Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-08-02
WATER FOR DRY LANDS.
Necessity and Advantages Of Sub.lr.
rigation in Central Kansas.

dtluu IA OoutA NJ 4Aohoon'
To the Editor OF the Reflector.
The annual recurrence ofour heated
term and the long continued drouth.
destructive alike to our crop pros
poets and our hope Of reward for
much hard labor expended, must i'm
press the intelligent mind as u fact
approNimating an axiom: That the
farmer Of central and western Kan
sas must either irrigatc or emigratc
II he would thrive from the cultur, OF
of cereals and vegetables.
1t is eqnallya fact that irrigation
on an extensive scale as practiced in
the mountain districts where the
water supply is abundant, constant
and convenient is with us impractic-
able.
The meager supply Of surface water
in periods Of drou;h, the low gradients
and long conduits over a porous soil
that absorbs large percentage OF
the water in transit, precludcs the
possibility Of adopting successfully
the canal system in vogue in the
mountain states. What them
Manfestly, we must supplement
our present system Of dry farming
with limited irrigation, depending for
our water supply largely upon the
rnderflow brought to the surface by
wind pump, gasoline engine, steam
or horse power, artesian wells where
practicable, or by some other device
yet to be developed by American
genius.
Being thus circumscribcd and
limited in our water supply, the
NAHUM duty and economic conserva-
ton Of water are questions OF first
Importance. How shall they be best
met and how best attain the end
sought are questions that now await
solution.
B. A. McAlister, land commission
or Of the U. 7. X. r., in "lrrigation
Age" demonstrates that an ordinary
wind pump fused for watering stock
will irrigate one acre or more ny
direct surface application and that
this duty may be increased 80 to 100
per cent by storing the surplus water
in reservoirs.
But there are wastefnl ways the
loss by evaporation and seapage Is no
inconsiderable amount.
1t is universally conceded by ir-
rgationists that highest duty of
water with minimum supply is best
attained by sub-lrrigation under a
system or net work Of unglazel
tiling, manufactured expressly for
that purpose.
The serious objection to this sys-
TEN of irrigation is the heavy first
cost for material and labor, three
inch pipe costing in eur lots about $50
per 900 feet. As to the duty of
tiles and number Of feet required per
acre, we have no satisfactory data,
but are in communication with expert
authority and purpose in n subse-
quent article to give compilation of
reliable data and minute detail on this
subject and save to our friends, If
possible, the heavy expense and labor
incident to experiments along this
line.
Touching the benefits and nd
vantage Of irrigation, 1t Is computed,
and has been repeatedly demonstrated
that five acres Of irrigated land will
support in comfort and even luxury
an ordinary family OF five or six per-
sons and under skillful management
will yield a handsome revenue.
Owing to the heavy first cost, 1t is
not presumablc that our farmers
will plant their entire arabic area
nor any considerable portion Of 1t;
but it is within the province Of every
land owner to irrigate from one to
five acres or morc--and thus assure
his family at least comfortable liy-
Ing and Danish from his closet the
CHASTITY skeleton and soul-harrowlng
nightmare Of importunate creditors
n poverty stricken larder, unclad
children and heart-broken wife,
Let us irrigate. A. G. RoMld.
Cuo RI utood Nurn