The Goodland republic., 1896-05-08

season Of 1884 sueh small irrigated
gardens were the snstenance Of the
family. Such examples have led to a
very large increase in the number Of
reservoirs put in and strong windmills
built. The state Of Kansas, by an irri-
cation commission appointed last year,
IS putting in a number of experiment
stations, using different kinds Of
pumps, different motive pOwers-gaso-
line, steam and wind-in different situ-
ations, with wells of different depths,
to carry further the demonstration al
ready made that number Of acres Of
an upland farm can be irrigated from
the water that is beneath it.
"These two questions involved in the
irrigation of the plains uplands are
now practically answered in the afflr
native. Can water be lifted 200 feet
at so low a cost that it will pay to If
rigate with it from that depth, and is
there water enough below the surface
Ito irrigate any proper proportion of
the large area of the semi-arid upIands?
Saying yes to both these queries, it may
also be said that where water is even
at greater depths enough may be raised
with comparatively small expense to
irFigate so much land as in dry years
viii be a material addition to the means
of subsistence of the farmers family.
"The writer has no doubt of there be-
ing enough water in the tertiary for
nation previously mentioned to irri-
gate five per cent of the land Of large
parts of the western plains. The me-
chanical devices for raising the water
are becoming better and cheaper every
year. There was never before such ac-
tivity among the manufacturers OF
water lifting appliances as is the case
at the present time. The volume of
water and the means to lift it being as
sured, the redemption of the plains
from the stigma of aridity is also GER
tain.
sin saying this it must not be under
stood that irrigation of the uplands
means the irrigation of large bodies of
lands in solid areas. It is absolutely
true that under present conditions a
family can obtain a good living from
three acres of irrigated land. If
family 3an within itself supply the Ia
Dor for the irrigation of ten acres, or.
even hire some help, competence and
comparative wealth will be certain in
comparatively short period The
owner Of 160 acres for pasture, for
timber, for some grain, will give addi-
tiOnal surplus in the good years, and
his family will always have the means
and leisure to give attention to mental
improvement and be certain of increase
Of home comforts and some Of the lux
uries of life.
"The position and volume of the sub
terranean waters point to the desirable
ity of numerous pumping plants scat
tered over the plains-not large ones
with expensive machinery. Wind is the
cheapest motive power. It is abundant
on the plains. These facts all suggest
that small holdings, say the standard
260 acres as a maximum, worked by the
owner and his family, are those that
will most economically operate in the
redemption Of the plains.
"There is, however, much land on the
plains owned by great corporations
railways, mOrtgage-loan companies,
tOWnsite companies, and by individuals
who have bought the land for specuIa-
tive purposes. It is notorious that most
of these would be very glad of an op-
portunity to unload. The general de-
sire to redeem the plains, and the re-
cent investigations and experiments
which have demonstrated the pOssibili- !
ity of the redemption, give these cor
pOratiOns and individuals the Opportun-
ity they desire. They have, however, a !
duty in the matter. It is their business
Oh their own lands to complete the de- /
mOnstratiOn. Let them shOWWater used |
for irrigation on one quarter section and |
purchasers will not only offer for that |
land, but the lands similarly circum-
stanced. Thus, from the nucli thus
established, irrigation areas will slowly !
extend over all the plains. It is only |
fair to say that some corporations with |
enlightened self-interest have begun to /
work in this direction"
Mr.. Hay concludes: "From and by |
these means as large a proportion of |
the area of the plains can be irrigated |
as that of any irrigated country in the
world, and so it may support a large |
population that before many decades
of the Goth century have run out viii |
be counted by the tens Of millions. |
There will be prosperous and happy |
and civilized rural communities, many !
thriving towns on every meridian, and /
several large cities, in all Of which all |
the forces of civilization will have full |
play and the state Of the plains will be