The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-05
A GREAT PRAIRIE LAKE.
IRRIGATION On a NEW PLAN TO
Sc TRIED ~ KANSAS.

] - AAra4 DEAAa A4-sf -oA q HArA- AaAs
is ready for realization when the Ar
kansas River furnishes the supply Of
water at its next rise. The largest ir.
rigation and Improvement undertak-
ing ii the Mississippi Valley has been
completed. and if it proves successful
there are hopes for climate changes
that viii be Of even more value than
the land watering to be accomplished.
A great basin has been made ready
for the waters that come down from
the mountains In the cratic Arkansas,
and when filed the lake will support
sail vessels where the prairie schooner
has been travelling, and will afford a
great gathering place for the water
fowls in their semi-annual migrations.
For years the farmers along the
course Of She upper Arkansas have
bean using the water Of the stream for
irrigation. Indeed. they have used
it again and again, for the water
seeped back to the underhow and was
never kept from the river long at
time. 50 many were the users Of the
water that the stream is drained be-
fore it reaches the farms ia central
and southern Kansas. The people OF
Kansas threaten to bring suit again ST
those Of Colorado to secure a share Of
the water, but the outcome Of such a
plan is problematical. At seasons Of
the year when the sun has melted the
SHOWS "a the mountains the broad bed
Of tue river across which a woman
might walk at other times without
wetting the soles Of her feet becomes
the course Of torrent Studying the
confguration OF the land along the
river IN its lower courses, the engi
neers found that there might be built
ditch to carry of the surplus water
and utilize it in benefting the people
Of the eastern part of the State
They found back Of the foothills 70
the north Of this place peculiar for
nation that made possible a vast lake
IA tract Of land fourteen miles long.
from four to six miles wide, with
every foot Of il from three to sixty feet
below the rim Of hills that completely
surround it. It is the bed Of an an-
cient lake, aud on its surface have
grown for hundreds Of years the rank |
grasses Of the prairies sloughs II is |
almost worthless for farming the soil I
being too heavy, and it has remained /
a famous spot in the wide plains.
broken everywhere else for miles 4
around with hands0me farms
Cheyenne Bottoms IL is called, aud /
there is a story that once it was the
gathering place of the Cheyennes Of
the territory Here they lighted their
council fires aud practced their mean
tations. Marks of their occupation
were common when the FIRST settlers
came. Later it vas the famous rabbit
chasing groundof the American Cours
ing Association, which included prom
inent citizens aud lovers of the chase
in the Eastern cities They came %
the fall meetings ia special cars and
brought Wallets 20 the prairies, causing
much wonderment among the dwellers
on the plain Once a real prince was
among those who watched the sleek
hounds chase the fleet iackrabbils
through the waving grass. He was
one OF the cattle kings OF Wyoming
and brought a small reiiuue Of friends
aud servants with him. But coursing
meets became too common and the an
nual meetings were given up. Since
then it has been q grazing ground.
One day several years ago o dark
cloud came up in the northwest aud
met another from the south directly
over the bottoms. There was tre-
nendous rainfall, a cloudbursi, and
The bottoms were covered % depth
lf six feet For two years the water
was visible, showing that the led was
nearly waterproof Then the plan 81
making it into lake took form, and
If last work was begun. Now it is
From the river has been ding q ditch
siih a capacity Of 300 feet, 10 be en-
arged TO 1900 feet later. which leads
rom the river bed to an opening made
through the hills, and is to pour its
contents into the vast depression The F.
Itch has been running n considerable {
tream much Of the spring. and when /
he high water comes it is expected d
hat it viii easily hll the old lake bot (.
om and make an artificial body af
water the largest OF The kind In tie
Iation. aud the largest Of any kind be-
ween Chicago aud Salt Lake Around
he shore IL to De gravel road. II the \
ravel can be secured. trees are Is be
.lanied. and with the boats 90 the
iver it is believed that delightful Z
esori for summer days on the plains. +
hen hot winds bold sway, viii be es /,
ablished n
Along With the artistic advantages y
here are to be reaped other profits. Z
ne waters 81 ditch and lake are to IS IS
iilized by the farmers for irrigation. d.
I'D miles Of laierals have already been a
instructed, So that nearly half Of the "a
luniy viii be watered from This trib w
iary Of the Arkansas Va
The problem Of water supply is the S
ost perplexing before ihe Western r
8ople, aud there have been many
ans proposed that we're intended 10
We relief The rivers that flow from