The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-11
WATERS OFTHE ARKANSAS.
Preliminary Report on the Proposed
Reservoir system.


Washington, May 1.-THE secretary
of the interior has sent to congress a
communication from the director of the
geological survey regarding the flow of
the Arkansas river. especially at points
near the kanSas-COloradO state line.
The cause which led to the inquiry is
the alleged action of the state of Col
orado in conserving the waters in Col
orado for irrigating purposes. and the
alleged consequent deprivation of the
farmers of western Kansas of the sup
ply to which they have a natural right.
It is claimed that great injury has been
done to farm lands in western Kansas
by reason of the lessening of the vol
ume of water in the Arkansas river,
through the tapping of the river in Col
orado.
In his report to Secretary Hitchcock,
which the secretary sent to congress,
Acting Director Riser, OF the geological
survey, says:
From an examination of the facts it
has seemed that the Arkansas river has
q certain regularity Of behavior, with
floods eliminating in May or June, such
that they are depended upon for the ir-
rigation of large tracts of land. The
waters OF these floods. although occur
ring with regularity, are, for the most
part, not used in irrigation, but pass
OIL down the stream out of Colorado
and through Kansas. The low water
discharge of Arkansas river is wholly
used for the purposes of agriculture,
anu 0uI1uS d considerable part OF the
year the river bed is dry above the
Kansas-Colorado line. From this vicin-
1ty, eaSterly through the greater part of
Kansas, the channel is often dry, a
small amount OF water being supplied
by few tributaries, such, for example,
as Little Arkansas river, at Wichita
Kan.
'"The consideration of the facts re1at-
ing to reservoir sites show that a large
amount of water which might be saved
To waste 70
sion that it will be possible to conserve
the waters OF this river so that they
will ultimately reclaim an acreage far
greater than that now watered. This
can only come about, how aver, by pur-
suing son { Systematic plan by which
the floods or excess waters are held at
points of greater advantage to all con-
c1rned. IL is not probable that all of
the land suitable for irrigation, espec-
tally that in the lower valleys, can be
Watered; but the increase in the avail
able supply will result in notably aug
ment1ng the prosperity of this import
ant region as far east as the irrigated
areas of Kansas.
1.-The total area of the Arkansas river
dar1nage basin at the Kansas Colorado
line is estimated to be "a 800 square
miles, an extent larger than the aggre-
gate area of New HAMPSHIRE Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island and Connecti-
cut AT Hutchinson. Kan, the drain
age area is increased by about 10 600
square m1les-a little more than the
area of Vermont Most of this country
should be rapidly examined for possible
reservoir sites, although it is known
that the more important of these are
within the 5000 square miles of noun
tain area
''On the basis of the cost of work re-
Gently completed, and of the operations
already carried on in the Arkansas
basin. it is estimated that $4,000 a year
Tor three years will be needed to make
I q IGaT +e1zrxw
capacity and cost of all reservoir sites
and the practicability of conserving the
now or Arkansas river for the beneft of
| Kansas"