The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-29
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Irrigation Board Report Says
Members Used Passes.
Makes Recommendations as to
Disposition of Plants.
Debats in Senate on Bill TO Abolish
judge Vandivsrt's District
Legislative Notes

The frankness Of the members Of the
state board of irrigation in acEn0wl-
edging in their report just issued. that
Shey have been riding On railroad pass
es, stands without a parallel among TIE
many and various boards in the histo-
~ Of kansas
The general practice OF members OF
such boards having passes has been TO
ride free and collect mileage from the
state This. the members of the board
OF irrigation say III their report las
not been done BY them D NJ Frost
H. B T0ubiin and w B. Sutton the
members OF the board. George t Fair
child and E Haworth- advisory mem
bers. gratefully acknowledge the re-
cefpt of passes from the Union Pacific
Santa F'e, Missouri Pacific and Rock
Island
board to be abolished by the legislature
and in case that be done. the following
recommendations are submitted
That the work which the board has
fuaugurated be app0rt1oned among the
Institutions of the state best equipped
TO perform it. and give to them respec-
lively reasonable appropriations 10 car
~ On the work
We would also suggest that 90 acres
Of each 40 acre tract donated TO the
state be recOnveyed TO the donor 20
acres is more than any wind mill plant
can supply water for
We would further recommend that
at least three OF these irrigation sta
tons. for instance the Sherman county
station at GoOdIand. the Logan county
station at Oakley. and the Wichita
county station at Leoti- be turned over
70 the state agricultural college for ex-
perimental farming with an apprOprIa-
ton of sufficient money to fully eStab-
lish and carry On the same successful
"
We would further recommend that
three OF four Of the stations be turned
hatcheries and appropriation be made
sufficient to conduct them successfully
\ moderate price may De charged for
young fish which would 60 some ways
towards reimbursing the state
Finally. we recommend that. in case
Of the sale Of any of these plants 10
Gated upon donated land. the land and
the improvements made by the state be
appraised separately and from any bid
thereon by the donor. his heirs. exec
utoFs- OF assigns. there should be de-
Quoted the amount at which the lands
were appraised, or that the donor. his
heirs, executors, OF assigns. should
have the option for so days prior to the
sale to purchase the station at the ap-
praised value of the improvements
thereon"
1T the legislature should permit the
board to continue its existence, the fol
lowing requests are made
That the board have a permanent
Office in this state house and 4 clerk
That the law should be so drawn as
70 permit kne purchase OF a proper
drilling outfit and employment OF a
szillfuI man to operate it; and the
making Of such drilliugs as N the judg-
Uent OF the board would contribute
most to the knowledge of the underfiOw
waters and in such localities as the
board deem wise to bore for artesiau
wafer
That it should not be restricted to
state school lands or any other par-
ticuIar lands in boring these wells and
should be permitted TO make any ad-
analogous arrangements in reference
70 REIN burSeuent in whole OF in part of
the expense OF drilling by the owner OF
the land for after the water is tested
and samples Of the strata preserved the
state would have no further use for the
we'll or other power over the well
nor to construct 4 reservoir
That the board be empowered to
make experiments to A reasonable ex-
tent IN the construction OF storm reser-
Eoirs- making such arrangements with
land owners as they deem adva1taE-
e0uS-Ihese works after they have
served their purpose Of experiment and
the data has been preserved are not OF
any further use or money value to the
state
That the provisions OF the law be
extended to the whole state