The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-06-12
IRRIGATION IN KANSAS.
The Kansaa VIII Find it the Only way
Out of the Dilemma.

Inc Eanssn WIZ Find 1t the Only Way
Out of the Dilemma.
To irrigate or not to iFrigate, that is
the question that has engaged the at
tention of many farmers in Kansas for
the past 12months.
In location we are occupying debat-
able ground; it is not definitely settled
whether we are arid or humid.
From 1892 to 1895 we we're decidedly
arid; but now that the rains have come
we think we are humid; and the besita-
ting farmer has decided to postpone his
irFigating schemes indefinitely. He has
a conviction imprisoned il his brain,
that in the cycle of years, we have pass
ed the period Of drought, and We are
entered upon the threshold of a series
of wet and prosperous seasons; that
the dread calamity of hot winds and
crop failures are at an end, irrigation
unnecessary, super6ous, and an expen-
sive luxury.
The buoysnt hopefulness and simple
faith of the average Kansan is sublime.
But the true advocate of intensive
farming is not so optimistic, and is not
so easily swerved from his purpose by
doubtful promise of better seasons
ahead. Too often in the history of her
existence has the great Sunfower state,
in emulation of Macbeth's witches,
"paltered with US in a double sense,
has kept the word Of promise to the
ear and broken it to the hope" The
wary irrigator is not deceived; profting
from his experience of 1896, he is press
ing steadily onward to assured success
and gTander results in 1896.
There is phase of irrigation, how
ever, upon which we may all agree, the
value and Importance Of impounded
storm waters stored for future use or
for immediate service in flooding the
ground for the pillow and seeding; in
our prodigal waste of this valuable ele-
ment we initiate the North American
Indian, whose chief concern upon re-
ceiVing his quota of rations at the
agency, is to get rid of them in the
most expeditions manner.
Instead of constructing ponds and
basins for the conservation of this
wealth-yielding fluid, it is our custom
to open up the sluice-Ways and speed
it onward in its race to the sea where it
is not needed.
But our people are learning a better
thrift, by study of the Orient, where
irrigation has been in successful prac-
tice for four thousand years, and where
no drop of water is permitted to run to
waste.
Kansans are becoming interested and
much is being accomplished in this
direction through individual effort by
the construction of ponds and basins
on the farm.
All over the plains of Kansas there
are low-lying fats OF gentle gradients,
where an Indifferent dam, easily and
cheaply constructed for temporary use.
may serve the purpose of flooding a
considerable area of ground, and hold
the water imprisoned until absorbed
by the soil and well out of the way of
pillow and seed.
This system of irrigation was in
vogue on the river Nile two thousand
years ago, and was practiced in a small
way in Kansas in the winter of 1894-95,
and in every instance the result was
not only highly satisfactory and the
crops phenomenal, but it was a revela-
ton of possibilities within the reach of
every farmer however poor.
There is thrift in the conservation of
storm waters.-A. G. Romig in Irriga-
/