Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-25
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ventor OF s'Tne Aerial TORPEDO" recently
wrote an article to the Kansas City Times
on the moisture problem, which is repro
duced in order that the farmers of Kansas
may understand his theory. Referring "a
the subject DR.. Parsons says:
It Is ono that will be . benefit to Thousands
who are now trying to make heir homes upon
this treeless prairie. When in the future we
innumerable lakelets. causing to grow two
blades of grass where one grew before, we can
look back to this article and say it has been OF
some benefit to mankind
In such years as the three last have been in
Kansas, the farmer sees one crop after another
fail for the want OF moisture; he plants the
fourth with q trembling hand and prays this
year there may be enough rain sent to water it.
but the hot winds ofJuly and August begin to
blow and his crops are withered before the
blast
Now If the United States wishes to people
these States of the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains with happy homes, they must make
some move to aid the willing hands that are now
laboring to accomplish this.
What is wanted is moisture. We all know
that the soil is rich and that bountiful crops
could be produced il we had now and then q
rain at the right time. We also know that dur
ing our driest seasons we have great abun-
dance OF ra1nfall-Sufdcient to produce the very
best OF crops, but our treeless prairios shed
water like the roof OF a house, SO that twenty
four hours after good rain the earth Is again
dry and the greater part of this water is chok-
Ing the streams on the way to the Gulf OF
Mexico.
It has been proposed to build great lakes or
reservoirs at the foot of the Rocky mountains.
This would tend to produce climatic change,
but no: great; contractors would grow rich out
OF such project, while much greater change
could be wrought and more good be done by
distributing this money among the farmers to
construct small lakes from one-half acre to two
acres in extent over this great area from the
Gulf OF Mexico to British America There is
no doubt but the lakes would be built by the
farmer If he only realized their value and had
some aid from the Government.
Dams can be built across ravines at trihing
expense and trees can be planted around these
dams. 1t is well known to those who have cul-
tfvated fish that these fish ponds, occupying
worthless land, render it as valuable to them as
Their most choice and productive for one or
two acres stocked with fish would furnish their
families with that luxury that but few farmers
enjoy.
This idea was presented to my mind as I
watched heavy rain in June. It came down
in torrents; every little -rivulet was choked
with water. There was water everywhere. AS
I watched 1t rapidly flowing by the thought
came, if We could only store this sur
plus there would Re enough to carry US
through the next dry season, which We
are sure will soon come. II an appropri-
alton were made by the United
States, and each State also gave to this enter
for his land and something each year to keep it
in repair. This money would provide for the
present wants OF many poor man who is now
laboring hard on the frontier for the support of
q family and it would also aid him IN making
himself home, while the ponds would furnish
his family with nourishment. The Government
would soon learn that this money had been well
spent.
But the greatest benefit that would be de-
rived by the Commonwealth would be in the
nh hot I1lv@
produce. Every section Of land should have
one or more of these lakes. In some cases they
might be large enough to hold water for irriga-
ton, but the idea is to have them for the pur-
pose OF evaporating basins. There being thou
sands OF them, they would represent vast area
OF water surface fringed with trees that would
make quick growth and keep these ponds
from too rapid evaporation.
Then our hot winds, or the "simoons of the
American desert" blowing over these bodies of
water, would cause rapid evaporation, and be-
come cooler SO that they would be robbed of
their terror. As they waited this moisture
northward over a country cooled by innumer-
able lakelets. these vapors would become con-
densed and fall in the form of rain. Again, the
north wind will carry the remaining moisture
to the south, and there water the thirsty crops
OF that region. Thus we see, as our winds blow
almost directly north and SOUTH that instead
OF this moisture being lost to this section, it
would again and again be waited back
and forth over this arid-region, and the
country that is now looked upon as
being almost uninhabitable would yield
to the farmer most productive harvest. It is
well known fact that since this country has
been opened up and large amount of land been
brought under cultivation the rainfall has in
creased. We also know that over forests, bodies
of water and even cultivated land, the tempera-
ture is cooler than over uncultivated prairies; ;
thus this GOODNESS the moisture floating
over to be condensed and it falls in the form of
rain. One can notice in dry seasons, when we
have but now and then shower, that they seem
to follow the great water courses. We can at
tribute this to the same cause. The atmos-
phere being cooler there, these vapors are con-
censed in their passage over it and rain is
the consequence. Farther proof might be
given, but the rejecting mind will see that
great change would come over this country
and for every dollar that was given to help the
industrious pioneer, the Government would re-
ceive ten-fold in the increase of its revenue and
the additional wealth OF these great plains.
We must make some L1ove in this country to
improve our condition. This subject is one
which should not only interest the farmer but
the mechanic and merchant WELL for without
moisture We have but an arid region, o barren
desert.
Every Senator and Congressman from the
Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas. Texas and Colo
RADIO should act in unison to aecAre appro-
priation from the United States, and the Leg
islatures of every State and Territory should
offer some substantial aid to its pioneers to
construct these reservoirs Kansas, stand ng
out as a bright star in the galaxy of States in
every movement that helps to elevate man
kind, can do no better than to see that this idea
is carried out
Let this subject be agitated, societies formed
and aid ASKED for from the States and the
United States; then an interest will be awak-
ened The farmer, seeing the great value OF
these reservoirs, will begin to build them and
If an appropriation OF a million year for the
next ten years can be secured to these States
and Territories OF the eastern slope of the
Rocky mountains, 1t will not only bring US
plenty OF rain but 1t will distribute 80, 900
where 1t is most needed for it will aid people
that are deserving aud that need the protec
ing aid of the Government as much as any peo-