Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-10
UPLAND IRRIGATION.

farms Is failure. II. b. Cowgirl,
editor of the Kansas Farmer, began
some years rgo as an advocate OF up
land irrigation, He knew there was
an abundance of water from 100 to
l6O feet below the grass roots in the
western part of Kansas, and he be-
lieved a cheap process OF pumping
and distribution could be acquired -
But the results OF the states exper-
mental irrigation have convinced him
that irrigation farming in the up
lands is not practicable.
"Ths future apparently promises
nothing for the upland farmer and
il some unforeseen relief is not soon
presented every trace of settlement
will and should be swept away, These
plans afford excellent grazing and
are sufficiently d;ssected by drainage
to afford bottom land. On these lat
ter the water is close benz th the sur
face, apparently sufficient for o pop
ulation such rs can make full use of
the uplands for pasture.
IF the plains, the greater natural
grazing land in the country, can be
protected from the epasmodic and I'm.
profitable blowing, end also from the
incursions OF the town-buidlng-
schemers, the country can become one
Of the most prosperous Of stock rais-
ing communities. 1t is being demon
strated, however, that there must be
a considerable change from the old
method of handling cattle. II is nee
essary to keep constant care Of the
stock, and not only shelter the herds
but loed when necessary. For this
pur, alfalfa aud other forage
Gre grown On the bottom
L. J wild hay put up in
Il ,Ieason. The present checker
board system Of subdivision IS now
the greatest obstacle TO such proper
use Of the land and must in some
way be done away With, allowing
each settle to lay out his ranch and
range with reference to the water
and permitting him to travel directly
from one settlement to another The
question how to most economically
bring water upon the strips Of bot
tom land is sufficiently completing
for any group Of men without being
complicated by other matters.
The energies Of the farmer should
be devoted to guarding the grass
crop. Few men from the ARID regions
realize the superior value of this.
One Of the most striking objects IS the
toughness Of the prairie sod, especially
to person who has regarded grazing
land as covered with tufts OF scanty
vegetation. Large slabs Of this cut
out are held together firmly by the
interlaclnG roots. This means con.
siderable feed TO The acre and far less
travel each day on the part Of graz
ing stock.
In general, the people on the high
plain know and think little OF irrlga-
tion. In the towns, especially, they
are the remnants Of the boom popula-
ton. They state that il they cannot
farm these superb grazing lands they
prefer to abandon the country for
ever Success can only be attained
through bringing in radically differ
ent population, as few Of those now
on the ground have the patience or
persistence necessary to adopt them
selves to the natural conditions. Its
only by bringing ia the more intelli-
gent men from eastern Kansas that
anything can be accomplished.
"The hopelessnees Of irrigation on
the plains is perhaps best shown by
the elaborate and costly experiment
at Goodland. Here an enormous
wooden Halliday windmill, twenty
i've feet in diameter, has been erected.
Water is raised by this 40 feet and
poured into a reservoir OF consider
able size. Feeble attempts at farm
ing have been made with the water
from this The water was found in
coarse material aud had relatively
free delivery to the well, but the ex-
pertinent has not been conducted IN
such a way "a to demonstrate the
quantity available aud results are
very discouragng"
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II