Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-10-18


Great Underfow Tapped by a
Drift-A Marvel of Engineering
Simplicity.
Topeka Capital
While irrigation as. system has Been
reasonably successful in Western Kansas,
there has been an element of uncertainty
in it caused by the irregularity of the flow
III the river, the sourceiwhence the bitches
receive their supply. In searching for and
investigating water sources, the fact has
been established that underneath the
great valley of the Arkansas there lies
hidden ocean of pure, fresh water, and
the thought very naturally occurred as to
the possibility of utilizing this source to
furnish the bitches with their needed sup
plies. The magnificent results attending
irrigation have been so vast that expens-
i've machinery has been even contem-
plated with which to raise the water to
the surface. The soil contains all the ele-
ments of fertility in inexhaustible quanti-
water to make the Arkansas valley as
| rich body of land as the Nile valley of
Egypt.
With these reasons as a stimulant for
exertion, the minds of many bright men
have been turned to the problem, and
among them was Judge J. w. Gregory,
who evolved theory which seemed
plausible, it was true, but which,needed
to be practically demonstrated. The ex-
pertinent involved a large outlay of CAPT
tai but so simple was the plan and so vast
were the possible results, that it was
finally resolved to enter upon it.
The experiment was started by the en-.
terprising firm of Gilbert Bros, of Dodge
City, by opening ditch fourteen feet
wide and drifting westward up the valley.
The river falls seven feet to the mile. The
ditch was commenced three feet below the
surface and was extended westward at a
a grade of three feet to the mile, and that
grade was continued until the excavation
was found to be twelve feet deep and six
feet below the level of the river bottom
Into the ditch thus dug drained the IN
derhow. So'great was the drainage that
at the point of beginning, where a dam
was constructed, the amount of water
flowing over it was found to be thirty
cubic feet per second.
The ditch was opened eastwardly from
this dam along the higher land allowing
a fall of only one and seven-tenths feet
per mile, so that by the time the ditch
reaches point southeast of Dodge City,
there is a place where a perpendicular
fall can be Ehad of nearly, if not quite,
twenty feet.
The ditch thus far constructed, and
which means a permanent supply Of
water the year round, will irrigate about
5000 acres of land. The cost has been
$4,000. The proprietors believe that
with their experience they could now do
the same amount of work for $4,000 less.
They will extend the ditch westwardly so
as to increase the inflow, the object
being to secure fifty cubic feet per second
over the dam.
Secretary Martin Mohler, of the State
Board of Agriculture, has just returned
from visit to the ditch, and pronounces
it an unqualified success. He says that
the companies owning other irrigating
bitches have commenced opening slopes
so as to secure their much needed regular
supplies of water in that way.
The velocity OF the flow in the irriga-
ting ditch proper is three miles per hour.
The influx of sand at the head will have
to be provided against by lessening the
angle of the slope, difficulty, it is be-
lieved, which can be easily overcome.
When the water in the ditch reaches the
level of the upper soil, its absorbing quail
ity not being as great as that deep down,
the escape of the water by percolation is
very little.