The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-04-21
IRRIGATION
FAVORED
BY M CURE
Delegate Takes Cue From
Kansas and Is interested.
RIVER AND RESERVOIR
One viii Help Rainfall, the
Other Store 1t.
RIVER AND RESERVOIR

Guthrie, o. T, April 20.-Not only will
statehood for Oklahoma be one of the
principal things for which Delegate Bird
s. Mcclure will work in the next ses-
sion of congress, but irrigation for west
ern Oklahoma will be included in the
duties of the new delegate to congress 5
well. 1t is Mr. McGuires desire to see
irrigation given a test in western Okla
homa, especially in the counties of Bea-
yer and Woodward. 1t is his belief that
with proper reservoirs for the storing
of surface water western Oklahoma can
be made as productive as any portion of
the United States. II is his idea that il
irrigation proves a success in these two
counties it can be carried on with profit
to farmers in other parts of Oklaoma
and will practically make the entire area
of the territory an agricultural country.
Il have been much interested in the
announcement that the engineers of the
reclamation service are now making in
yestigations in western Oklahoma and
| am satisfied that they will find ample
opportunity for establishing reservoirs
and giving the farmers of Oklahoma
chance to see what can be accomplished
by irrigation said Delegate Mcclure
today. Il have been looking up the irri-
cation matter to some extent and when
/ reach Washington I intend to make
a thorough investigation, with the idea
in view of giving western Oklahoma
residents a chance to profit by the work
lnrp h. he ant
From what 1 have seen in Beaver and
Woodward countless 1 am satisfied that
there are opportunities there for prac-
teal irrigation. l understand that it has
been tried to some extent and made sue
cessful. 1t cannot be fully carried out by
private means but the work being done
by the United States will make it posi-
BILE for the irrigation of large land raeas
to be carried on to a successful end.
IF irrigation proves successful in
these particular counties, as l believe will
be the case, u see no reason why other
counties in western Oklahoma may not
secure benefits from the irrigation plan.
I am anxious to see it tried and unques-
tionably it will solve the farming prob
lem in counties now devoted to grazing
purposes. At certain seasons of the year
all over the territory, there is enough
rainfall to fill many large reservoirs.
The question then is TO replenish the sup
ply. If it can be done by use of water
in streams there will be practically
nothing in the way to accomplish what is
desired
1t is difficult while in Oklahoma to get
in touch with the various departments
at Washington. but when Mr.. Mcclure
reaches that city this fall Oklahomans
may look for favorable developments in
irrigation matters.
Oklahoma residents have watched with
considerable interest the suit instituted
by Kansas against Colorado relative to
the use by Colorado of Arkansas rived
water Oklahomas interests are prac-
tically the same as those of Kansas. 1t
is argued here that if the full volume of
water should flow down the river 1t
would increase the rainfall in the terri
tory and also cause sub-irrigation of the
land. While it is not probable that Ok
lahoma will take any action in the mat
ter. yet if found necessary to cooperate
with Kansas. the territory would cer-
tainly do its share to win the suit now
rapdioo