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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 25, 1919)
THE SEMI. WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. When the Colorado Burst Its Banks and Flooded the Imperial Valley of California The RIVER By Ednati Aiken Copyright. I3obbs-Mrrllt Company CHAPTER XVIII Continued. 9 nis eyes glued to tho lurching station-house, Bnbcock took a brown-paper-rolled clgnrctto from tho prof fered box. "Look," lie cried. "There, she'll go. Boo that" Thero was a splash of splintering timber; a Niagara of fiprny ns the building fell Into tho flood. A minute later, u wreckage of pulnted boards was floating downstream. At tnblo Babcock resumed his cam paign. "The troublo with you all, you have cold feet. You're nil scared off too Boon." Woostcr, up from his nap, looked across tho table. "Cold feet? So you'd have If you had been up for nights, wetting your feet on tho levee, as some of us have, as Hardin has. Mine are cold all right." lie lifted an amazed foot. "Cold I Look hem, boys, thcy'ro wctl" The men looked to find tho water creeping In Bab cock climbed on his chair. "This means tho stntlon," cried Wooster. Every man Jumped. If tho waters had got to them, It wouldn't bo long before they wero reaching tho 0. P. depot 1 Tho tracks would go They wero piling out of tho door when the telcphono caught them. It was a message from Rlckard. A car Was to bo rigged up, papers, tickets and express matter taken from tho fetation. The river was cutting closo to tho track. Tho enr would bo tho terminal, n half-mllo from town. Tho sltuntlon looked black. Coul ter, Efcgers, began to pack their stock. The levee. It was said, would not hold half of Mcxlcali was gone. Calexlco would go next Itlcknrd's Indians wore kept stolidly piling brush nnd rtuffed sacks on tho lovec. This, tho word ran, would bo tho fierce night w one expected to sleep. Thoy wero preparing for tho big battle, tho final struggle, when tho trade recession passed the town. Spectacular as was Its coming, there Was an antlcllmnx In Its retreat. Tho water reached tho platform of tho depot, and halted. Tho town held Its breath. Thero was some sleep that night. Tho next day, tho nerves of tho val ley relaxed. Tho river wnrf hot cut ting back. Tho men at the levco dropped their shovels, nmf went back fo tho discussion of their lawsuits. Their crops wero ruined; too much Water, or too little. Whatever wny they had been hurt, tho company would havo to pay for itl A small shift guarded tho river, tttckard, In his room at the Desert betel, and Ilnrdln up the river, slept n day and n night without waking. Tho thalr-Ulters picked up their argument whero they had loft It; was tho rail toad reaping a harvest of damage suits when they should be thanked Instead? Faraday, tho newspapers reported, was trying to Bhlft his ro ponslblllty; he hud appealed to tho Tho Ranches Wero Ruined. president Their correspondence wob published. The government was In no hurry to tako tho burden. A tele graphic sermon, preaching duty, dls trlbuting blame, was sent from Wash Ington. Perhaps not Faraday himself was more disturbed than the debaters of tho Desert hotel. "Tho railroad's no infant In arms I It wasn't asleep when It took over the affairs of the D. It." Hero spoko the majority. "A benefaction! It was self-interest I When tho river 1b harnessed, who'll profit the most from tho vnlloy prosperity? It can afford to pay tho obligations; that Is, It eould. It will find a way," the ravens rronked, "of shaking tho Desert Re clamation company's debts; of ovnd Ing tho dnmago suits. Look how Hardin was treated 1" Tho feeling ran higher. For many of tho ranchers wero ruined; there was no money to put In tho next gear's crop unless tho promises of tho rriraUoa eompHy wwro epu few landowners, nnd others who had ' not completed their contrncts, dis - i trusting tho good faith of the com- pnny, or Its ability to pay, had "quit" In disgust, to begin again some where else. I'nrrlsh, and Dowker, and others of the "Sixth" scoured dis trict had secured tho promise of em ployment nt tho Heading. Work, it was expected, would be begun nt once now thnt tho dangor to Calexlco had passed. CHAPTER XIX. I i More Oratory. Four men snt at a small tablo In n corner of the crowded hotel dining room, In El Ccntro. Their nnraos mndo their corner the psychological center of the room. Marshall was al ways n target of speculation. Mnc Lenn, strnlght nnd soldierly In his mustard-colored clothes, was, as usual, tho man of distinction. Bluck start ed tho whisper going that tho dark stranger was General do la Vcgn, tho Mexican commissioner. What was ho doing In that group? Babcock completed a combination which encouruged speculations and hond-shaklngs. The room was Jammed with valley men. The meeting of tho ranchers and the several wnter com panies had been called for thnt nfter- noon, the summons signed by Fura I day himself. Nothing elso had been ' talked of for n fortnight, l It wns known throughout tho valley - that tho work nt tho lntnko was not yet begun; that Rlcknrd wns waiting thero for orders; thnt Fnraday nnd tho president of tho United States wero Involved In correspondence ns to tho responsibility for tho future con trol of tho river. Fnraday's engerness to shift his burden was looked upon ns suspicious. It was In tho nlr that the ofllcers of tho Overland Pacific would demand n recall of the damago suits before they would complete tho protectlvo works nt the Ileadlng. Tho men of long vision, members of tho water companies, and Brandon, through tho valley Star, wero pointing out that tho valley's salvation depend ed on the immedlato control of the river; that tho railroad, only, had power to effect It These conservatives wero counseling caution. Only thnt morning, tho Stnr ha 3 Issued an extra, a special edition pleading for co-opern-tlon. "If tho river breaks out ngaln," warned Brandon's editorial, "without Immedlato forco to restrain It, recla mation for that valley Is a dream that Is done. And tho only forco equal to thnt emergency Is tho railroad. Why deliberately nntngonlzo tho railroad? Tho Desert Reclamation compnny, It Is well known, is bnnkrupt. For tho Instant, tho railroad lias assumed the responsibilities of tho smaller organi zation. Apply tho samo situation to Individuals. Suppose a prlvato citizen Is In straits, and auothcr comes for ward to help him. Must every cred itor assume that tho Samaritan should pay tho crushed citizen's bills? In tho present Issue, self-interest should urgo consideration. Better a small loss todny thnt tomorrow may amply ro fund, thnn total ruin In tho future." Hardin, from his moroso unshared table, could seo tho anxious curiosity sotting toward tho railroad group, Over glasses, heads wero closo to gether. Near him, tho tnlk ran high. T! heB blW his way from Barton's party. uarums mouth woro a set sneer, "water company timer muck was haranguing his comrades. "Stand out ngalnst them. Don't lot them bluff you. Mnrshall will try to bluff you Stand together I" Barton's resonant organ broke through tho clatter, "Marshall Is not going to bluff us." Grnco and Black begun to tnlk at once, Hardin's Hp grow rougher. Where hud tney an uccn it it nau not ueen lor him? Why, ho'd pulled them from their llttlo farms back East, whero they wero tolling where they'd bo tolling yet. They'd hud tho vision of sudden wealth they hudn't tho grit to work for It, to wait for It I How many years had ho been struggling? Ho was a young man when ho'd gono Into this thing, ami he was old now. Coffeo and cigars had been reached of tho midday dinner. Bab cock was nervously consulting his wntch. "Shouldn't wo arrange tho meeting?" ho nsked for tho third time. The social nnd cusual air of the meet lng had tensed him. What had tho po lltlcal situation in Mexico to do with tho Important session confronting them? His fussy soul had no pollto sulons; olllco rooms overy ono of them. MncLenn looked to Tod Mnr shall to answer. "I think It will nrrnngo Itself." His volco was silken. "It 1b to bo a dls cusslon, a conference. You can't slato that" wu couiu program, ueguu nau- cock, looking nt Ills watch again. "I don't thlnlc we'll havo to." Mar- Bimu siniicu ncross mo itinie. "xou'ii find this meeting will run Itself. Thero Is not a man hero who is not burning to speak. Look rit them now I Drop i paper In thut crowd, aud eco tho blaze you'd get I iou can open tuo meeting, Mr. Bnbcock, aud I would 'suggest thnt you call on Mr. Do In 1 Vogu first." Tho eyes of tho dining room fol- lowed tho pnrty as they filed past tho buzzing tnbles. Fnraday was not In town; Murshnll represented that pow er. As he walked out, bowing right nnd left, his right hand occasionally extended In his well-known oratorical, courteous gesture. Ills black tlo was stringing down his shirt front; his blnck clothes were the worso for his lunch. But no one, save the Eastern girls, saw spots or tie. The .future of that valley lay In that nmn's hand, no matter how Black or Grace might harangue. In five minutes, tho dining, room wus emptied. As snow gently fnlllng, had gath ered tho first damage suits, of tho ranchers. The last fiood had precipi tated n temperamental storm. Men wero suing for the possible vulues of their farms, Impossible values of crops. Not alono tho companies had been blanketed with the nccuslng pa pers, but ngainst Mexico tho white drifts had piled up. Mexico I No ono knew better than Ilnrdln how absurd it was to accuso tho sister country ot responsibility. A pretty pickle they wero In I Whero" was It nil going to end? In tho lobby, Hardin ran up ngalnst Brandon, who was following a news scent. Through tho valley It was being rumored that subscriptions wero to bo nsked for the completion of tho worKT If this were tho Intention, thero would he a hot meeting. "You arc going on tho platform?" assumed the newspaper man. "No? Then will you sit with me?" "If you will sit upstairs," scowled Ilnrdln, "I don't want to bo dragged outo the platform." Down in tho orchestra, Black from the Wistaria wus haranguing a group of gesticulating ranchers. Phrases climbed to tho men on tho balcony goats. "Keep their pledges. Promise makers. Let them look at our crops 1" If Marshall expects to coerce those men, I lose my guess. Then he's no Judgo of men," cried Hardin. Look at those faces." Tho floor was n sea of Impassioned features. "Something's going to drop," echoed- Brandon. From tho wings, Babcock's Inquisi tive glasses wero seen to sweep the house. Hardin could cntch tho sum mons of nn excited forefinger to the group unseen. Thero was a minute of delay. Then Babcock's nervous toddlo carried him onto tho stage. Do In Vega followed Bahcock. Thero was a hush of curiosity. The houso did not know who ho was. Be hind him, soldierly, stiff, stallfcd Mac- Lean. Marshall's entrance released tho tongues. Thero wns uu Interval of confusion on tho stage. Babcock, like a restless terrier, was snapping at tho heels of tho party. At last, they wero all fussily seated. Do la Vega was given tho place of honor. Marshall, Babcock put on his left, MacLean on the right Babcock raised his staccato gavel. A hush fell on tho house. His words wero clipped and sharp. "You havo left your plowing to come here. You arc anxious to henr what wo have to say to you. You cannot 1 afford to bo Indifferent to It. You ac- knowledge, by your presence, a de-' pendence, a correlation wnicn you would llko to deny. Irrigation means co-operation, Buffering together, strug- gllng together, succeeding together. You prefer tho old Individual way, each man for himself. I tell you It won't do. You belong In other coun tries, the countries of old-fashioned rain. You want to hear what we have to say to you, tho company who saved tho valley, the company you are suing. But you hnvo also suits nenlnst Mmr. imi you novo aiso suus against Alex- ICO. Tliero IS U gentleman Here WHO nan a message irom Mexico aoout tlioso suits. I lmvo tho honor, gentle- men, 10 liurouuce, oenor uo m vegu." "Ladles," bowed the Mexican. "Gen- tlcmcn, Mr. Chairman. It Is with an appreciation of the honor that I ac cepted for today tho invitation of Mr. Marshall to speak beforo you, to speak to you; I must tell you first my thought as I sat thero and looked at you, tho youth, tho flower of tho Ainer- ican people. A few years ago, wo were culling tills the grout Colorado desert; now, tho world calls It tho hothouse of America. This theater Is built over the bones of gold-seekers, who dnrcd denth In this dreaded desert to find whnt wns burled In thoso mountains beyond. Tho man, I suy, who crossed this desert, took tho hazard of death. It was a coun- tryninn or mino who piloted, fifteen yenrs ngo, a llttlo bund of men, ncross tho desert Perhaps ho camped on this very spot It Is not Impossible! It Is hero, perhaps, that lie got his inspiration. Ho Bnw n wondorfal ter - rltory; ho dreamed to quicken It with ino useless wuterb or tho Colorado. You will oil agree that It was Gull- lermo Estrada who dreumed the dream unit nas como truo; tnnt It wns' inrougn nun thnt some of your coun- trymen secured their prlvtlego to re - claim tins land. I.ntor, when ono of yonr countrymen round ho could not fulfill his promiBO to you, tho promise to de- I liver water to your ranches, ho came to my nation and got permission to cut Into tho river on our territory. Most gladly did Porflrlo Diaz grant that privilege. For that, today, you aro suing him. This, I am told, is your complaint." His nbrupt pnuso betruyed n con fused murmur of vplces. Do la Vega's polite eur tried to differentiate the phrases. Thero wns n Jumble of sound. De la Vega looked Inquiringly at Bab cock, who wnved him on. "It hns nothing to do with tho his tory, but I would llko to say In passing titut eo ussurcd were your people of our frendly feeling towurd you thnt tliey did not wait to rccclvo permis sion from Mexico to make the cut. Your people wero In a hurry. Your crops wero In danger. First the lack of water, then too much wnter dam aged your volley. A few ncres " A volco from the crowd cried out, "A few acres? Thousands of acres." Instantly others were on their feet. "Thousands of acres. Ruin." Ono mnn was 'shouting himself apoplectic. Babcock's gavel sounded a sharp staccato on tho table. "Thousands of ncres." Do la Vega wns unrufiled. "And more than that. The valley, -It- must bo remembered, does not stop nt the line. Mexican In nds, too, have been scoured by tho action, the result of tho action of your irrigation company. It was a mutual," he paused, and n qunint word enmo. to his need. "A mutual bereavement It did not occur to us to accuso you of our troubles. Your damage suits pained nnd astonished us. But they gave us also a suggestion." The rustling nnd the murmurs sud denly ceased. A prescient hush wait ed on Do la Vega. "You hnvo been nd vlscd to sue us. To sue us for giving you that concession. anereiore, tno only answer Is for us to withdraw J;hnt concession 1 You accuse us, for giv ing it to you. That concession Is val uable. What elso can we do? Before your damage suits wero filed, we were approached by others for the same privilege. It you do not withdraw your suits, my nation sends word to you that you may not toko water from the Colorado river through Mexican soil. You will not bo without water probably long; I havo said that con cession is valuable! Other arrange ments will probnbly bo mndo so that the valley will be given water. I would llko to take your answer to my govern ment." It wns several seconds before tho house got Its breath. Tho Import of the diplomat's words was astounding. Barton got to his feet, yelling with his great bass voice, "Betrayed 1" His shrunken finger Indicated n youth with "R. S." In black letters on his collar. "Tho valley has been betrayed." In tho balcony, tho uproar was deaf ening. Around Hardin and Brandon words wero thudding llko bullets. "Reclamation Service." "That's their game." "The concession I" "They won't got It" "Betrayed. Wo aro be trayed." Downstairs. Babcock's gavel rapped unheard. Behind tho excited figure wielding tho stick, sat Marshall, his unreadable, sweet smile on his face. His eyes wero on Babcock, who was vainly clamoring for order. "Program that mectlnc." Holllster was trylnc to make hlm- aeif i,cnra to Barton over two rows of BCnta, but his volco was llko a child's Tan oceau be Tarton was sur rounded by eager anxious men. The audience had split Into circles of haranguing centers. It wns Impossible to get attention. Hardin could seo Mar shall pull Babcock by the tails of his coat Unwillingly, ho could seo Bnb- cock allow tho crowd five minutes by Ws consulted watch. Then again, tho i .i.,.i !., 'i.,i cirrel danced on tho table. Marshall wnn sHH Rmlllmr. Unhmclr'a nlirlll Volco split tho din. "Order." The nepan of voices swnllowed him ncnln i w0 won.t iet them In." Grace wns bchowlng, "tho valloy won't stand for It" "Take your medicine," tho big organ of Barton. thundered "I warned you, Imperial valley." "Betrayal." groaned tho crowd Down In tho orchestra, Barton was holding a hurry-up meeting of tho wn- I tor companies. De la Vega had stepped bnck nnd was consulting with Tod Marshall. Babcock pulled out his wntch, his gavel culling for nttcntlon. This time ho was heard. Do la Vega apnroachcd tho foot- lights, a questioning look on his face. "Wo nsk for a llttlo time," began Barton. Instuntly tho houso wns on its feet "Withdraw tho suits. Glvo him your answer. Glvo him our nn Bwer. Wo don't want tho Service. Tho valley don't want ttm Service. With 1 inw tiic aults." , Barton's moon fnco looked troubled t "Wo can't answer for all the ranchers." "Yes. vou cuu." screnmed Ornco. nnnninir u r nnd down like n hnhoon. i "If vou don't I'll nnswer for them, Don't vou see. It's n trick? It's j trick. I see tho hnnd of tho O. P. In ' this." Friendly bunds pulled lilm down into his sent. . Tho audlcnco was chnntlne. "With drnw tho suits. Toko your medicine, Don't loso tho concession. Lord, tho Service I Glvo them tho answer now." Barton held up n withered hand. The undeveloped body was dignified by the splendid head. "Don't with draw your concession. I think I can say that Mexico will not be sued." Again, tho shout wont up. "Answer like n man. Think I Good Lord I Suy we withdraw tho suits 1" "Wo withdraw the claims ngalnst Mexico." Barton sat down to a sud den hush. The first blood had been let Once more Babcock's glnsscs swept the house. He rapped tho table. "That's not all. We've got more to say to you. Gentlemen, Mr. Marshall." Marshall stepped forward to a si lence which was n variety of tribute. no bowed. "I will be brief. Mr. Faraday has asked mo to take his placo hero this afternoon. It's only Marshall's Voice Rang Out. fair. If It were not for my Interfer ence, ho would not bo involved in this situation. I think you will grant that It Is Mr. Faraday's company which can save tho. valley?" "To save Its own tracks 1" yelled a volco from the balcony. Marshall sent a soft smllo heaven ward. "Incidentally. And its traffic. Why don't you say It? We don't deny that Tho Overland Pacific's no altru ist." Thero was n. Jeer which roso into a chorus. "Altruist 1 Octopus. That's what It Is." Marshall's hand went up. "If you want to hear me?" He waved away Babcock's descending gavel. "I was told it would cost two hundred thou sand dollars to close that break of yours. Do you want the nctual fig ures? It has eaten already n million, and the work Is not yet done. You know the history of the undertaking. Tho Desert Reclamation compnny was In straits. Faraday promised his help on tho condition that the affairs of tho Desert Reclamation company would be controlled by his company. Ho took the control. He Inherited what? Not good will. Threats, dam age suits. Do you think that snow slide of complaints Is going to encour age him to go on? This is what I came hero to talk to you about You ranch ers don't want to cut your own throats. Now, there's a good deal going on nbout which you arc In tho dark. Fnradny's got a right to feel he's shouldered an old man of tho sea, He's been trying to dislodge it. He's appealed to the president Ever since we came into this, the cry from Wash ington has been, 'Do this tho way we like, or we'll not take It off your hnnds.'" A murmur of angry voices started somewhere, swelling toward the balcony. "Wo don't want the government " began tho rising voices. Marshall's voice rang out : 'But tho government wants you I Unless you will help save your own homes, tho government will have to, In time. -It' got to. Up thero at Lagunn, have you seen It? There's nothing go ing on. They're wntchlng us. That's a useless toy If our works nro washed out Faraday says this to you" Not a sound In tho stilled house. "Unless you withdraw your dnmago suits, ho won't advance another damned cent." Sharply ho snt down before the au dlcncc roullzed that his inessnge was finished. Tho house hud not found Its voice, when Babcock's gnvel was pounding ngnln for attention. The question, ho felt, hnd not been put to them completely. Perhaps, they did not gather tho full Import of Mr. Mar snail's message. Mr. MacLean would follow Mr. Marshall. MacLenn's superb figure roso from a trec-pnncled buckground. "Ho should sing 'Brown October Ale,'" suggested Brandon to Hardin humorously. Hardin's eyes wero on MacLean. What did he know nbout It? Whnt could ho tell thoso men thnt they did not know? Maclean wus u figurehead In tho reorganized Irrigation compuny. j Why hudn't thoy called ou him. Har din? He knew moro nbout tho Involved history of tho two companies than tho whole bunch on tho stage down yon der. He could have told them, ho could have called on their Justice, their memory MncLenn wus speaking.. "Mr. Marshall has likened the 'river project to the old man of the sen. Ho bus It on his bnck, while It Is busily kicking him in tho shins I "Mr. Murshnll hns given you Mr. Fnruduy's message. Ho has asked you to dismiss your damage suits. I nsk you to do more thnn that Put your hands in your pockets I Como out nnd help us. You don't want tha government I am told that Is the sentiment of the vnlley. When you called to them, they wouldn't help you; they wouldn't give you an ade quate price. Congress will soon bo adjourning. Whnt Is Mr. Fnraday to say to Washington? Is ho going to close thnt break? That depends on you. Withdraw your suits. Do more. Stop fighting against us. Fight with us" The audience stirred ominously, angrily. Before MacLean was done, a voice screamed from the baleony. "You enn't quit. That's a threat You're In too deep. You can't fool us. You've got to save yourself. Yon'vo got to go on. Tell Fnraday to tell that to Washington." The upronr was released. Black, from the Wlstarln, Jumped on his chair. "I am speaking for tho valley. We can't help. You know It We'ro stripped. We're ruined. You think to threaten us with the government If we wnlt for the government to decide," tho vnlley is gone nnd the railroud's money with It I tell you, your bluff won't go. We want justice. Wo are going to have Justice." "Justice I" came from the surging ranchers. "Fair piny," yelled Black. "You can't trick us. We were not born yesterday. We havo rights. The company brought us here. Whnt did we give our money for? Desert land? What good Is this land without wnter? Wo bought wa ter. Glvo us back the money we've put in that's what we're asking for. We won't be scared out of our rights." There was n growling accompani ment from the back rows, herding to gether. "Order," cried Bnbcock, thumping his gavel. "Let Mr. Black have the floor." Black had not stopped. Wildly his hnnds cut the nlr. His speech, though high-pitched, had a prepared sound; It worked townrd a climax. Ho gave Individual lnstnnces of ruin. "Grace, Wlllard Grace, his crop gono, his place cut in two. Holllster und Wilson of the Pulo Verde, the ranch a scream ing horror. Scores of others." He would not mention his own case; and then ho Itemized his misfortunes. Pnr rish, his place scoured beyond all fu ture usefulness. What had they como Into the valley for? Who had urged them? Thero were pledges of tke D. R., water pledges. That was all those ruined men were plendlng, the redemp tion of those pledges. Individual ruin, whnt did it mean? A curtailing of lux uries, or personal Indulgence. I tell you, It means food, bread, potatoes ; milk for tho babies; or starvation." Black had touched the doop note. This was tho nnswer. This was what thoy wanted to say. "You ask us to help you, a. we who are taxed nlready to our breaking point. You say your company won't go any further. What docs thnt help mean to you? Poverty? A fow thou- sands, n million to tho O. P., a cor poration, what does a loss mean to them? Poverty? I tell you, no. A smaller dividend, maybe, to whoral Yes, to whom? To the mon who live in Fifth avenue, whose wive are dragged about In Umouslnos. With draw their suits? Help Faraday, and ruin men llko Pnrrlsh? Men of the vnlley, what is your answer to Fara day?" The crowd was on Its feet swaying nnd pushing. The air was fotld with breaths. Wilson's crowd had forgotten Its lorgnettes. "No," yelled tho ranch ers. "We say, no." A boy made his way from tfea wings, n yellow envelope In his hand. Bnbcock waved him on to Marshall. Tho audience wns crying Itself hoarse. Bnbcock lost control of tho meeting In thnt minute of turning. Holllster, of the Palo Verde, was striving to bo heard; Bubcock's hammer sounded In vnln. But Marshall's eye hnd caught a spark from the yellow sheet He sprang forward, throwing tho dispatch toward MacLean. His excitement caught the eye of tho crowd. "Tho river I" There was a sudden hush. "Tho river's out again I" A groan swept through the house, thero was a break townrd the doors, (TO 1313 CONTINUHD.) You Oughta Know That, Uncle. "Fine dog you hnvo there, my little mnn;" remarked tho kind old gentle man. "Whut do you call him?" "Don't hafta to coll him," -answered my llttlo man. "Ho goes every placo I do." OptlmlstlD Thought He who knows nothing knows enough, if ho knows when to bo silent