The state herald., 1903-06-26


oringinally dry are now living streams
and from which canals in turn are TAX
en- out. If the full purpose of the pend
ing suit were accomplished, the alfalfa
industry for hundred miles in western
Kansas, now SO promising, would
practically perish and the country re-
turn to its primitive aridity.
II is true the summer floods would
come, but too late to serve If there
were no early water for irrigation. The
canals in Kansas employed to carry the
winter water are also available for the
flood waters, and the percolation and
return flow created thereby will indefi-
nitely extend the irrigated area there,
just as has occurred in the Platte val
ley In Colorado assert advisedly that
the irrigation interests In western Kan
sas are more promising and secure than
they were before the present great de-
veiopmeEt in Colorado was begun
twenty-five years ago II every prac-
ticabe site in Colorado were developed
for the storage of flood waters only a
fraction of the total volume could be
conserved. Nor will the balance over
all be utilized by canals and reservoirs
built in Kansas. Such storage systems
both in Colorado and Kansas will ex-
tend the areas reclaimed, and these in
turn Increase the return flow
THE average annual rainfall west of
the ninety-ninth' meridian in Kansas is
about twenty inches; nearly twice that
on the plains OF eastern Colorado This
Is the source of the sub-moisture supply
for the uplards as well as for the bot
tom lands. Springs, water holes and
small creeks accordingly are quite uni
J formly found. The percolating rains
provide well water everywhere. They
are the main source of supply for the
Arkansas valley-not the spasmodic
Hoods which course the river channel
itself. Government investigation syste-
matically conducted by experts years
ago demonstrated that there is no dis
tinct underflow anywhere in western
Kansas, but merely percolated rains.
Except a slight rise in wells near the
banks following a maintained flood in
the river was any effect found. If such
were not the case. the entire volume
would speedily be absorbed and none
ever reach 'parching Wichita
Repeated attempts to develop the
Kansas underfiow by means of divert
ing channels. sub-drainage chambers,
etc, have failed TO obtain material re-
suits. If Mr.. Ware will resurrect an
elaborate report for client of his own
law firm, made six or seven years ago
by w. n. Follett. an eminent govern
ment photographer and irrigation spe-
Cialist, he will find what a meager com.
mercial value is therein placed upon the
undertlow as a factor for irrigating
western Kansas The most remarka-
| Bile, ard so far as know. the only con-
siderable flowing arte5ian basin In Kan
sas is in Meade county. 1t will not be
contended, | think, that the Arkansas
river, forty miles distant. has any
known or probable relation to its sup
ply.
! Perhaps you will recall the expert
ence OF your own city. Abilene. In its
efforts to provide water supply from
a huge well sunk deep In the sedi-
mentary sub-strata of the wide river
valley there. In few months the
yield WIS exhausted. Another larger
and deeper well was sunk Failure fol-
lowed. Then one was dug In the very
bottom of the creek which courses
! through Abilene and crosses the main
river valley. But the supply by perco-
lation even then proved inadequate and
resource was finally had to the San
spring. four miles away. And yet II re-
quires less water to provide Abilene
than we convey for a forty-acre water
right In Colorado or would be needed
for a forty-acre farm Ia western Kan
sas.
Counsel complain that great and lr-
reparalle damage has been done to the
property of all the inhabitants of the
Arkansas valley In Kansas: that al
ready the value Of real property has
there been greatly reduced: the tax re-
sources Of the state very materially di-
minished. and that the further wrong
| ful diversion Of water threatened by
| Colorado will In effect practically re-
duce that section of Kansas TO an unln-
hnbitahle waste and desolation,
THAT kind of literature sounds like
IN echo of the political unrest OF the
days OF PETER. Or. II may have been
committed during an innictlon OF hot
winds Certainly now that prosperity
Ia rc-enthroned In Kansas. such dolor-
Gus jeremiads as that are exceedingly
i bad rhetorical form. The recent VIC
tory Of young Murdoch by 10000 ma jor-
! ity In Jerry Simpsons district where
counsel say all this ruin has been
wrought Is To my mind proof conclus-
! I've that these Kansas poets have been
re-reading Dante's Inferno and care
lcssly incorporated some OF II In their
brief Surely Republicans cannot claim
entire credit. Only region Of supreme
felicity can have Influenced such re-
suit
III In n fact that land values In the
Arkansas valley In Kansas within the
past Ave years have advanced from 800
10 800 per cent. The greatest advance
has come to the irrigated alfalfa farms
nearest the Colorado line have
shown how Colorado has contributed
10 this phonomononnl result. should
Kansas by any chance In disregard OF
| justice. equity and. We think. law gnin
this suit and 30 check and harm the ir-
/ rlgntlun Interests Of Colorado and OF
western Kansas. will not the people nf
the lower Arkansas valley In turn en-
force their rnpirinn rights M against
their nelghborr In arid KnnsaH7 Most
nHgurodly. ! have the honor 10 he.
yours respectfully T. c, HENRY"
A u.w-fanFlod sealed package for
holding pound bricks lH coming into
nuite general use among the crcnmer-
los around Denver. The package II
made of imhorylous parnf'inc sheets
and the label seals II nir-tlght before
leaving the creamery. The butter.
wrapped M I, IL In parchment. Ia thus