The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-06-21
More Talk On Irrigation.

4
Topeka, June 4th-M. B. Tomblin of
Sherman county, a number of the state
irrigation commission, believes that the
| farmers of Western Kansas have been
wasting opportunities yearly by waiting
for the state or their more energetic
neighbOrs to experiment with or test the
water supply for them. He has an
irrigation plant on his farm in Sherman
county and has produced crops in season
when dis neighbor have failed. His
example has been contagious and now it
is the rule without the exception for the
farmers Of Sherman county to irrigate in
one way or another. Mr.. Tomblin is an
enthusiast on the subject of irrigation.
He says that ample supplies of water
can be obtained anywhere in Western
Kansas and that it will soon all be utilized
to the best advantage. He thinks there
are few sections in Western Kansas
which do not have either underflOw,
sites for reservoirs or some streams of
water. When the underflow can be
reached and the water supply abundant,
there is no place so high above it that it
is not practical to irrigate at least ten
acres from it, and where it is only few
feet to the underflow or sheet water all
the land above 1t can and will be irrigated.
Wherethe mdcrfow can be reached and the
water supply abundant, there is no place
SO high above it that it is not practical
to irrigate at least ten acres from it, and
where it is only a few feet to the under
flow or sheet water all the land above it
can and will be irrigated. Where the
underflOw does not exist there is through
out this region scarcely farm on which
a site could not be obtained for storage
reservoir into which which would drain
the storm waters falling n Ga large terri
tory above it. and would impound enough
water to irrigate, either by gravity below
or pumps above, several acres of lands.
And also where neither of these
conditions exist often stream of water
flowing through the land furnishes an
abundance of water if pumped to the
land above.
"With due consideration" Mr.. TOmblin
says, 81 make statement that believe
the western half of Kansas possesses ia
cilities for successful irrigation unsur-
passed by any territory of like area iu this
With the practically inexhausti-
BILE underflOw in the western portion and
as we go east an increasing rainfall, with
larger streams and more diversified sur
face making practical the construction of
storage reservoirs, with soil unequaled
in its power to retain moisture and rain |
fall that almost supplies the wants of our
growing crops, with a climate so equable |
that the farmer can spend eleven months |
of the year in the field, and the advantage |
of a near market for our products, the
future of Kansas, when these facts are
known and developed, l scarcely dare
picture, if 1 could The question now is to
the farmers of Western Kansas not: Is 1T
possible to irrigate, Or is it practical; but
it is, Are you going to irrigate? Or are
you going to lag away behind in the
race for prosperity and finally be COM
oelled to witness your more enterprising
leighbors enjoy a competency while you
DlOd along in the same ruts? You say
hat you have not the means to put in a
plant. Make the most of the wind mill
TOu now haye. Build little reservoir
,ear it aud this summer experiment on
7our garden plot. The knowledge you
will have gained will be of almost ines
Unable value and when the good Lord
,ives you one more practical lesson in
irrigation and shows you that this country
will do with little water take part of
he proceeds and put in larger plant.'