Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-13
Irrigation for Western Kansas.

1fOH~ w IAlIdIl N. OG6WdIG5 OudIF-
man Special Committee, .. S. Sen
ate.
Dear Sir:-In accordance with
your request for information, the
committee appointed by the board
Of Regents of the Kansas State Agri-
cultural College 1 g made careful
inquiry, with pe-5onal- inspection,
as to the need of irrigation in the
western part of the State, and pre-
sent herewith their conclusions,
with the hope that your committee
may carefully scrutinize the facts in
the case, and gather such definite
information as may lead to immedi-
ate results.
We have found very consider
able part of the, western half of the
State suffering annually from insult
fcient rainfall, and estimate that an
area of 5000 square miles Of arabic
land is but partially available for
agricultural purposes without artitic-
ial' supply of water by some system
Of irrigation. Upon all this region
! the annual rainfall is not much above
] twenty inches, and is frequently so
distributed as to prevent the matur-
ing,of summer crops, while encour-
aging extensive planting by fairly
abundant rains in the spring. In
soil and surface, the entire area is
most admirably adopted to cultiva-
tion, and when furnished with water
during July and August is very
productive. The whole region Is
already . occupied with a sturdy
body Of farmers, and dotted with
towns with hundreds and even thOus-
ands, of inhabitants, all striving il
every way to develop the country
and to. devise ways and means fol
a successful agriculture. They are
all worthy the utmost attention tina
the committee can give; and no pOr
e ton Of the country can better
J repay any outlay IN the development
: of methods of irrigation, should ever
: a partial success be reached.
S In the portion Of the State lying
in. the valley of the Arkansas river
u very considerable efforts have beel
= already. expended, as your commit
tee is doubtless aware, in providing
irrigating bitches upon. the surface
These have met with such a degre
! of success as to encourage still furth
er expenditure, provided a suffoien
supply Of water can be secured
IS Your attention is particularly calle
L to devices for. tapping the under cur
s rent permeating the gravel subsoi
n as worthy your immediate investiga
z. ton. It is the universal testimony c
the inhabitants that never failin
wells are found throughout the vale
= by driving pipes a few feet into tn
! soil; and an inexhaustable we'll Onl
; nineteen feet deep supplies tn
Garden City water works. Thes
lie and many other facts lead to tn
inference that the water available fc
S, irrigating purposes may be largel
increased by some system of ii
ing from this subterranean reserve
to the surface of the valley lowe
down the stream.
n. A somewhat limited supply Of watt
- has been found by boring artesia
y wells. These are, so far, confined
a somewhat narrow region, exten,
ing from about the center Of Il
tn Colorado border. north of CooIldg
through the southwestern corner
: the State. These are worthy Of fu
Ms ther tests, both as to the extent
ne territory where such wells are poss
BILE, and as to the best condition
5. Of their construction. Some data f
. suggestions IN this direction will,
is understood, be furnished by Il
?. Secretary of the State Board Of A
riculture.
"a In the northwest corner Of q
er State, &c. sufficient supply Of water
nd available, though the general como
tiOns Of surface and soil aye very z
tractive to enterprise The pOssib
4 ity of utilizing the rain fall Of tn
region to better. effect by storage
the various depressions and draw
is worthy Of. consideration. In SOL
parts Of these western counties, We
Of considerable streams supply.
some seasons of the year, lar
nnanfities OF water. which MIGHT