Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-10-05
IRRIGATION AT GARDEN CITY

est has been awakened IN the experiments
Of raising crops by irrigation in southwest>
ern Kansas. The FIRST attempt. to reclaim
this arid region, where the annual rainfall
is only about fourteen inches, were made in
the spring Of 1880 at Garden City, Sequoyah
county, about siIiy-fve miles eas: of the
State line. The fine display of vegetables
from that place st the Bismark Fair In 1850,
and again at the State Fair in Topeka in
1881, surprised all who saw them.
They were exhibited as the "frst iruits''
an earnest OF what might be done on a
grand scale by tuning the muddy waters
of the Arkansas onto the rich coil Of the
river bottom. Those Who commenced the
work in 1880, encouraged by their success,
have steadily carried 1t on. A few shrewd
and iar-seeing capitalists have taken hold
OF the scheme; and irrigation in western
kansas is fart assuming proportions which
demand not only the attention Of home
seekers and capitalists, but Legislators as
we'll.
propose to give only few general facts
learned and impressions received while
spending dAy-sepi. 9th-at Garden City.
wac enabled 10 visit the place through the
oour,esy Of Col. johnson, Land Commits
sioner Of the A,chisop, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railroad. While there had excellent OPP
l.. Ill Il lr
accomplished, and TO gain come idea Of
whs, is attempted.
During the past season, about ], 500 scret
have been under cultivation in the vicinity
of Garden City. A portion OF this land lie
in the river bottom. and part OF il on a
plateau about fifty feet above the river bot
tom. All the vegetables and cereals raised
in eastern Kansas have been cultivated with
great success There is no donb, that larg-
er crop. can be raised there by irrigation
than the average season produces in the
eastern part OF the state. Fruit and forest
trees, planted two yesrs ago, have inside
good growtb. Small fruits AZ ye, have only
been cultivated on small scale, but with
fair success. Strawberries, especially, take
kindly to irrigation.
In distance of about thirty miles west
from Garden City, Eve bitches tap the
river. Four OF these are on the north side
and one, at Lakin, on the south side of he
river. Only par, 81 these bitches have been
in use the past season. II is expected that
the water from these bitches gill irriga,e al
least 100, 600 acres OF rich soil. The frs,
irriysting ditch dug lie eight fee, wide and
two feet deep. Ii has been extended about
twelve miles. The largest Of the i've ditch
es is the Great Essiern," or Plumb ditch.
1t taps the river west OF Lakin, in kea.ney
county. Ii j. :hir,y feet wide and three
fee, deep. It's length il already twenty-five
miles, and the survey Is completed for fifty
mile,. Senator PiGmb is president Of the
company. This ditch will carry water onto
the divide between the pawuee and the Wal
nut. II the waters can be controlled, it will
yield greater revenue TO its owners than a
silver mine.
The cost of irriga,ing in sequoysh county
IL not great The banks Of the Arksnsss
river average about four feet in height.
The current ia rapid, the fall, was inform
ed, being about eight feet to the mile. The
channel is sbou, one-half mile wide.
There are numerous islands in the river.
The frs. dam constructed extended from the
lover poin, o! one OF these islands to the
shore, the distance beng less than one hun
bred feet. The water was raised near the