The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-07-19
HIGHLY DELIGHTED.
Secretary Coburn Well Pleased
With Sherman County.

Secretary Coburn Of the state Board of
Agriculture, Is Convinced Of the Practi-
eability Of Irrigation in sherman County
and It's Successful Application.
Secretary Cobury of the state board
Of agriculture, gave the following to a
Topeka Capital reporter on his return
from GoodIand;
@The visit TO Goodland was intensely
interesting to all who had not been
there before, and especially to those
who we're skeptical about the water
supply beneath the plains at such
high altitude, which is 1861 feet, or
2,8O7 feet higher than Topeka and $50
feet higher than Garden City. There
was nothing seen at any of the plants
to suggest there was a limit to the
quantity of water available. The state
plant was just being started and is
operated by 10-hOrse power gasoline
engine which is not yet doing its best
work The land belonging to the
station lies beautifully for the appIica-
ton Of water; it is expected to lease !
the tract to some one who will see just
what can be done with it agriculturally |
next year.
EsTho moot suEovocE9v,c, v,,,,,,v,;v.~. H. |
out there, as suggesting the inexhaust- !
ible supply. of water, is by the city
wateEworks. Within the space of a |
small engine room are three wells with |
pumps in them worked singly or to- |
getheT, as desired, by 20-horse power
steam engine, at very small cost. Not |
withstanding the great depth these
pumps working together throw out a /
solid stream OF water nearly six inches |
in diameter and have done this for q
hours without the least apparent dimi-
mutton in the supply; no one has any
valid reason for suppOsing that
years pumping would have different
effect.
an. B. Tomblin and A. B, Mentgom-
cry are pumping with 16-foot wind
mills very cheaply and successfully:
each appears to have water in the
greatest abundance and could have
more by increasing his reservoir area.
Each has about 10 acres at present
under cultivation and irrigation and
their Irish and sweet potatoes, onions,
cabbage celery and alfalfa are making
a growth Of almost tropical luxuriance.
Mr.. TOmblin, although beginning work
quite late in the season, is sanguine of
realizing not less than $1,000 this year
from the products on his 10 acres. I
think he is probably little over san
guine, but being a thorough going
western hustler he will make it ''come
true" if anyone can. Potatoes Of both
sorts seem to grow in Sherman county
to great perfection, much as they do in
the vicinity of Greedy, Colo, and the
raising of them is likely to become a
prominent industry. Celery of high
quality grows readily there and is be-
ing raised extensively by Mr.. TOmblin. I
HAS the irrigation spirit laid hold
on practically all of the people out
there, or are merely few doing little
experimental work as a temporary
fad?"
mo, this irrigation movement is not ,
any temporary fad or craze with those !
western Kansas people. They are going
into it heart and soul in business !
like way that will lead to success. They |
have been poor and bard up like the !
rest of Us and cannot on that account
make improvements as fast as thew
otherwise would, nor do they by anv
means expect to irrigate all their land
from wells Instead of being driven !
away by the elements they propose to
go into partnership with them and by
utilizing the various means known to {
be within reach will make themselves !
masters of the situation. There is
little danger that wet season will
cause them to lose interest in these :
undertakings. With their present ,
light they are persuaded that wind s
will be the economical pumping power
because it works for nothing and :
boards itself Larger and perhaps
deeper reservations than they yet make
seem desirable, into which the wind
mills can be gathering large volume ,
of water for use later when most need I
ed, Attention will be given, too, to ;
flooding and saturating the ground !
during the winter season, and by sub.
soiling it can be fitted to hold supply :
of moisture sufficient to terminate and
carry crops we'll along toward summer.
These are but few of the problems !
being closely studied by the most wide. +
awake people on earth; they are human :
and thus liable to make mistakes, but }
the man who predicts their ultimate |;
failure knows very little of them or
the stuff they are made of. This ap- ;
plies to 40 other counties in much the :
same degree as Sherman, but probably =
no other is better adapted to the easy :
distribution of water, on account of its
general evenness Of surface and gentle
incline eastward of about 10 feet to the
mile"