The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-25

he has enlisted during the war; and that
it will not soon be over. There may be
one now aud then who imagines that he
IS taking up something entirely new In
espousiny the Cause of irrigation develop
meut in Kansas. Ii so, he will do well TO
open his eyes TO the fact that 1t has taken
years of steady pegging away by others
against the preoccupied Indifference OF
public attention, coupled with the Infu-
ence of the spur OF a number OF seasons OF
crouth. To simply awaken him 10 the im-
portance of the matter, aud, II he can look
back. after ten years OF constant work 10
this line and, even by the aid of the slow
but powerful momentum already acquired.
mark rs substantial results have fol-
lowed the efforts of the pioneers in the
movement, he need not be ashamed OF the
practical results achieved. The very fact
and composition of this convention. held
in this enferprising city or southeastern
Kansas of which the whole state Is justly
proud. Is an eloquent, though unconscious,
acknow cement OF the fact that the
seeds of progress have been widely sown,
tribute TO the practical results attained
to by The settler upou the Arkansas, the
CImarron, the Smoky and the Republican,
who was TOO stubborn TO acknowledge
that he WAS licked, aud who. without AID
or encouragement OF any consequence, has
wrested victory from the very stronghold
of defeat. II is his victory, his success,
which invites aud nerves Others TO emulate
what he has done.
Among the most practical results of the
past Ten years OF agitation has been the
awakening OF the interest at present
manifested by Kansas itself in the value
OF irrigation; and were the whole state
thoroughly aroused now To the fact, and
positively committed to the policy, that
IL is a matter of great consequence and
must be patiently. intelli gentiy and per-
slstentiy fostered, the struggle for the tr.-
umphant development OF western Kansas
would now be more than hsif won.
What, then, let us briefly inquire, does
the future hold for US IN this regard!
First and most certainly, il holds no end
of plodding work. Aud, TO him who sits
down and waits for conventions or the
government TO irrigate his land. there will
come no end OF disappointment. The
man, or association OF men, who will take
counsel of what has been done. and pro-
coed with as little delay AS possible To do
likewise-and as much better as possible
will be solving the problem in the Only
practicable way. The dry weather irri2a-
zionist will grow silent, aforeGime ss
soou a rainy season comes on and the
self-seek king agitator, who engages III the
work simply for what he Can make out OF
II, viii! be resting IN tue shade, except ou
state occasions aud whsG there Is pros
pect of gathering in something. But. al
ways, and all tie time. tboss who really
expect to accomplish something practi-
Cal aud of value to the cause must keep
pegging away. ia the future a. ia the past;
utilizing every ageney that will help liz
tie.
The resources from which we must de
velop Irrigation are these: % The sur
face waters falling annually upon noun
tains and plain; 81 the suoterransan
stores, either in the form of uuderfow, or
as aItesian waters: 90 the Intelligence
we may employ in securing these,
aud a. the economy and skill We
exhibit in making use of them Each of
these factors enumerated Is distinct and
notable resource" and We have no other,
unless the rsipmaker will really and truly
come to our relief, aud al the present
stage OF the rsinmskiBz art, IL will scarcs-
~ serve 10 rely much upon that factor.
Bot the resources enumerated are suffi-
Gent TO the accom- liAhment OF most va.-
liable Results. How soon aud how .hor-
oughiy such results will be realized will
depend 10 great extent upon the methods
aud policies followed; aud. la tbs llse.
there are some things we should strive to
accomplish soon possible and there
are some plainly injurious and dangerous
things We should avoid. This feature 81
the subj ci. Like every other ma! q feature
20 touch very briefly upon tsw s,oiats.
~ittson. saierigg upon a discussion OF
them
Among the things 20 be zought after
AMI Insisted upoa, Is tia. the national