The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-24

CAac
such demand for moisture is greatest at
the very point when Il can be most easily
supplied by the agency of man,
During the spring and early summer
the deficiency of moisture in the ar IS not
materially felt except in the wind and
IN the slow growth of plant life. But as
the heat of the sun on the earth is greater
and the small volume of water on the
earth's surface has disappeared. and the
air Is no longer supplied with a proper
volume of vapor, then the air becomes
weird and wild and begins to move north
ward in space 10 secure an equilibrium OF
moisture and OF tesnpera ture. then comes
the danger on al, Of these ssami-arid lands.
This heated, unsaturatei column of air
IN motion Is the hot wind OF the plains.
The injury 10 crop Efe is by absorption.
or II. other words, the air being deficit in
vapor the moisture CT the crop life passes
70 the air TO assist in the saturat;on. and
the end is reached. The crop .s mater
Tally injured or totally DESTROYED, De-
amount OF vapor, which man can supply
by increasing the volume OF water on the
earth's surface. and thus enabling nature
TO manufacture more vapor for the air
by evaporation.
When the corn crop on these plains was
generally destroyed on the 18th OF July.
1881. by the hot winds sc-called. the
registering instrument at the signal sta
ton at Concordia. Cloud County kansas,
gave II per cent OF moisture II, a unit of
lo. The destruction was d general ore
o.. the PLAIN belt The exceptions were in
such favored spots as haprered TO Sc
cure a shower or TWO, or where there was
an increase OF surface water found on
the surface, or the land was low
But an increase of water the earth 5
surface Is needed, not only during the
heated season, bur 10 give more moisture
and vitality 10 the air and the land dur
ing the fall and spring OF each year.
Hot winds originate whenever and
wherever the cort1irions are present. Some
times they are general and extend over
wide area At other times they are
local. The anti6ote 10 either is a supply
OF surface moisture for evaporation and
The practical question is. can man with
the appliances at his command ever be
able 10 so far change the climatic condi-
tons which exist. that a proper amount
of additional moisture can be secured 10
make crop life a success? To affirm the
opposite is to say that man has already
scaled the utmost limit OF scientific and
practical knowledge! 1t is TO affirm that
the infinite has made a considerable por-
creation is OF no practical value to man,
1t IS to affirm that man with all his won
derful and God-like powers. is as helpless
TO overcome obstacles as the inert ciods
OF the valley, Man is determined to
triumph. And as he becomes better ac-
Quainted with the laws of the physical
globe and learns to fall into line with
appliances of the infinite he will modify
face. Man will yet place his ladder
against the clouds and determine the
thickness of the lower strata of air. He
will formulate a scale and give the mien
temperature of the air, and its capacity
TO receive vaDor, at different distances
from the earth. He will determine the
amount or yapor contained in cubic
foot Of water. and thus beabie TO approx
mate the actual volume of surface water
needed on the earth to keep the air in a
healthy condition for crop lifei
As we cannot secure any change OF the
barriers that now prevent the ar over
these lands from having proper supply
of humidity in the air itself. how shan
we supply the air from the earth'S sur
face?
The answer we give is. only by increas-
ing water on the earth's surface. But
how can this water and moisture be Sc
cured and held? How made practical?
By preserving the native grasses from
fre-by growing timber wherever IL can
be grown; by making reservoirs, low dams
and ponds TO aid artesian and irrigating
water, to supply the air with vapor.
Man by the use Of the AK has denuded
the forest with their dense foliage, and
as the light and the sun has been let in
the land has become more dry and pro-
ductfve. He has used the pillow, the spade,
the ditching machine and the tiles to
drain the land and the ponds, I'll some of
the lands thus drained is becoming semi
arid"
Thus have Climatic changes'' been eff
fected. And If so. man, by following the
indications of nature, will make arid lands
more moist and productive.
Rain is the moisture OF the air con-
densed into drops that fall to the earth"
Dew is the moisture of the air condensed
on the surface of material objects on the
ground. And as the air over these lands
is, as stated, deficient in humidity there
is but one way left to supply that de-
ficiency. Hence the necessity for a sys-
tenn of water supply generally over these
lands. And IL the effort cannot be made
a general one, then localities and COM
can do much to aid, and espec-
tally to defend their own locality.
That little effort and a small amount
of water will do much Is seen in the effect
of a light shower over a limited area
Such shower Of five minutes viii
neutralize the effect of the most dis
astrous hot wind Of the plains. If in
time. Such fact. with many others that
can be adduced, show cOnclusively that
the volume of water needed to produce
change is not great one.
The rains of May and June. IL properly
by artificial means, Will doubt-
less, in most seasons, supply very large
of the water actually needed
TO give good crops.
on many of the streams that hssct
these lands from west to east, splendid
reservoirs can be constructed at COM
para lively small expense. Besides,
very large proportion of these lands are
firm rolling prairie, admirably adapted,
at small expense TO make lakes and pools
Of water. ~
winds and encircled with high chain OF
mountains and highlands and denied va
por from large bodies of water. we must
rely on water on the earth's surface 10
secure the change we seek
No chemicals or dynamite tricks of
jugelers will weigh a feather. There can |
be but one remedy. The water that IA lis !
on the earth or that can be brought 20 the
n Ia - q
relied on TO evaporate and give add !
tfoual moisture to the air. This done and /,
the hot winds will be reiega-cd TO the !
past, the fierce rays OF she summers sun
all be modified by the humidity OF the |
air and the fury of the south wind viii ,
be s,lorn OF much OF its dfsagreea1ie and |
destructive power, and the crops or these
lands will be more uniform and reiiao,e, |
and much greater than they now are
II must be evident to those who care i
10 examine the subject, that ine abnormal /
ie ran cement on the plain belt Is confined I
10 the lower strata Of the sir. Hence tie 1
volume Of moisture needeo IS not one so /
great that with proper effort il may not /
be supplied.
During seasons Of excessive and long /
continued drouth. here as well &c clse-
where q may be impossible TO keep up a
fun supply Of water. and in such years.
,l,t such years car be made the exception
Al ones and not the rule
II must BE- admitted that the specific
;iffersnce between these plain lands
md the wet lands of some OF the - a.ss,
( The difference in The surface water on !
ne land and the volume of moisture IN the
~ ovsr such lands We DO not rae1 the
ain OF the wet lands, but a s stated We
20 need and must secure an ad!i-onal
amount OF moisture over what We row
ave. 20 make the country Desirable AID
rery productive
The hour 3 near n, hand vher the
,e~esxstv Of the tee-ning millions = no are
n dwell in these states viii tema1i
',JIl crop OF these grand and prSdGciive
bread lsr6s,
How car a result 81 full OF gooi 20 al