Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-12-28
THE LEAVH WORKS.
The Irrigation Question Proving An In
teresting One To The Whole Country.

teresting One To The Whole Country.
A few months ago a small number
OF the citizens of Barton county gather
ed. by common consent as it were, on
invitation of MIR. L. Baldwin, and BY
the suggestion of two of the Great
Bend papers. at the court house in this
city and discussed the question of irri-
CATION and advisability of calling a con-
vention to further investigate the sub
Jeet. at this meeting a committee
was appointed to formulate an address
to the public and issue call for dele
gate convention of representatives
from all central and western counties.
This committee was composed of Sem
ator John Armstrong and L. Baldwin
of Great Bend, Hon. ii. J. Roe;zel of
EiiiRwood, A. I'll. Baker of Hoisington,
+. L. Belt Of Pawnee Rock and G. w.
Norris of Claffin.
The address was formulated, the
call issued, and on the appointed day
latter but short notice) a few dele
gates from counties west of this met
with us in Great Bend. The interest
of old time workers in the cause was
awakened and Judge Emery of Law
renee and E, B. Covgill of Topeka
were present at this second meeting
and did much TO awaken enthusiasm.
At this meeting the plans broadeDed,
the subject of Irrigation was seen with
clearer vision. and an interstate con-
vention was called TO meet at. Salina,
and another committee appointed to
make preparations for the meeting and
its work
At the Salina meeting there. were
representatives present from various
western states. from railroads and
other corporations interested ft1 the
growth of the west; aid papers by some
of the most profound thinkers of the
day we're read and discussed. An in
terstate association was formed, and
Immediately following the various
states interested began to awaken to
the Importance of the movement
and formed state associations
Kansas Irrigation Association being
formed at meeting in Wichita Nov.
22nd
Today you can hardly pick up a
paper of any Importance that does not
contain some item relative to the irri-
committee of emineRs scientists and
geologists making an investigation of
the problems of irrigation by various
means, the whole eountry-especially
the VESTS awake to the Importance
of advancing agriculture by means CT
artificial water supply in some form or
other. The heaven set toy the little.
Great Bend meeting last summer is in
deed at work. Hundreds of people
who laughed at Mr.. Baldwin's idea of
converting the great Cheyenne bottoms
into a vast lake or reservoir will vet
live to see the day when that very thing
is accomplished. Hundreds of farmers
who scout at the idea of doing away
with their sections of land and giving
their attention to cultivating 20, 40
OF so acres, will yet be brought to q
realization of the fact that 20 acres OF
SURE and ABUNDANT crop are better
than 100 acres of uncertainties; and
they will be glad TO sell, at good
round price, half or two thirds of
their land and farm the balance with
pleasure and profit.
In, 81, -.
request all farmers in this locality who
are raising alfalfa or who have prac-
ticed irrigation even on ever SO small
scale. to send to this Office short
and concise report of their experience.
Prof. VIM Reece, now of Falls City,
Nebraska, will be through Great Bend
the latter part of this week. on a tour
of the western counties TO make an
investigation of these subjects, and
we should furnish him with all the
information We can De not neglect
this request. If you cannot hand in:
such information this week, do so at
the very earliest opportunity, and thus
help to push rapidly te~eompletion this
plan of furtheringf the interest of west
ern faTmeYs- Describe your plan Of
irrigation. expense, results and possi-
bilities. Tell your experience with.
alfalfa; when planted, method Of get
ting started, yield. value, etc. 1t will
take but small amount of your time
to do this and it viii help to prepare
data and statistics for the furtberaDce
of public interest in a matter that will
one day make western Kansas blossum
as the rose and place a comfortable
quarter section.
If THE republican party had import