The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-17

per Missouri" where the Plat, the Ar
| kan sas, the Cimerron, the Canadian, the
Red River, and the Colorado of Texas,
the Pecos, the Brazas, the San Antonio,
the Neuce, and the Rio Grande. The
| most of these streams have their sources
IN the mountains. While many of the
streams Of some size and very consider
able length, with many affiuents of all
the streams, besets the county, and at
fords opportunity to be utilized TO aid In
the great object in view.
On the eastern margins of these plains
more thon 100 miles has been already
won by the persistancy of the harhy sons
of toll-won by cutting off the annual
tires and allowing the grass TO grow.
Opening up the soil to catch and hold
the rain and snow and in the cultiva-
ton of timber and orchards, and by the
aid of some moist air from the extensive
western portion of the Gulf of Mexico.
But more difficult problem confronts
US in the next 900 m les. For this ''sub
arid" belt is quite 600 miles from east to
west and it Is more than thousand miles
in length.
The high table lands and the noun
tains of Old Mexico cut off the moisture
from the Gulf of California. while the
vapor from the Gulf of Mexico Is carried
by the south wind and the motion of the
earth. except in occasional seasons, too
far to the east TO be of any practical
value to the plains. Hence we are
thrown on our own resources to either
assist nature TO artificial means or allow
the county TO remain as IN the past, too
dry for success full crop life.
eho,,1I
that south of this arid belt there is no
large body of water to supply the lower
strata of the air with yapOr. The Gulf
of Mexico so beneficial TO the gulf states
avails us little or nothing for the reason
given above. Hence this vast area of
land is left but partially supplied with
vapor to saturate the air. and
if redeemed from the aridity it
will be due to artificial measures.
If the actual amount of vapor needed
is very great, one that human effort can
not supply, then the end is reached. Bnt
if the amount needed is comparatively
small, then every man should lend his
voice, his influence and his energy to aid
in this most important effort.
That the amount of vapOr needed TO
defeat the hot winds is not great is APP
parent. As a rule we lose our crop, par
ticularly corn and the tender garden
vegetables, within period of from two
to five days. And usually the hot wind
prevails from about II o'clock. noon, to
$3.50 o'clock p. m. of such days. Occas-
ionally, as in 1860. 1878 and 1890, these
hot winds continue through couple of
weeks. But such periods are exceptional
and not the rule.
Up to the last days of June. some
times into July, the corn growth is most
luxuriant and the deep green color pre-
walls, then a radical change takes place
and in two or three days plant life is
seen to assume lighter hue, and very
soon it is apparent that the crop is great
ly injured or totally destroyed.
The very short period of time in which
our crops are thus greatly injured or
destroyed should greatly encourage us
to put forth an intelligent and united
effort to span such few days.
When science unfolds all the material
facts in this problem then, if not before,
we shall see that we often lose our crop
in the plains for the lack of 20 or % per
cent of vapor. To conclude that such
an amount cannot be supplied by arti-
fetal means is a reflection on the intelli-
yence, the energy and the means of the
people of the United States.
The practical question is, can these
very brief intervals in which this
column of unsaturated air reaches our
crops be bridged over: There is much to
us. True neither science or
.he power of this great government has
vet come to our aid. Both may If we
show the facts and struggle manfuily 10
10 what we can.
1t is true that some portions of these
plains are much more arid than Others.
Perhaps a less rainfall exposes the differ
ence in a great measure. But we have
4 right TO infer that if the air can be bet
er saturated by human effort, then the
lime is near when the most rid portions
IF these lands will be made productive.
The effort made and it will be found to !
extend and greatly benefit the dryest |
portions.
1t is difficult to determine in advance !
what can be done by a combined effort /
# the United States. the states and tern |
cries particularly interested and all the 4
,eOpie on this plain belt, but very much I
an be done.
] my next article I shall Confine my |
elf to some erroneous ideas which exist !
n the popular mind. and shall try and (
,rehy call up some of the appliances
leeded to aid prediction on the plain
,elt 5. ID. Houston.
Kingfsher, Ok, Oct. Is, 1890.