Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-09-04
LrrIgatIon % saIvation.

ton, has favOrabIy reported from the
committee an amendment to the def
crency bill appropriating 100000 to
be expended by the secretary of agri-
culture in experiments of irrigation
through artesian wells and the under
flow Of water. It is reported that
nearly all the western senators are
enthusiastically for It. From a care
full and long continued study of the
topography Of this country and its
characteristics, both in the plains
region and on the western slope of the
AIIeghanies, we have been led to the
conclusion that the only immediate
salvation Of the arid region known as
northwest Kansas, is. by irrigation.
Cultivation and forest planting
would in time reclaim it entirely so
that the fall of moisture might usual
Iy be regular and plenteous, but many
years must necessarily elapse before
this method of reclamation could be
brought to a successful issue. It is
true that much has already been ac-
cOmpIished In that direction, but that
it has not been sufficient to approach
accomplishment of its purpose IS
shown in the uncertainty as to rain
fall which ever obtains here
Those who are here and have for
years studied this problem, are of the
firm belief that irrigation is the only
sure and speedy means of insuring
crops. If this be true, the question
comes up as to the water supply for
irrigating purposes. We have no
large streams in all this vide expanse
of territory. There is not a respecta-
bic river from this region flowing in
to the Missouri. While the compare
lively short slope from the Alleghan-
les to the Mississippi is traVersed by
numerous rivers carrying a large and
comparatively steady volume Of wa
ter, the vast western plains are cut
only by small streams which could
not be used for irrigating purposes.
Arteslan wells we also believe to be
impracticcble for reasons advanced
further on.
The only other source of supply is
the underfow. Is this source of sup
ply of sufficient volume? Is it con-
tinuous and 1nexhaustible? Can it be
utilized for irrigating purposes? Af-
ter a careful study extending over a
period of years, we unhesitatingly
answer these questions afirmatively.
A vast quantity of moisture, enough
to thoroughly water the Mississippi
basin, is annually precipitated upon
the eastern slope of the Rockies. This
in the form of snow is melted and to-
gether with the rain runs down the
mountain sides, and instead Of trav-
ersing the surface of the earth in the
form of mighty rivers, is absorbed by
a vast belt Of sand at their base.
Through this sand the water perco-
lates into the strata of sand which
underlie this entire country at various
distances according to locally relative
surface altitude These strata OF
sand are everywhere filed with wa
ter, and this constitutes the under
flow, which in the eastern part of the
state is crowded INTO veins because OF
the break in the underlying strata
Thus by reason of the great pressure
and enormous fall artesian wells may
be practical in lower attitudes where
there is a break IN the sand layers
but here the water finds easy means
of escape through the surrounding
sand, and in an artesian well cannot
be brought to the surface.
But the underfow idea is to dig a
reservoir, say a half mile vide, at the
base or lower end. Make it wide
enough to hold water sufficient for q
reserve, and deep enough so that the
water viii seek a lower level IN II
than in the surrounding strata Of
sand. Wall the lower end of the
reservoir, and case a wide trench out
let, that the water may not again
escape into the sand, carrying the
water to the surface, and to the TOP
Of a divide. This can easily be done
as the average grade here is sixteen
feet to the mile Once on the divide
and the whole country can be water
ed, If our belief be true,
It may be asked why this has not
been done. The answer is easy
These acquainted with these oondi