The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1903-04-16
ARKANSAS
UNDERFL0W.
Another Man Has a Raising"
Patent.
new IRRIGATION SCHEME.
Will be Launched in This
Country by a Man From
Indiana.
NEW IRRIGATION SCHEME.

AL IUulhlld ludll Claiilo " uafo ihNo"e
ed a "system" by which the underfow
Of the Arkansas river can be brought to
the surface and used for irrigation.
The inventor might be able to get some
valuable pointers by interviewing the
old settlers in Dodge City where some
mighty expensive experiments have been
made. In spite Of the failure there
are still people here who have faith in
the scheme Of bringing the undercurrent
to the surface and the Indiana mans
operations will naturally be Of much IN
terest here.
Regarding this man and his patent
a Wichita paper says
MI. M. R. Turner Of Decatur, Ind, is
in the city and comforting with business
men and capitalists regarding a stock
company which he wishes to organize for
irrigation purposes In the western part Of
the state. Mr.. Turner has secured a
patent on a scheme which will utilize the
underhow Of the Arkansas river to irri-
gate the arid lands along the river.
As is wellknown, the Arkansas river
I \ has very little water iu Its bed at the
} present time, but for miles on each side
s-tQt the river, at a depth of from six to
Twelve feet water known to be river
wter is found, and this underflow has
cuAent which is noticeable and nearly
as strong as that of the river itself
This current and water, the supply of
which Is inexhaustable, Mr.. Turner pro-
poses to use in tnrning the arid lands
of the western part Of The state into a
yeritable garden.
"The average fall Of the river in the
western.part of the state is from twelve
to fourteen feet per mile. AT ichiIa
the fall is given as six feet per mile.
According to the patents Mr., Turner
will sink a large shaft for a considerable
distance under the surface of the under
flow. This is to have large body of
water for use. A few feet below the
surface pipe will lead from this we'll
This pipe is to be at least two miles
long, and at this distance the water will
be brough. to the surface and is ready
to spread over the land. If the well was
twelve feet deep the water could be de-
livered at the surface when one mile
from ihe well. but the patentees think it
would be best to carry the water two
miles and the fall in this distance would
be enough to overcome all friction and
the pipe would run full all of the time.
This will do awaw with pumps and also
irrigating bitches.
''Mr Turner is trying to organize a
companyin this city to build the first
line In the west. He stated last night
that be had offers of some capital from
eastern parties when a company was
p J,organized here and some of the stock
' taken by local parties. He believes
that the system would work best II the
pipe line was three miles long before
the water is brought to the surface, as
this would give tia good pressure and
1t could be used for higher ground thar
at the outlet of the pipe, Laterals car
be run In all direction and an entire
farm covered with pipes at no very
great expense The estimated cost Of
the system Is $1,000. Wrought iron pipe
Is to be used, which is inexpensive
" Some experiments have been made
witha system to use the underilow ant
the natural incline Of ihe country, bu
they have proved only partially snc-
cessful, Those who have examined tht
plans for this concern believe that i
will be success from the fact that th'
pipe will act as a siphon and there will
be no leakage of water while reaching
the lower level.
iFie