The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-06-21

If the matter of retaining the semi
arid regions of western Kansas by
means of irrigation is not settled for
all time by the experiments in pro
gress this spring, it will not be for lack
of thorough effort. A trip over the
western and northwestern counties of
the state, writes a Kansas correspond
ent of The Globe-Democrat, reveals an
extent of experiment in irrigation be-
yond anything ever known in the state.
In addition to the $4,000 being spent
by the state board of irrigation in test
ing the possibilities Of artificial water
supply. nearly every neighborhood,
from Cheyenne county as far east as
Dickinson and Geary, within $50 miles
of the east line of the state, has some
one at work on an irrigation plant.
many of these being extensive and
costly. The dry weather of the spring
and winter has given an excellent Op-
portunity of testing the systems to the
fullest extent, and every experiment is
being watched with eager interest by
scores of farmers, who are weary of
seeing crop failure after crop failure
under the old system of agriculture.
The condition of today make many
look upon irrigation as a last resort.
The result is that irrigation is having
a bOom-nOt the kind of irrigation
that has been practiccd by big ditch
companies and syndicates, but indivi-
dual plants, operated by one man pow
er and with only a windmill to furnish
water. Hundreds of mills have been
erected on settlers claims, in many in
stances the last possible mortgage be-
ing put upon the claim to enable the
owner to secure the new improvement.
Where the money was not forthcoming
queer homemade windmills greet the
breeze. They are Of primitive form,
mostly horizontal, and apparently Kan.
sas will soon have more than the 5000
mills of Holland. In Cawker City. a
little town in northwest Kansas, a
mills are running night and day, and
keep the lawns in fairly emerald con-
ditiOn.
The most interesting, because of its
unique appearance and its low cost. is
a crude affair called a Jumbo" or mo
gul" wind engine, which is seen in great
numbers beyond the sixth principal
meridian. 1t is shaped like a steam
boat paddle wheel, and is 10 to u feet
in diameter, on a shaft u to Is feet
long, with or 10 radiai arms. Mounted
on two posts, horizontally, with tight
board fence built close around it on
four sides, the fence covering only the
lower half of the Continuance, it is
ready for business. 1t is set east and
west, so as to catch the full strength of
the everblOwiug south winds. and has
a pump at both ends of the cylinder.
A prOdigiOus power can be secured by
frightening the shaft, a 100 horse pow
er being secured easily in a 15-miIe
wind, at cost of $500. It pumps night
and day, and is moved by all winds but
tWO-due east and due west. In
storm it simply pumps faster and all
that is needed to make it complete is
an ineXhaustible supply of water be-
low it. The long sweeps Of wind, I'M
hindered by tree or hill, makes the
work practically unceasing, and in con.
nectiOu with the jumbo, as we'll as with
other windmill plants of the prairies.
is usually found.
Not less interesting than the home
made wind engines are the homemade
reservoirs, with which the settlers en-
deaVOr TO store up the the fugitive
rainfall from feasOn to season, so as to
exc out the summers deficient rainfall
with that held over from spring and
winter. The common method now in
use, and which is operating in scores of
western Kansas instances, is by the
cattle treadiug system of floor making.
After the teams and scTapers have hOl
lowed out a large cellar like depression
water is pumped ia until it is six
inches OF more deep. Then horses aud
cattle are turned in and driven around
and around until the feet Of the tramp
ing herd has trOd up the bottom of the
reservoir into a pasty mass that is six
inches deep, and dries on exposure to
the sun into a kind of cement which
will hold water for indefinite period.
These reservoirs are located on the
knobs in the highest parts of the set
tiers claims and when there is a scar
city Of water from the clouds the gates
are opened and the supply thus hoard
ed trickies out over the thirsty lands.
Some of these reservoirs are 100 feet
square and represent a large amount
of work, but they will repay it when
properly constructed by the supply of
water furnished when needed. Into
them the windmills pump increasingly
for months, and the foundation of
quite a creek or prairie river is formed
by the time they are full.
In addition to these aTtificialIy filed
reservoirs there is the damming of
draws and ravines. by which other
ponds are formed and the water held
in allegiance, but these are usually
poorly located and cannot be so well
utilized
The state is expanding its $4,000 ap-
preparation for irrigation tests rapidly.
and August l will see nearly all of it
paid out on the wells now being pat
down and their attendant features.
The main purposes to be attained by
the commission are: A practical test
OF the water supply of the uplands of
western Kansas for irrigation purposes:
to demonstrate the best method of
raising the water to the surface and
STEERING it, and to ascertain its auaDti-
ty; TO find the quantity and rapidity
of all the streams Of the state. and the
'Tun-of." or surface drainage. and the
pIactioabiiity for storing the same.
with the probable cost of applying the
same to the land; to prepare a topo-
graphical map of the state: to ascer-
tain the rainfall and the evaporation
and test the artesian we'll outlook.
The bill specifically states that % or
more pumping stations shall be loca-
ted. Up to this time the board has ar
ranged for ID, which. by June 10. viii
l.