Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-09
CAN THEY STEAL OUR RIVER.

| To the Editor Of the'EAGLE:
While in Colorado recently I not only
observed the condition of the snowy
range from points on the plains from the
| Spanish peaks to the north as | ap.
preached Denver, but while l was ur
! Clear Creek cannon at Silver Plume and
on Pixies Peak. Besides I conversed
with old settlers in Colorado about the
irrigation bitches and the snow fall of
the past year. There was SO little snow
to be seen any where that it took close
observation to discover it in the sheltered
crags Of even the highest peaks. The
oldest settlers say that there has been
less snow in the mountains than for ten
years. There is complaint in Colorado
about scarcity of water this year. Many
of the mountain streams are dry, was
told, and others quite short in volume.
| observed that there was a fair head
of water in the Arkansas about the
Kansas line. But there had been
heavy rams on the PLAINS of Colorado for
the week previous. A waterspout break
ing near Coolidge and OVERLOOKING the
town as | passed through it: the Grand
opera house was in flames, | was told.
from stroke of lightning at the same
time.
1t appears that the sub-soil of Colorado
is clay pretty generally, and that their IT.
rigation water when in the bitches and
fields is not so rapidly flowing off to the
sea, but that it gradually percolates the
soil and flows into the river again, the
tendency of which is to maintain a steady
flow over a greater time in the river. No
complaint is made of the suspension of
the waters of the Platte in Nebraska so
far as | heard of, and the greater draft
for Colorado irrigation has always been
made on that river.
The trouble about our Arkansas river,
IN nay opinion, arises from the great
Kansas irrigation, or more properly,
speculation bitches, this side the line
of Colorado. These immense bitches
carry the waters of our river into the
porous subsoil for many miles without
return. One of these bitches is one hun
dred miles long, am told. and has flow
ed large part of our river into the
gopher holes, but has never done much
good yet towards irrigating its ad loining
lands. Yet every surplus gallon of water
that is soaked into the soil of Kansas and
stays there over the season instead of
flowing to the sea adds so much reslduary
water power which is to be increased the
next year by the same causes existing
which brought it about. 1t is easy TO be
seen that If this process is kept up that
1t is only a question of time when the
whole country from the mountains to
the sea would reach complete sub-satura-
ton. The draught of water might, if
not regulated, be at first too great from
our rivers, but indirectly old ocean would
have to pay it, and in the course of a
few years the dried and diminished rivers
would be of far greater volume than
ever.
To conclude, the taking of the surplus
waters and holding them inland for irri-
eating purposes, under proper regulations,
on a large scale is the grandest thing ever
undertaken by man. so FAR as know. 1t
Is worthy of the great American people.
l hope it will be done on a grand and
well guarded scale. The steps of our
plains are filled with natural basins lit
for large artificial lakes. The streams
could be emptied into them and the
waters drawn away for irrigation.
He who would oppose it let him i'm
agine the conservation of the waste
waters Of the great rivers as they go
surging to the sea, destroying property
and life. \ great system that proposes
to seize the mighty tides Of the Missouri
and the Arkansas and turn them gently
over the deserts of Montana. Wyoming,
Colorado and Kansas to secure
life instead of death, is worthy of the
careful investigation of great people.
w. +. HUTCHINSON.