The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-31
ON IRRIGATION.
The Matter Seems to Enlist the
Most Active Work
Of the Kansas Delegation in
Congress
NEXT TO PENSIONS.
Senator PETER Wants an Addi-
tiOnal Appropriation
For the Gauging of Streams in
the West.

From The State Journals Special Cor.
Washington, March Ex-senator PEI
fer has given notice of an amendment
to the Sunday civil appropriation bill
which contemplates an appropriation
of $4,000 to enable the director of the
geological survey to continue the work
of gauging the streams and determin-
ing the water supply in the semiarid
regions of the United States, includ-
ing the investigation of underground
currents and artesian wells and the
best methods of agriculture by irri-
cation.
AS has already been stated in the
Journals dispatches the subcommittee
of the house appropriation commit
tee has agreed to recommend an item
of $4,000 for this same purpose. Sen
ator Peffer'S attention was called to
this fact and he said of course he was
in favor of the larger appropriation
recommended Iy the house commit
tee. 81 wish it could be made $780, 000,"
he said.
The reply of the director of the geo.
logical survey through the secretary of
the interior to Senator Bakers reso-
luton declares that it will be practi-
cable to combine the work done by the
geological survey in gauging streams
and determining the water supply and
the irrigation inquiry feature formerly
conducted by the agricultural de-
partment, the appropriation for which
| was eliminated from the agricultural
bill. This fact has also been briefly
stated in the Journal.
| The director of the survey states,
| however, that an increased appropri-
alton will be necessary to carry out
| this arrangement and it is to furnish
| this that Mr.. Long has looked to secure
| the $35, 800 recommendation in the
! house and Senator PETER has offered
the amendment previously stated
Regarding the work of gauging
| streams in Kansas and contingent tor
| ritory, the letter of Mr. Walcott, di-
rector of the survey says:
| THE question of water supply from
| wells in the west is more important
| than the quantity of surface water
| Individuals and companies have eX-
| pended thousands of dollars in seek
ing water for irrigation purposes where
| geOlOgiStS knew that no water can be
| found 1t requires careful investiga-
| ton by competent biologists to deter
mine where it is possible tOohtain
| water.
For instance beginning in the vicinity
| of Pueblo, Colorado, where the rocks of
| the plains are upturned and accessible
| to detailed study, work has ben begun
and carried on easterly down the Ar
! kansas valley into Kansas. The under
| ground structure of this region has
| been mappG out ana DATA nave been
| acquired from which to predict the
| depth beneath the surface and the slope
| of the water bearing strata.
| 1.-The generalization of the geolo-
| gists have been verified by recent bor-
| ings and communities within this area
| have been assured of an unfailing sup
| ply of pure water, adding materially to
| their prosperity.
| The detailed results of this investi-
| cation have been prepared by G. K.
| Gilbert of the geological survey and
| will soon be printed.
AS to the publication of bulletins
showing how to utilize the water sup
ply the letter says it will be practicable
| and valuable. The information as it
is now published is in a technical form
but the letter says it may be possible
to prepare short bulletins, showing for
instance the method of utilizing the
water supply of western Kansas.
| Such a bulletin calling attention tc
the distribution of water in various
rivers, springs and wells, it's use and
storage in reservoirs, and also the pos
sibilities of obtaining supplies from
underground by pumping machinery
driven by wind or by steam or gaso-
line engines would be of considerable
value to inhabitants not only of this
particular region but of many other
portions Of the west.
| NJ F. M