Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-11-26
Te|egraphic Tidings 6
AkTESIAN WELL Project.
Sixty-fve Flowing Wells in Kansas Used
for IrrIgating Purposes.

TOPEKA, Nov. 2G.-RODert Hay, assist
ant state geologist, was directed some
time since by the state board OF agricul
ture to investigate artesian wells i'll west
ern Kansas, in relation to the matter Of
irrigation. He has just reported to Sec
Mohler. The report shows these wells to
be more numerous than are generally
supposed, and can be made OF great value
as a source of water supply. Mr. Hay in
spected wells in Mead, Hamilton, Ford,
Stanton and Norton counties. lie says
that Northeast OF Mead's center is re-
gion six or eight miles in length, and about
two miles in width, embraced in which
are number of artesian wells that are
flowing. There are sixty-live of these
wells, and every farm in the locality has
one. The existing Mead county wells are
yielding flow OF about 600 gallons min
ute. From this estimate, which is reason
able one, it will be seen that 500 acres
could be readily irrigated and small fruit
and vegetables raised in abundance in
any year, however droughty, and orch
ards and groves made to beautify the re-
gion. This in turn would serve to con-
serve the moisture supplied by the rain
fall. Each of these artesian districts
would be center of fertility from which
modifying influence would go out to the
adjacent regions.
ANOTHER PLAN SUGGESTED.
Judge j. w. Gregory, OF Garden City,
was yesterday in consultation with Gov.
Humphrey for the purpose of agreeing
upon plan for bringing the subject OF
irrigation in western Kansas before the
next congress. 1t has been demonstrated
that the rainfall in that section is made
Quate, and without relief by irrigation
agriculture can not be q success. A COM
mission will be sent to lay the matter
before congress. Judge Gregory said to-
day:
"When once thoroughly developed our
water supply will not only furnish us an
absolutely ready and ample amount OF
water for irrigation, but will be the source
of vast deal of water power for manufac-
turing purposes The amount of land
which | expect to see fully supplied with
water from the underflow, which is the
chief source of supply referred to, will be
not less than 100000 acres, and posi-
bly, double that area in southwest Kansas
alone. The same system will also re-
claim millions of acres in Colorado, north
west Texas, New Mexico, western Neb'
raska, the Dakotas, Montana and else
where, that would otherwise be forever
without an adequate or reliable supply of
water for purposes of irrigation. What |
mean by the underhow is the vast sheet
of water which underies the Arkansas
valley, and the same is found under the
Platte and other streams, which lies so
near to the surface in the immediate river
valley that it is easily and cheaply tapped
by means of open fountains and runs di-
rectly out upon the ground. This has
been tried and works admirably, In Or
der, however, that this system shall be
speedily and systematically developed,
and in a way that shall benefit the peo-
pie, it will be necessary for congress to
take the matter in hand, make the pre-
liminary surveys and settle certain inter
state questions that will arise; then, with
a very reasonable start, all necessary pri-
vate capital will be forthcoming to make
the system great success"