The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-13
CASE OF WATER
RUNNING UP HILL
Surveyors Show Canal to
Drain Little River impossible
TO WIDEN FLOOD GATES
Is Discussed at Meeting of
Public Improvement
Committee.
TO WIDEN FLOOD GATES

A canal to carry water from the Little
Arkansas river to the Big Arkansas has
been found to be impractical and this
way of avoiding floods in the northern
part of the city during high water has
been given up. The reason that a canal
connecting the two rivers is not practi-
cal is because the bed ST the Big river
is higher than that of the Little river.
The construction of the same would sim
ply be an invitation to the vast expanse
Of water and sand in the Big river to
rush over into the Little Arkansas and
food things to a greater extent
City Engineer Harding and County Sur
veyor Brown have been at work on this
proposition and yesterday the result OF
their investigation was submitted TO the
committee on public Improvements at a
special meeting. At Thirteenth street it
was found that the bed of the Big Arkan-
sas was higher than the surface OF the
greatest flood that ever came down the
Little river. The difference between the
two river beds at Thirteenth street is
eight and half feet. At Twenty first
street the difference is ten feet.
Many Of the committee expressed a
surprise that this was so and some Of
the gentlemen declared that they be-
heved that the Little river must sort Of
ride hill. County Surveyor Brown ex-
plains the condition by the difference in
composition Of the two river beds. The
bed Of the Big Arkansas is sand and as
hoH se
constantly being formed, sand from
above constantly washing down. Thus
the bed is lowered none. The bed of the
Little river is mud. 1t washes out and
there is no new mud to fill up. This may
be seen and more fully appreciated by a
look at the river. It's banks are very
steep and high. The Little river has thus
eaten its way into the earth, while the
sands Of the Big river have kept the bed
normal
Now that this plan has failed. another
way out Of the difficulty is being consid-
cred and yesterday was briefly discussed.
IT is not every year that the lower parts
Of the town are flooded, but it has oc-
Cured, and the committee on public i'm
provement feel it their duty 10 do some
thing that wiz prepare for the future
one of the ways out of the difficulty
IS to widen the food-gates at the dam
at Central avenue This canal on the
west side of the river can be made twice
as wide as it is at present and viii be
like another outlet to the turbulent
waters. At the next meeting some def
mite action is expected to be taken.
IN reference TO this County Surveyor
Brown said:
Mr.. Harding and l tried all along the
rivers TO find place practical for the
canal. but it cannot be done. I said so
at first and was not surprised at the
outcome Of our Investigation
If Colorado did not steal the waters of
the Big Arkansas river. there could be
had a wonderful power up on the river
because Of the great fail in such a short
distance. Coal gas and the like. would
simply be forgotten if Wichita had what
rightfuIly belongs to Kansas and her
cities, for the banks would be crowded
with large manufactures.
No man can work well with a torpid
liver or constipated bowels. a few doses
of Prickly Ash Bitters viii quickly re-
move this condition and make work
pleasure.