The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-08-02
KANSaS IRREaATI0Y.

| ". - sutton OK the Irrigation Board Is
Convinced OF Its PssctsesbiIity.
Hon. W. B. Sutton, Of Russell, secre-
tary Of the Kansas irrigation commits
sion, writes about the possibilities of
Kansas irrigation as follows:
Our test well and station at Good
land is working in a manner entirely
satisfactory 70 all Of Us and is proving
that there is an abundance Of water for
use. The surveys and experiments
made so far lead us TO conclude that
/ the Water-beaFing sand there wiil yield
Us a sufficient amount OF water for sll
demands of irrigation. The sand is on
an average q feet in depth and fully
one-third of it is water. That gives us
practically lake Of water seven feet
deep and underlying the whole coun-
try. That part of the state gets an
nuaily about is inches Of rainfall and
that, supplemented by what is neces.
saTY from the wells, is expected to
cause western Kansas to blossom as
| the rose and forever wipe out that
hated spot that has been so long called
arid. We can have, and expect to have.
so many green and growing spots ali
over the land that no one will have
cause to consider or even think of il as
arid.
The action of the legislature in max
ing sufficient appropriation to have
the matter tested was very proper. 1t
gave the people inspiration and the re-
suit is that they are cooperating with
us in every possible way and the test is
being the better made. We hope soon
to have some test wells put down that
can be used for measuring the supply
of water and seeing if it is at ali times
the same, or if the quantity varies, and
il so, in what manner, and many other
points that will be useful and import
ant and necessary to complete knowl-
edge of the subject for the guidance of
the work as it is pushed forward.
/ have no doubt of the ultimate sue
cess Of the plan of irrigation, If tests
prove the cost of hosting the water
with appliances now in use is too great,
then we have but to refer the matter to
the ingenuity of the engineers, and 1
have great faith in their ability to pro
vide adequate plans for doing the work
at the proper cost.
We do not expect the people to irri-
gate their entire farms. We expect
them to use water on perhaps a dozen
acres and test dry farming on the rest
Of their land. Ten acres will furnish
all Of the product necessary for the
family, and with living assured we
have no doubt that every farmer there
will be contented to remain, and we
expect many others to come. There
are plenty of people willing to locate
out there when once they are assured
they can have plenty of water and
raise crop so they can at least live.
We consider that in the 40 counties
in the western part Of the state we can
with partial irrigation furnish homes
for million people who can have as
many Of the comforts of life with as
little outlay of labor as is required in
any other part Of the state. The ques-
ton is of such magnitude that it is
worthy of the serious consideration of
the people OF the state and should
have an earnest and creful consider
alton and as complete a test as can be
made.
The people are smiling and contented
over the excellent crop prospects. Sixty
days ago we considered our wheat crop
lost, but have seen fields cut that are
yielding as high as Is bushels per acre.
We will have enough for use and seed.
That part of the country can grow
and mature a crop with fewer chances
than any other portion of the globe.
Our corn and hay promises well, and
with even fair weather the remainder
of the season we are certain of a large
yield. The corn that is growing is not
coming to the market as corn this year.
We have decided to ship it down as the
finished product. Cattle and hogs
ready for market we will furnish, and
in that way we expect to get more out
of our crop.