The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-02

the west 1t is particularly important in
many portions of California, where the
conditions are such that water storage
cannot be had.
Inc great advantage. or one Of the
great advantages, OF pumping water for
irrigation is that. the man who would de-
yelop tract of land, or the farmer who
cu.tivates it, is practically independent.
Most Of the successful pumping plants are
and always viii be, small and matters Of
individual concern. Pumping On large
scale, while it will undoubtedly be done in
many localities, viii, from the nature OF
the case, never be as important as the
raising of water by small, cheap, or home
made devices. 4 small pumping plant can
be Installed by almost any farmer or me
chanic, and with a little ingenuity and
care nca be made highly profitable. If not
successful the first time, it is capable OF
indefinite modification and change. a
mistake made at the outset does not ruin
the whole enterprise. as in the case OF
water storage
The power used for pumping water IS as
varied as the kinds Of machine. In some
localities horses or oxen are successfully
employed, and in others various forms OF
motors operated by gasoline or steam en-
sines, by water-wheels or by other de-
vices. The most common source of power.
and by far the most important, is that
from the wind. This is particularly the
case on the great plains where thousands,
and possibly millions of windmills have
been or are. about TO be erected. The
power is sufficient for all purposes, and
the kind of mill and pump matters little,
although in the long run the best must be
used. Every encouragement should be
given to the increase of small pumping
plants suited to local circumstances. for
by the use OF these, farmers learn quickly
least amount of water, or of wasted en-
ergy. They thus become experienced ard
competent to take up irrigation farming
on a larger scale.
The reasons for the financial failure of
large irrigation works need not be dis
cussed at this time, but it is important, TO
know that one of the causes, if not the
most important, has been the fact that a
few farmers purchasing or occupying
lands under these great systems have been
competent, at first. TO handle the water
and to successfully raise crops. Many
have failed or have become discouraged,
and the great majority have not been able
to make the payments agreed upon. Those
who have succeeded have often done so
by using the water in the most wasteful
fashion, and have not only injured their
own lands, but have often ruined adjacent
tracts and have jeopardized the success of
JfF-rr Of
over the surface. Using water from the
pumping plant, It is not possible for a
man to be as wasteful as when he obtains
his supply from a gravity system, and
thus the thousands of farmers who are de-
pendent upon windmills or other forms Of
motors for raising water, are becoming
adopts in the art of producing the largest
crop with the least waste. Whenever a
large body OF such experienced men can
be induced to settle under a great irriga-
ton canal one of the principal causes of
failure Will be removed
The development Of the vacant lands by
pumping can be left largely to itself, as It
is a matter Of growth and of the spread Of
Information. But the providing Of great
storage works is an entirely different
question: it can come only through sus-
tanned effort and interest on the part Of
the public as a whole. Pumping water
may suffice for the great plains and for
some favored valleys, but for the arid
west as whole, water conservation is the
only source of relief. It is useless to hope
that this will come through private enter
prise. Reservoirs, mostly small may be
built here or there by corporations having
large landed interests, or concerned with
the increase OF supplies for a city or sub
urban population, but they cannot be con-
structed for a,development of great areas
Of improved. or partially improved, farm
ing land. These must either lie idle, or
united action must be taken along definate
lines established by careful investigation
and expert report.
The importance OF water storage has al
ready been recognized by the Congress OF
the United States. but the efforts of Sena-
tor Warren, of Wyoming, and other wes-
tern senator's, have not been as strongly
sustained as is necessary for ultimate
success. They must be continually and
strongly backed by the great commercial
and transportation bodies Of the country.
as we'll as by the people at large. If the
localities are wisely selected and the
structures are economically built, there is
no doubt but that storage works will re-
turn directly and indirectly their cost, and
ultimately a reasonable percentage on the
investment, especially If we take the in
creased value Of all taxable property. The
funds thus used, If appropriated by the
state or nation will ultimately come back,
and can be used over and over again.
These funds cannot be made available IN
til the united sentiment of the country de-
mands forward movement along definate
lines. 1t IS waste OF time TO talk about
private capital constructing these great
works, and less than useless 10 argue that
the capitalist ought to be willing to take
the risk Of building great storage works
with the possibility OF receiving hos money
back again, If successful. after the lapse
of many years.
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