The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-14

portion of this plain belt, IS greatly
heated by the direct rays of the mldsum-
mer sun This heat Is absorbed by the
earth and quickly radiated to the lower
strata of our air. And, as result, the
temperature of the latter is greatly M
creased: hence, the demand for greater
supply of water to saturate it III the
earth is nude and parched, the greater
will be its power of absorbing and radI-
ating heat, and the higher the tempera-
ture of the air.
Hence, it must be evident TO all that
the better our lands, on these pralrles,
are covered from the direct rays OF the
sun and from the wind, the less VIII De
the temperature of the air, and as re-
suit the less moisture. or water, Will De
required to saturate the lower strata or
the air And, if this position Is correct,
then that system of husbandry that VIII
best cover the land with grass, heritage,
grain and shade during the last part OF
June and through July viii best conduce
to the desired end. Such a system or
farming not only directly tends 10
lower temperature of the air, but IL
causes much of the earth's surface to De-
come a vast reservoir of moisture from
which vapor is lifted into the air.
Forty acres of native grass land where
the grass is allowed to grow, undls-
turbed, till the first of August, will fur
nish more vapor for thirsty air than 64O
acres grazed closely and tramped hard!
Besides there are important incidental
benefits which result from a well COW
cred earth. The wind that is so i'm
portant an agent to dry the land becomes
more staid and the land is less dried up.
This effect in the wind is seen after we
have a shower.
There are many ways in which our
nude lands can be much better covered
than they now are We can sacrediy
keep off prairie fires and thus not only
preserve the grasses covering, but by so
doing ten spears of grass will grow
where we now grow but one. We can
preserve some grass land on our farms
on which neither stock or mower shall
go till after the first of August. We can
plant tree forests and fruit that will
''shade the land" We can put a portion
of our well dried and deeply cultivated
land into alfalfa, clover or other grass,
and not cut it till the danger bar of July
passes. We can dam up the small
branches and make reservoirs of water
over our ldnuS. IL DuL Ouc nan Va IiAC
farms of 100 acres in this arid belt had a
pond of but one acre each on them we
should have a surface of water on the
first day of July equal to lake more
than three miles in bredth and five hun
dred in length. And after which there
would be no more hot winds for that
year.
To attain the end so desirable each
farmer should be willing to do all
he can to keep his land cool,
and cause it to furnish the
air with all the vapor possible. he
would find his efforts rewarded IN the
return of his own crops. This question
is one that should engage the best
thought and discussion of the various
Alliances of the county.
Our railroad men when building or re-
pairing their lines of road through these
lands, should do what they can to leave
along their lines of road basins, and
places left and made, where the June
rains will be held to evaporate. And
the legislatures of these states and terri
tories should wake up out of their
long Rip-V an-Winkle sleep, and in
stead of formulating laws 10
burden the people with ruinuous
taxes and horde of useless
offices, give special attention to economic
legislation. Legislation to encourage the
farmers to keep their lands better GOV
cred and to construct and maintain pools
of water on their land. Nor should the
question be allowed to rest here. Con-
ventions should be called to give express
ion and TO arouse attention. The con-
gress of the United States should be i'm
portuned and urged to assist IN a work,
national in its character, and IN its re-
suits These dry rich, cretacious sub-arid
lands are the best bread lands of the con-
tinent, and the hour Is near when the
seething, surging masses destined u
dwell in this county will cry for bread.
The government can well afford to
spend few millions of dollars in the con
structing of lakes, or reservoirs OF water
along the mountains and IN the south
portions of these plains, and IN the con-
structiOn of some of the main irreGatlng
canals where water can be had. These
lands have quite an annual rain fall now
and a little additional vapor through the
month of July will bridge the dangerous
hour. Such expenditures of money
with other agencies not only give direct
returns. but it will open the way for a
conquest of quite one billion acres OF
land west Of the mountains that are now
'.arid lands" indeed. 5. d. HoUSTON.
Kingfisher, Ok, January Il, 1891.