The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-12
ROBERT HAYS VIEWS.
The Noted Scientist and Irriga
ZIONIST Writes the journal
ON THAT SHOULD BE DONE

For the Cause of Irrigation in Kan
sas-The State Agricultural College
Seems the Best Fitted to Take DIP
the Work.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
Coming to Topeka for few days on
other business, 1 could not help observ-
ing the action of the legislature on the
irrigation bills that have been submitted
to it l have taken great interest in the
subject in its out of-doors, practical as
poets for many years, and hoped that this
meeting of the legislature would do
something to encourage and aid it.
hope so still
It is of Importance to the east that the
west should be settled The west will
bear its share of taxation and open mar
kets for trade This, if there is irriga-
ton. If not, not.
Whatever the state does, it does by its
agents-persons whom it must pay for
their work. Who shall these agents be?
Shall the state create a new set of Off
Gals who shall do this work or shall it
use servants which it already has?
The newness of the subject suggests
that new set of servants shall be select
ed here aud there from persons who
have more or less knowledge, practical
or theoretical on the subject
On the other hand the relation of the
subject to a broader one of which in 9TH
or aspects we have considerable knowl-
edge suggests that some established
state institution should have charge of
this new development we call irrigation.
If such institution were chosen to have
this charge added to its other duties it
would in common sense be one whose
work was in some way germane to this
newer subject We should not take the
insane asylum, nor the school for the
blind, nor the State university, nor the
State Normal school, because the gener-
al object of these institutions is very diff
ferent from the new subject treated of.
And yet some officials of each of these
institutions might have some qualitica-
tions for this work.
There are three institutions in the
state whose general work makes them
closely related to irrigation. viz:
First-The state board of agriculture.
Second-The state agricultural college
with the affiliated agricultural expert
ment station.
Third-The state forestry stations.
The lower house on Friday passed a
bill giving some irrigation work to the
forestry stations. That is good begin
ming, but about the larger work yet to do
there seems much confusion of opinion.
bill has been introduced giving
power to the Manhattan experiment sta
ton to establish five branch experiment
stations in the western part of the state.
And a bill has been reported as a substi-
tute for several others putting the gener-
al work in the hands of commission of
three. One of the bills for which this is
a substitute put the supervising control
in the state board of agriculture, and
somebody has introduced another bill
placing the supervision of agricultural
experiment stations in the west in the
same body, while yet another bill places
the general control in the hands of a
state engineer.
1t would seem that the faculty at Man
haitian, accustomed to exact work in field
and garden, could, with some addition to
their force, do all the experimentation
needed in the western part of the state,
and 1t appears to me tina: that is the
proper place to which to give this part
OF the new work; especially as this insti-
tuition has already established two sta
tiOns for experiment in irrigation in the
region OF the 101st meridian. The bill
establishing these experiment stations
under this control ought to pass.
But there is much to be said in favor
of some work being done by experts
either as a separate board or under the
control OF the state board of agriculture.
This control was that recommended by
the Hutchinson Irrigation convention.
There is work of administration of irri-
CATION law. There should be an office
somewhere. where intending irrigatora
may learn what has been done, and know
their own rights exactly. In the matter
OF the construction of dams for storage OF
storm waters, which east of the Tooth
meridian will be the largest factor in ir-
rigation, the intending irrigators ought
10 be able to get expert advice and legal
direction from public official, which
should save both time and litigation.
a state commission of three with ar
irrigation engineer as one of its mem.
bers would be a valuable temporary ex
pedient which in four or five years NIGH
give way to more compact machinery
for the permanent administration of Law
and leave defnitesex perimentation to the
general control of the Manhattan author
tiles This commission would continue
the examination shat has been begun by
the United States geological survey as t.
the water supply, both visible and sub
terranean, and distribute all Information
on every branch of the subject as soon a.
collected.
1t appears that with proper hold o
these leading principles, the committee
of the whole of either house might form
ulate two bills which would give genera
satisfaction. ROBERT HAY.
THE FINS FINS.