Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-01-17
IrrlratIon.


rainfall makes general farming uncertain and
precarlous business, and renders compara-
lively yalueless, except for grazing purposes,
millions OF acres OF the choicest lands In the
state. With an ample supply OF water ut the
proper season at least twenty millions of acres
Of land now not worth on an average more than
two-and-a-half dollars per acre, could be
given value Of twenty-five dollars per acre,
adding Mt least four hundred millions OF dollars
TO the wealth OF the state and making that sec
tion the garden spot Of the state. Numerous
theories for the prevention Of drought have been
advocated and tested, but they have proven
failures, and the people are now turning TO the
subject OF irrigation. There are some difil-
culties that confront them. The amount of the
water supply and It's availability for irrigation
purposes, are the chief problems TO be settled.
The western settlers, In their struggles to de-
velop that part OF our state, deserve the hearty
support Of every citizen. more brave, honest
and intelligent class Of men never cast their
fortunes In new country An appropriation
OF the public money to limited degree, to be
expended under the direction OF the state board
Of agriculture, or the agricultural college, may
DO advisable. But we should carefully avoid
any extravagant expenditure Of public money
In visionary experiments. The energy In
dustry and pluck OF the people are the
real basis Of the development Of any
country, and upon that we must de-
pend for the development Of every part Of our
state. Wise and equitable laws controlling the
water supply Of the streams that we have, may
be necessary, but the chief source Of supply, In
my Judgment, must come from what is known
as the ''under-6ow," and be utilized by pump
ing. And as every mar who owns his farm
owns his water, and can own his plant, no leg
islation is necessary to aid him In the develop
ment OF his farm. Experimental stations, how
ever, can be made valuable, and thorough and
systematic survey OF that portion Of the state
may develop some new means Of utilizing the
present water supply. most earnestly COM
mend to your careful consideration the subject
Of reclaiming that beautiful section of our state
Uniformity Of Text-B Books,
The question Of state uniformity OF text
books is an important one, and should receive
your serious attention As 1t now Is, there is
not even county uniformity. Indeed, In many
OF our counties the textbooks change with the
| school-district lines In some counties there
are from FIVE to ten different kinds Of text
books used in the public schools A family
moving from one district to another is thereby
needlessly put to great expense. The result Is,
! that in the aggregate the people Of the state
| expend many thousands OF dollars for. which
| they never receive any adequate return, which
I would be saved the people II VIC had Uniform
| ity Of textbooks. This is all the more Inn
portant because this burden falls usually
upon those who are least able to bear
it. The farm tenant, who changes his
I residence from year to year, or the Iaborer,
who seeking employment, must move from one
| city to another, is almost invariably compelled
| to buy q new set OF books for his children.
This is imposing upon him an unjust burden,
and compelling him to spend quite large
amount OF money uselessly, because the books
which he is compelled to dispense with are just
as valuable, and as useful for the instruction
Of children as the new ones which he is COM
PEELED to buy. There is no valid argument
against the system Of state uniformity, and
there are many arguments for It, and where 1t
has been tried 1t has proven very advantageous.
Chickamauga.
Under the act Of congress Of August 49, 1890, a
park has been established at the battlefield OF
Chickamauga, and the government has pur-
chased, or proceedings are pending for the pur-
chase Of over 5000 acres Of the battlefield, en-
bracing most Of the heavy fighting ground. A
commission was appointed by the president Il
take charge Of this work, and nearly all OF the
states whose troops were engaged in that bat
tie have already appointed commissions to act
in conjunction with the United States commits
sioners in locating the positions OF the differ
ent regiments and batterles and most of the
states have provided for the erection Of suit
able monuments to mark the position occupied
by their respective troops on the field.
MknMa ReAOa0sAs e1R H0AsGs Naa SG(l1lS.
sentad by Gen. Robert B. Mitchell, command
ing division OF cavalry; Col. John A. Martin
commanding a brigade, and Lieut. Col ].
Alternately, commanding the Eighth regimen
Of Kansas volunteers
Eighteen states have already appointed com
missions to assist the national commission II
the work of locating positions The Eight
Kansas regiment should have one monumen
near the Viniard place, where 1t fought on Sat
urday, the 10th, one at Orchard Knob, and on
on Missionary Ridge.
l would most earnestly recommend that thu
sum of $1,000 be appropriated for the erection
Of these three monuments, and that the fur
ther sum of 800 be appropriated to pay the ex
penses Of three commissioners, TO be appointed
BIZ the governor, from the survivors Of tina
battle, to select the proper monuments and t.
decide where they shall be placed.
In the matter of public printing thu
rovernor recommends that thorough
revision of the whole subject be made
by the legislature, as the state pay
too much for its printing, and lot o
matter is printed which is of no impor
lance. The abuses that have grown
ND in the system of fees and salaries il
called attention to, also that of EN-
ploying enrolling clerks.
state Boards.
Several propositions have been dlscusse
looking to a change Of the powers and duties o
the state boards, but / doubt the wisdom
making any radical changes In this respect
Some amendments might be made which woul
increase the efficiency Of these boards, and
would be well for you to consider the prophet
Establishing entirely some of them II woul
seem that either the board Of public works o
the office Of state architect might b
dispensed with. The office Of silk com
missioner can be abolished withou
any detriment to the state. The stat
board Of health might be made less expensiv
without materially diminishing its efficiency
The office Of state veterinarian might be abol
ished and the ofice placed under the contro
of the professor Of veterinary at the agricul
tural college. In these times OF depression
is your duty to cut of all expenditures nc
absolutely necessary. There has never SCENE
to me any reason why members OF the stat
boards should be paid mileage Itwould be "a
more reasonable and sensible to pay theI
their necessary travelling expenses aetuan
Maid, and their per diem for all time necessaI
! ily employed, and I know no good reason VIII
the per diem should be increased. The treas
urer Of the board OF charities handles q larg
amount of money, and gives only small bon
as member Of the board. The business-liR
wav 10 do would be to abolish all these mine
treasurers and require oil moneys to be pal
by the state treasurer. Bat II this not don
he ought to be required to give bond sun
|, ciently large to cover any moneys belonging
the state that may come into his hands.