The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-03-10

People of Western Kansas Most Need
The Judge Believes That In View of the
Fact That the Government Sold Arid
Land at Arabic Prices IL should do
Something for Western Kansas
Among the imposing and striking fig-
ures in the lobby OF the Carey is that OF
Judge Samuel Vandever. oS Kinsley.
Judge Nandervert in many ways re-
sembies one OF the late lamented AID
ever beloved Senator Plumb. He is
splendid mixer, a thorough coumoner
and while he works hard for his friends.
he does not mix in the petty quarrels OF
politics. He Is a typical weste-ner and
although he is not a fashion plate from
a standpoint OF dress. he IS a gentleman
OF polish and education. After hard
days work in the busy whirI OF politics
he finally consented 70 be interviewed
last night, and among other things he
said:
There is no development much In
politics IN the western part OF the state.
The conventions now being held have
engrossed the attention up 70 this time,
and these viii be followed by the sena-
toriai convention % be held in our dis
trist on the 27th OF May.
This district. as you are aware. com
prises 4 large territory. being compos-
ed OF eighteen counties.
There are a number Of very popular
candidates. and the night for the nomin-
alton will be good natured. but active.
/ viii take something more Of a pro-
phet than I am 70 undertake 20 say
where the plum viii fall.
Republicans are active and hopeful
l.,
also faithful and the party may expect
their active support and the showing
viii be even better than II was two
years ago. The people generally have
given up the study Of the Seven Con-
spiracies. the payment OF the national
debt with figures and the suhtreasury
scheme. and are devoung themselves 10
the development OF that country.
1T Is pretty generally conceded that
farming can not be made profitable very
far west OF the center OF the state. ex-
cept that II be aided by irrigation. Much
has been done in that line In the last
few years in the extreme western part
OF the state by carrying the water from
the Arkansas river in bitches. and
farther east by windpumps.
These methods are neither success
full. except In a small way. The guam
tity OF water in the river that flows
pumping process being too expensive.
Il have given this matter some study
and have come 10 the conclusion there
is but one way to make irrigation a sue
cess. and that is by the adoption OF
some means that win enable US 20 drift
the inexhaustible underfiOw OF water.
which IS found at a depth OF three and
one-half 20 seven feet.~the surface all
along the valley Of the Arkansas. This
I h. feh hxff q
penditure OF a large sum or money.
probably as much as a quarter OF a mil-
lion OF dollars but it can be accom-
plished in this way, BY sinking large
cribs or reservoirs at given points 50
that they may be connected and there
by form a large body Of water that Will
TO be carried 10 the surface of the land
be separated froTS the sand through
which the water flows. and the natural
] fall of the country VIII enable the water
/ below In large pipes and then be carried
/ on in bitches.
The piping from the reservoirs he
| come necessary. because the Gnderfow
/ Of water per-olates through bed %
/ qulcksand, and II cannot be ditched 20
I the surface on account OF the srnd rts-
| ing with the water and filing the ditch.
/ As / say. this can only be accomplished
/ ny the use OF a large sum Of money.
Private capital - somewhat ch8rry %
/ Kansas investment and would hardly
| be available. neither Ia 10 probable that
state legislature could be induced 20
make a sufficient appropriation. al
though the future prohtabl- bapitatlon
of nearly half OF the territory Of this
commonwealth largely depends upon
the development OF some scheme Of ir-
rlgatlon. that will water the western
plains.
Congress ought 70 help this enter
prise. The government sold m0re than
siI million dollars worth OF land within
the Garden City land district Where
the government sold ~ at 500 quarter
| section. both parties supposed that 70
was productive farming land. IL has
proven otherwise. Many pre~rnptoTE
who bought their land promising 20
make four annual payments of frty dol
lars each. only made the first payment
and allowed The Land 90 revert % the
/ government because they could not
I farm 70 successfully. Many thousands
/ Of acres Il this Land ls again the prop
erty 0f the government - has been
my idea that the proper thing Tor The
/ government % do with these lands q 70
withdraw them from the market at
present. and upon the basis of its large
| landed interest. which Is worthless
without irrigation. make an appropria-
I ti1n sufficient % Develop this scheme u
/ irrigation II 10 succeeds. as - must.
I then the price % the government Land.
might Be advanced sufficiently - F-iru-
burse the sum appropriated. There -
no doubt that ~ the valleys alone Hers
Irrigated tie adjacent lands would be-
came quite val BE Tor paafureaE~-
There has been 10 persistent effort 70
direct the attention a congress 90 fhe
Z existing conditions 81 western kansas
unfl ths session and the success Up
% this time has not been marked IL
I has not been diff5cult % secure appfo-
p-iation- 20 prevent the overflow %
rivers. and ihosc q us whose aofDss are
I'D in that western country feel that q
/ proper EFFORT would succeed in securing
/ a proper appropriation 70 ralzs the uts-
/ aa~nlF.sr %"