The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-19
IRRIGATION IN KANSAS.


Of Irrigation Resolutions Adopted.
OBERLIN, Kan, Dec. 1.-Hundreds of
business men and farmers from all parts
of Northwestern Kansas met yesterday
to attend to the subject Of presenting
the claims of this section to Congress
for irrigation.
The convention was called to order at
1:SO o'clock by A. ii. MCGEE with about
100 delegates present
Secretary Scott stated that the meet.
ing was called to discuss irrigation with
Chief Engineer Nettleton and ]. w.
Gregory, of the irrigation investigation
department.
A b. Montgomery, of Sherman Coun.
ty, was elected temporary chairman.
Committees on credentials, irrigation
and resolutions were appointed, after
which the convention adjourned for
twenty minutes.
The committees were not able to fin
ish their work on time and Prof. Hayes
was introduced. He said the investiga-
ton he was now engaged in was ordered
by Congress, first in relation merely to
.artesian wells, but the Investigation
had spread to the amount of water I'M
derneath arid regions and its nearness
to the surface He dwelt at length on
the geological formation of the coun-
try. At Hutchinson, he said, in Dor
ing for salt wells it had been found
that there was an immense body of
water underground. He thought the
same condition existed in this region.
j. w. Gregory, of Garden City. the
irrigation expert, read from manuscript
a lengthy article on the practicable
benefits of irrigation. He maintained
that Western Kansas was the finest
reg. on on earth for the farmer, with
the exception of few short weeks in
the summer, when promising crops
were laid low by hot winds and drought
All that was needed was to overcome
this single difficulty. The only hope
lay in the great under-fow that swept
under the region. He explained that
system of irrigation in use in the plains
of Southwestern Kansas. The cost of
water for irrigation in Colorado and
Western Kansas through the season
was 81 to S1.50 per acre. Without irri-
cation the value of land in that section
was very low.
The following resolutions were unan-
imously adopted: .
i First-Implicitly relying upon the benef-
cent wisdom of the Creator we have been
and are now confident that this climate,
rivaling that of Italy, was intended for the
habitancy of humanity, and that this soil,
rich as the delta of the Nile, was purposed
for fruitful returns for the labor of the hus-
bandmen.
SecOnd-Induced by such climate and soil
and invited and influenced by the Govern
ment in the holding of these lands subject to
the private entry under the agricultural land
laws, we have settled thereon, builded our
houses, opened our farms and invested our
all to the extent that there are no vacant
Government lands in the State of Kansas.
Thirdly years of experience, of toll and
hardship, and by the expenditure of our sub
stance, we have demonstrated that agricult
ure dependent upon rainfall is unreliable,
uncertain and Improbable in the western
portion of our State, and, contrary to the
theory of the Government and ourselves,
these lands have proved to be semi arid
rather than reliably agricultural.
Fourth-Through personal observation and
experience and through scientific demonstra-
ton we have been led to and do believe that
the irrigation of our lands ia practicable and
to the satisfaction of private capital the truth
or falsity of our conclusion.
Fifth-To the end that our future may be
determined with both speed and certainty
and recognizing the established policy of the
Government in the protection and preserva
ton of the interests of settled localities for
the public good, we ask a sufficient and early
appropriation of public moneys to demon
strate the practicability of the irrigation OF
the settled portion of our arid domain
Sixth-We ask that this test be made
thorough and certain and with such test that
Government aid shall cease.
Seventh-We believe that our location and
our circumstances justify this demand, par
ticularly as we can not hope to share in the
vast annual expenditures of the Government
for rivers and harbors and other internal
Improvements and for the reason that in the
settlement and purchase of our lands we
have contributed from our earnings millions
of dollars to the United States Treasury,
more than s. ,OOO,0 600 having been covered into
the Treasury from this land district alone |
within the past eight years.
Eighth-We are unalterably opposed to the |
further opening Of arid lands to settlement |
and demand that Governmental experiment |
in irrigation investigation be confined for |
the present to occupied arid lands. |
Ninth-That we demand of the National |
Government the enactment of judicious laws
/
State questions arising out of the practice of |
irrigation. ..|... ... |
Tenth-That we demand of our State Legis-
lature the speedy enactment of judicious |
and conservative irrigation laws which shall |
amply protect the people in all their rights |
and which shall also insure to capital safe |
and remunerative investment.
Eleventh-That we demand that in the |
work of experience and investigation in our |
behalf the advancement of science, the com |
pilation of costly and voluminous reports |
and the enlargement of political patronage |
shall be disregarded, except in so far as nee |
essarity incidental to the work in hand
Twelfth-That the Senators and Represent |
atives in Congress from Kansas be furnished |
a copy of these resolutions, and requested to |
make an earnest and united effort to secure |
compliance Herewith by Congress during |
the present session.
Chief Engineer Nettleton was then |
called upon. He stated that he had |
been engaged in canal irrigation work |
for twenty years and he would be glad |
to answer any question about the |
systems He urged, however, that the |
people urge Congress to lengthen |
the time for which the Commission |
was appointed As it was, he did |
not think the Commission would |
be able to do much work in |
Kansas. Speaking of the amount Of
water needed in this section, he said |
that at least twelve wells were needed |
for ca CHI acre. TIE cost of lifting this |
much water 100 feet would be about SIS |
q year; for general farming 81. so to 81 |
per acre is about all a farmer could |
afford to pay.
strikers Suffering.
MnOnc w Va Dec Ii -Thara Ia