The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-04-24
IRRIGATION NATTER.



IN munv respects Nebraska Il SINH.
lar 60 iis sister state. Kansas but since
% extends farther 10 the westward.
aud on the north include. considerable
areas of sand hills. the amount Of
vacant public lands is far greater. In
the aggregate THE amounts to i5.isG
square mile, ar $50 per cent Of the
state q little les. than one. fourth Of
&c. whole area There has not been ~
much excitement and misrcpfcscnta.
ton regarding the western portions ~
Nebraska ~ ~ Kansas aud therefore
the disapppintmcnts, losses. and suffer
INK have not been 80 noticeable
Thousands 81 families however. have
failed in their hopes of making dcsir-
able homes. aud following seasons ~
drought many person have suught as
sistancc from public charity II isnow
generally recognized that throughout
o. great portion ~ the western end ~
the state agriculture can boz successfully
carried on only by means ~ water arti-
ficinlly applied. aud also that oven
away frum the rivers u Is possible 10
obtain sufficient water to cultivate
small areas
The principal body ~ the vacant
lands lies In the region Ia the north ~
North Platte river and among the foot
hills in which the various tributaric.
~ the Iuup take their rise. II also In.
cludes tracts ~ similar sandy nature tu
the south ~ the river. la this region
the rains soak into thu ground without
forming streams, leaving the surface M
dry that only very scunty vegetation
survives. Occasionally there are year.
in which the rainfall il ~ well dis
trihuicd that the grasses reach u con
siderable height furnishing excellent
grnfinpi hut nguin Tor succession ~
seasons druughis burn the vegetation
and the winds blow the sands. chang.
ing the shapes Of the hills. In these
hills are occasionally puol- ~ water.
resulting probably from the sccpagr
FROM adjacent hilluclls. the escape 81
the water downward being evidently
prevented hy impcrviuus layers. Even
la this light snll in the valleys between
the hills. n has bUcn found possible To
raise early crops nf vegetables, rs'
pccinlly u u small amount of water eau
be- obtained. Thus homes have been
made there. aud farmers raising q SUI
hcicnt amount 10 supply their own
needs. aud depending upon cattle or
sheep raising for profitable occupa
tlOu.
The principal source ~ water supply
OF western Nebraska u FROM the North
rlattr river. which In this state occu-
pies "a broad. sandy bed, the stream In
summer being reduced To- o depth ~
only few inches and spreading out In
innumcrahlc channels nggrrgnting
width ~ u half NM nr even more. At
times uf extreme uw water the dis
charge shrinl,s tn less than 900 feet
Int this amount could probably hchug-
meuted by suitable devices Tor bringing
unt the water stored under the bed aud
food plains The valley lands along
the river are relatively narrow being
Ia places intercepted by high bluffs
Nest Of tlicsc Hood plains have been ni.
rrady covered 10y irriguting bitches
aud ON all ~ them water eau be- pro
cured at inudrrutc depths hy wells
hack FROM the river the depth Ia the
water Increases, but from various az.
icmpts made II appears probable that
an AMOUNT sufficient for domestic us:.,
aud e,sn iur agriculture Oh q smnli
sale. can be procured at most points,
In Nebraska, ~ In Kansas. consider.
able popular interest has been mnni.
tested In the development ~ u water
supply hy means ~ wells pumped by
wlndmnls or by engines run by steam
or gasoline. Succrssiul experiments
have h.rn made In many counties, aud
II seems ,norc than probable that
throughout the greater part uf the
state prosperity will follow experience
aud the resulting improvements In
mcthols. In some cases, however.
water has not been found ut moderate
depths. ur has been 30 brachish ~ 90
hc unit for use. II II necessary t.
have thorough examination made ~
the geological structure If the country
before Il u safe to predict the extent
60 which wells can be utilized
The available water supply from the
streams OF the western part Of the
state has been est imntcd to he sufficient
for I 800, 900 ncrcs, this estimate not IN.
Guiding the rivers of the more humid
portions, where water h not used for
agricultural purposes From Public
Lands aud Their Water supply by
r. H. Newell.