The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-07-12
FORMALLY OPENED TT.
State Irrigation Plant the Center
Of. Attraction.

State Officials, Prominent IrrigatOrs and
Newspaper Men Take Look at the BEod-
ern OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Morrill, Did
Not Come.
The. state irrigation pumping plant
No. 4. was formerly set in motion Tues
day with all the eclat possible in CON
nection with the inclemency of the
weather. That anomalistieal freak
should have been on its most sunniest
behavior, but as usual, was just the re-
versed of what was wanted, and it
remained rainy all day. The gentlemen
in attendance were taken out to the
state plant, the county plant, the
Montgomery plant, the Tomblin plant
and several others nearest town. The
visitors we're amazed at what bad been
done toward retaining the desert,
and the amount of water that could be
raised from great depths and the mex
haustible supply of what is called the
"underfioW." On every hand they saw
field and garden crops that were super
ior to anything they had seen in the
eastern, and generally supposed, more
favorable portion of the state.
At 8 o'clock the sight-seers were es-
corted to the operahOuse where a good
sized audience Of Sherman countyites
were patiently awaiting their appear
anCe. The stage was ornamented with
shocks Of wheat, specimens OF barley
oats, rye, garden vegetables, fruits, ETC.,
which presented a very nice ap-
pearsnce.
Mayor Millisack welcomed the not
ables in a neat little speech which was
responded to by D. M, Frost, president
Of the state board Of irrigation.
h. +. Murphy then introduced r. w.
Blue, congressman at large for the
great state of Kansas. The gallant
colonel paid few encomiums to Sher
man county and its hardy settlers, and
incidentally a whole lot to himself
and what he was agoing to do in the
future. He admOnished the farmers OF
the county to be thrifty and saving
and predicted that the future was pre-
teTnatuTally bright for the inhabitants
of the sunshine regions.
The Goodland Military band then
rendered an esquisite musical gem en-
titled "The Silver Bell" that brought
forth much deserved applause.
Secretary +. d. Coburn of the state
agricultural college was next intro
duced, and he, like the others saw
nothing to mar the future prosperity
of Sherman county under q system of
irrigation by pumping. He was of the
opinion that the best success was to
come from the storing of the storm
waters, and that eventually Sherman
county could, and would support a
rural population of 10000. His other
wise good speech was sadly marred by
an uncalled for sneer at the silver
question of 16 to l and the efforts of
the agriculturalists to once more OBJ
tain their rightful privileges of assist
ing in the guidance of the ship of
state
State Senator A. E. True of Vera.
Kan, then made two minute talk in
which he complimented the people
of this county on their grit, and con
Guided they we're on the right track to
raise their "own potatoes"
The next speaker was E. B. Cowgirl,
editor of the Kansas Farmer. AS is
usual with editor men he made the
best talk of the day. His remarks were
to the point and pertinent to the
occasion. Once he strayed into the
field Of humor, whereupon Hon. NJ. B.
T0mblin presented him with mon
strous cabbage which had been grown
under irrigation by pumping the water
1870 feet. This gigantic "fiower" kept
him more closely to the subject of
irrigation, his knowledge of which
showed that it was a matter with which
he was we'll acquainted He said that
he was not carried away by any glow
ing narrative or exhibition, but that he
felt confident that any man could, by
irrigation, not only make a good living
from a small plot of Sherman county
soil, but could make money at it be-
sides,
Governor Morrill, was advertised be
here, but it was Impossible for him to
be present.
The afternoon session closed by the
band rendering the beautiful seFenade
"Eventide,"