 



