The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-10-06
IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
anxx- Of Dx.~r-tt,ns AAnnfad

Prof. Hays Plan of Utilizing the Under
aow of Water-Resoiutions Adopted.
SALINA, Kan, Sept. 30-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 semi-arid 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 a firm believer that this vast
plain can be reclaimed by irrigation,
and strongly indorses utilizing the I'M
derfow water. To raise the water in
sufficient quantities. by steam pumps
or wind mills, can be done, Prof. Hay
thinks. Ten acres of well-watered
ground will support a 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
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 undertiow 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, 1t has been demonstrated by the
experience of these men and by the signal sta
lions of the government that the amount OF
rainfall per annum at proper seasons is insult
fcient TO make agriculture profitable. there
| forefore be il
Resolved, That 1t is the sense OF this conven-
ton that it is the duty Of congress to make an
appropriation for the purpose Of testing the
practica bility Of the following theories Of irri-
cation for these plains: First that the govern
! ment should by experiments, determine
whether the underfiow water is Of sufficient
| volume, and can be brought to the service at a
cost to make 1t available for general irrigation
| purposes; second. that IL should determine
whether reservoirs can be constructed for the
! purpose of storing water sufficient in quantity
| for irrigation purposes
Resolved, That it 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
of irrigation as set forth in the above resolu-
ton: that the officers Of this Interstate organ
iZation shall consist OF a president vice pres
| ident from each state, secretary and treasurer
and an executive committee, consisting OF
| president, secretary and five other members
Resolved That IL Is the sense Of this conven-
ton that all the states and territories included
| In the call for this meeting should organize
! state associations and that the president of
these state associations shall be ex officio vice
presidents of this association
| Resolved, That we demand OF our senators and
| representatives in congress immediate action
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 conventions:
| Resolved, That each state that has not al
| ready q state engineer, should take steps at
! once toward the passage Of a state engineer
| bill BY the next legislature, making liberal pro-
| vision for Investigation. experiments and sur
veys in cooperation with the government en-
| gineers, to determine to what extent each state
, can proftably use the surface waters and the
underfiow for irrigating purposes. either with
| or without reservoirs, and upon the results Of
which surveys each state can base its claim for
| water and government assistance or both, as
| shall then be deemed hest