The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-10-06
IRRIGATION CONGRESS.

Prot Hays Plan Ok Utilizing tho Under.
how Of WAter-Resdl1tions Adopted.
SALIVA, Kan, Sept. Sa-Of the many
Able men who attended the interstate
Irrigation congress, none were more
familiar with the subject than Prof.
Hay, of Junction City. Prof Hay has
travelled over the senii=ar;d country
between the Tooth meridian and the
foothills Of the Rocky mountains, from
the Platte river of Nebraska to the Red
river of Texas.
He is firm believer that this vast
plain can be reclaimed by irrigation,
and strongly indorses utilizing the un-
deriow water. To raise the water in
sufficient Quantities, by steam pumps
or wind mills, can be done, Prof. Hay
thinks Ten acres of wellwatered
ground will support family during
the most severe drought, which, taken
with the prosperous years, when the
rainfall is plenty, every farmer in the
Stricken district could live in ease and
comfort.
The delegates were all agreed that
irrigation is simple enough when there
are flowing streams to tap, but to Sc
cure water for the outlying country is
the great problem to be solved. The
government will be urged to make an
irrigation survey and investigate the
idea of pumping the underfiow water.
The resolutions passed by the conven-
ton are as follows:
whereas. The government Of the United
States has plated and put upon the market as
agricultural land the vast territory known as
the great western plains and,
Whereas, American citizens wishing to Sc
cure homes have moved upon these plains,
bought and paid the government for land and
expended their money in improving it: and,
Whereas, It has been demonstrated by the
experience Of these men and By the signal sta
tiens Of the government that the amount OF
rainfall per annum at proper seasons is insult
ficent to make agriculture prof table there
forefore be it
Resolved, That 1t is the sense Of this conven-
ton that it is the duty of congress make
appropriation for the purpose of testing the
practicability Of the following theories of irri-
cation for these plains: First that the govern
ment should, by experiments, determine
whether the underf1ow water is of sufficient
volume, and can be brought to the service at a
cost to make it available for general irrigation
purposes; second, that it should determine
whether reservoirs can be constructed for the
purpose Of storing water sufficient in quantity
for irrigation purposes
Resolved, That 1t Is the sense of this conven-
ton that an Interstate Irrigation association
be and Is hereby organized by the delegates
present, for the purpose of promoting the cause
II irrigation set forth in the above resolu-
ton that the officers OF this interstate organ
ization shall consist Of president, vice pres
ident from each state, secretary and treasurer
and an executive committee, consisting of
president, secretary and five other members.
Resolved That it is the sense of this conven.
ton that all the states and territories included
In the call fer this meeting should organize
state associations and that the president of
these state associations shall be ex-of1cio vice
presidents Of this association
Resolved, That we demand of our senators and
looking to the relief of the people upon the lines
indicated in the foregoing resolution.
Chief Hinkley, chief civil engineer
OF the Santa Fe, presented the follow
Ing resolution, which was also adopted
unanimously by the convention:
Resolved, That each state that has not al
ready state engineer, should take steps at
once toward the passage of a state engineer
bill by the next legislature. making liberal pro-
vision for invest igation. experiments and sur
veys in cooperation with the government en-
gineers, to determine to what extent each state
can prOf1tably use the surface waters and the
underfow for irrigating purposes. either with
or without reservoirs. and upon the results of
which surveys each state can base it's claim for
water and government assistance or both, as
shall then he deemed hest