The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-07
The Blue River water Powers.

source Of wealth and independence that
We scarcely consider, yet with which
We are all acquainted. We refer to the |
Water-Power Of the Big and Little Blue
Rivers. Within the limits of Marsaall
county there are more water powers than
in all the rest of Kansas put together. In
fact at Blue Rapids in this county there is
the best ter-power in the west. Come
with US to the northern limit of the coun.
ty and the first half mile that the Big Blue
river runs into its limits is a good water
power on the land of Mr.. Barnes one
mile farther down at what is known as
Oketo crossing there is another between
that and the mouth of Horse shoe creek
five miles farther down there is at least
two more; at the mouth of Horse Shoe, on
land owned by Judge Brumbaugh, there
is splendid water-power, the stream
falling at this place six feet in one hundred
and fifty yards with solid rock bottom
extending clear across the river between
there and Hutchinson's mill three miles
farther down there is at least one more !;
and then we pass the present dam at
Hutchinsons and come down one mile far
ther to Mr.. Linn's place opposite town
and we find another good water power one
mile and half farther down we find an.
other good water power on the farm owned
by Frank Schmidt and so on down the
river to Blue Rapids, we might enumera,e
in that distance of about fourteen miles,
or point out at least six more such !;
and at the Rapids the greatest power of
all. The Little Blue river coming in
above the Rapids is lined with water pow.
ers along the ten or twelve miles that it
traverses Marshall county; we will say
at least there is four more. After we pass
below Blue Rapids the water-powers are
less frequent though there are few good
ones, say three or four, within the limils
of the county, in a distance of twelve
miles by water. Along this latter distance
the current is less rapid and the banks
are not as often good for building dams.
We have enumerated suficient-now for
their use. In Kansas wood and coal are
scarce, hence steam power mnst be ex-
pensive, if not at present, it certainly will
be in the future, and capitalists will in
vest in water-powers. Throughout the
length and breadth of this great State
there are no water-powers except on the
Big, and Little Blue rivers, that are relia-
BILE. At Grasshopper Falls they have a
dam and mills, but on an average the
amount of water is not sufficient for more
than seven months in the year, and fac,o-
ries cannot be run on uncertain water.
powers. A factory that employs one hum
dred or five hundred hands cannot afford
to lie idle fve-sevenths of its time for want
of water. Here on the Blue the dryest
seasons have not made any percep,ih,e
difference in the volume of ter, the
streams being supplied by inexhaustible
springs.
TheSbluffs and ::priaries of this country
afford the amplest pasture for millions Of
sheep whose feeces must be manufactured
into cloth and where can that be better
done than here at home. Woolen facto.
ries will eventually be built along this
stream that shall supply the west with
blankets and the people of the State and
mountains with clothing. This will give
employment to quite community and
create market for our produce. To be
sure they have water. power in. the moun.
tains and sheep can be raised there, but
the produce that shall maintain their fac.
tors must in good measure be transpor-
ted, hence their labor must be dear. Here
where we have the water-power, the land
to raise the produce and the millions of
acres for pasture upon which We need pay
no tax for the next thirty:or forty years,
factories can be run and fortunes be made
at it.
] 1t only requires time to develope these
things. So soon as our. advantages are un-
derstood hv eastern ca nit lisis and we have