Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-12-18
IRRIGATION IN KANSAS.


OBERLIx, Kan, Dec. 11--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 h. MCGEE with about
100 delegates present
Secretary Scott stated that the meet
ing was called to discuss irrigation with
Chief Engineer Nettleton and j. 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 in1stiga-
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
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 practica BILE
benefits of irrigation. He maintained
$h.% <h0
region on earth for the farmer, with
the exec ption 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-flow 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 81. so per acre. Without irri-
cation the value of land in that section
was very low.
The following resolutions were unan.
imously adopted:
First-Implicitly relying upon the benefi-
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, buildcd 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 delnonstra-
ton we have been led to and do believe that
the irrigation of our lands is practicable and
possible, but we are unable to demonstrate
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 preserya-
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 thai
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 lands we
have contributed from our earnings millions
of to flaa Tod fafa Tr-,a,S Try
more than s. 600 600 having been covered into
the Treasury from this land district alone
within the past eight years.
Eighth-We are unalterably opposed to fine
further opening of arid lands to settlement,
and demand that Governmental experiment
in irrigation investigation be confined fol
the present TO occupied arid lands.
Ninth-That we demand of the National
Government the enactment of judicious laws
providing the means of settlement of Inter
State questions arising out of the practice o,
irrigation.
Tenth-That we demand of our State Legis-
lature the speedy enactment of iudicious
and conservative irrigation laws which shall
amply protect the people in all their rights
and which shall also insure to capital safe
and remuneratiye 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
SEdll De QiSTeSdTQeO, except III SO lar as neC-
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 ana 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 Conmissi on
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 il this section. he said
that at least twelve wells were needed
for ca ch 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.
W, H. =