Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-21
ADDRESS TO CITIZENS.
Advantages Of Irrigation, and Plans for
the Great Lake Outlined.

The chairman and secretary of the
citizens committee which is looking af-
ter the promotion of the ditch enter
prise have issued the following address:
TO the citizens of Barton County,
Since the organization of this county
there has been much speculation as to
the feasibility of filling the Cheyenne
bottoms by turning the course of the
Arkansas river and storing its flood
waters. The numerous benefits to be
derived therefrom have been fully dis
cussed, amongst which are the influence
of large body of water upon the
atmosphere, the result of which is al
ways to cause it to be more moist; hot
winds would be greatly lessened, max
ing the country adaptable for fruit rails
ing; and, in fact, making more success
fui all branches of agriculture. Scien
tific men have frequently pronounced
the plan feasible and have urged that
it would sometime be carried out; and
now parties with money to back them
have the project in hand. For some
months they have been investigating the
matter through their representative Mr..
canal work and who has pushed many
similar projects to a successful termi-
nation. There is no doubt of the sue
cess of this enterprise if it meets the
hearty cooperation of the citizens of
Barton county.
The object of the parties engaged in
the enterprise is to tap the Arkansas
river at point near Pawnee Rock and
construct a canal about $50 feet wide
to the Cheyenne bottoms, the water to
be used for irrigation purposes and, at
such times as the flood waters of the
river reach US, to run the same through
the canal and store them in the i'm
mense natural reservoir which is there
furnished; thus making the largest arti-
fetal lake in the world. This being
done, large part of the county can be
irrigated and the value of all lands much
enhanced.
West of US, where irrigation is not a
theory but fact, the people under
stand and appreciate its benefits and
are offering lnducement to those who
will furnish it. In one instance to our
knowledge they gave threefourths of
the land for the water privilege on the
balance. With US but few concessions
are asked. The parties interested on
ly ask the right of way and that they
be released from the construction of
the bridges made necessary for public
travel. These bridges will be about
four in number and can be built at an
expense of about S. per running foot
or at total cost of some $3.50 per
bridge. This would be an increase of
about soc each for the taxpayers of the
county for one year only. This expense
is practically nothing and ought not to
stand in the way of this gigantic enter
prise, and it certainly will not when the
best judgment of the people of the
county is given to the proposition. 1t
should also be understood that the
canal banks are to be about feet high
and to have a gradual slope e-the same
being to making it convenient to
cross the canal at almost any point
when the water is not more than feet
deep. A public road is also assured
along at least one side of the canal with
out expense to the county. With these
explanations it will be seen that the
four bridges named will be ample for
public travel, at least for the present
This matter is brought to your atten-
ton not for the purpose of requesting
any contribution from you to the enter
prise, but to enlist your personal in
huence for its success and that you may
assure the county commissioners that