Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09

the increased yield in a single year
more than paid for the entire plant.
In central and western Kansas, where
the streams and lakes are scarcer, wells
and reservoirs are resorted TO and the
water is raised by means of windmills.
These wells are drilled and are some
times several hundred feet deep. In
the vicinity of streams the underfiJw
is relied upon and bountiful supply
Of water is always assured III case this
flow can be struck. 1t was no. until
the irrigation question began 10 be
agitated that the extent and value of
these underflows were known. It seems
rather strange that rivers should sink
into the earth and flow several hun
dred feet below the surface, but, never
theless, is is an established fact. This
is probably due to the peculiar soil.
for as they flow eastward they again
emerge to the surface.
The legislature last winter very pro-
perly made a small appropriation 10 be
expended in the encOura cement OF If
rigation in the western part Of the
state, and the results so far are very
satisfactory. The tests made clearly
demonstrate that the supply of water
from the underfiow is practically I'M
failing and inexhaustible. 1t is stated
by one familiar with the practical work
being done that pump throwing 500
gallons per minute operated TO its ut
most capacity does not apparently at
feet the supply at all. That even on
the uplands, where the water is raised
from wells 200 feet deep, the pumps
have been operated day and night for
weeks at a time, throwing each $50
gallons per minute, without producing
any perceptible diminution of the sup
ply.
1t is likewise shown that where the
as suggested, it is practicable to irrig-
ate from a single pump five acres on
the higher lands, and as much as from
twenty to forty acres in the valleys
and low lands. This means, according
to the most conservative statement we
have seen, that at least 10 per cent of
all the lands west of the Tooth meridi-
oil III 1AduScS oil Z CdpdDIS VI 1II1SdIlOu,
or nearly 100000 acres, being more
than all the land under irrigation in
the United States in 1890. 1t means the
reclamation and the successful and
profitable cultivation of this great area
of land in western Kansas, which is
naturally rich and productive, and
lacking only in moisture to make it
equal to the best agricultural sections
of the country.
/ The value of products from lands
farmed by irrigation is we'll known to
be much greater than from land where
rainfall is relied upOn-that is the pro-
/ dUctive power is increased and the pro-
/ fits are accordingly larger. The gov
/ eminent reports from experimentation
and the actual experience in the west
ern states show this to be true. The
western Kansas farmer who can irri-
/ gate five acres can live we'll, and with
twenty farmed in this way he can get
rich.
All this means a rapid increase in
the value of such lands in the near
future, and that tie western portion
Of the state in time will invite and
sustain a large population, as the new
system of underhow irrigation is de-
veloped and with all the favorable con-
ditions which now make the older por-
ton of the state as fertile and prosper
Gus as any of the great west.