Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-02

Kansas which does not have either
the underAow, a site for storage res
ervoir, or a stream of water from
which it is practical to irrigate at
least five acres Of ground.
Where the underhow can be reach
ed, and the water supply abundant,
there is no place in Kansas 80 high
above it that it is not practical to irri-
gate at least ten acres from il, and
where 1t is only few feet to the un-
derdow or sheet water, all the land
above it can and will be irrigated.
Where the underAow does not exist,
there is throughout this region
scarcely farm on which site could
not be obtained for storage reser-
voir into which would dram the storm
waters falling on large territory
above it, and would empound enough
water to irugate either by gravity be-
low, or pumps above, several acres of
land, Where neither of these condl.
tlons exist, often a stream OF water
flowing through the land furnishes
anIabundance of water if pumped to
the land above.
The question Of irrigation when
considered from the standpoint of the
mountain lrrigator, whose land con-
slsts of little other than a sand or
gravel bed, and with power to re-
tain water little better than a sieve,
and requiring almost daily applica-
ton of water, would indeed be al
most a helpless one, but with soil
unequaled the world over in its abil-
ity to retain moisture, with rainfall
that even the years Of crop failure
falls short only few inches, the pro,
blem of irrigation Of western Kansas
becomes so simple that the only won
der ls that we have 30 long neglected
our opportunities.
With due consideration / make the
statement that I believe the western
half OF Kansas possesses facilities FOL
successful irrigation unsurpassed by
any territory of like area Ia this Coun
try. With the practically inexhausti
bic underhow in the western portion
aud as we go east an increasing rain
fall, with larger streams and a more
diversified surface, making practlca
the construction Of storage reservoirs
with a soil unequaled in its power tt
retain moisture and rainfall that al
most supplies the wants of the grow
ing crops, with climate 80 equitable
that the farmer can spend IL month";
of the year in the field, and the ad
vantages of a near market for ou
products, the future Of Kansas wheI
these facts are known and developed
I scarcely dare picture, if l could.
As before stated our water supply
is derived from three sources, the I'm
derfow, streams and water courses
and from storage reservoirs empound
ing storm waters. The western por
ton Of the state is dependent princi
pally ON the underhow, rs we go cas-
the underAow decreases, aud streami
and storage reservoirs must be de
pended on for the water supply, thi'
is generally 81 eaking, as in the east
ern half of the state in some places
the underAow will supply an abund
ance Of water, and in the western por
ton where shale is found, an abund
ant supply of water cannot be obtain
ed.
From the streams and from storage
reservoirs as we'll as from the under
flow, power must be used to lift tbs
water, and whether it be steam, gaso
line or wind power, is a disputed
question aud very largely depends on
the quantity and height the water il
to be lifted. My experience and OBJ.
seryation so far causes me to favor
the windmill, especially as irrigation
in Kansas will generally be contineG
to small tracts and would hardly war
rant, except in favorable localities
and conditions, the large expenditure
for steam or gasoline plants The
element Of cheapness of first cost Of
the windmill, the fact that It's opera.
ton requires no attention other than
oiling aud proper adjustment, thai
the motive power which makes its
wheels 10 around, is free as the air
are elements in its favor that Other
motors will find hard to overcom Q
In particularly favorable localities