The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
AT The CAPITAL.
Mr.. Murdoch Is Receiving Irri-
cation Letters.
Mr.. Thorpe and Mr.. Watson
Submit Plans.
WHAT THEY SAY OF 1T
Comments by Government Elk
perts ON Underfi0w.
Question How to Utilize Arkan-
sas River Waters.

Washington, Feb. 21-Mr. E. R.
Thorpe, of Lakin, Kansas, and Mr..
George w. Watson. of Kfnsley, famili-
arly known as Colonel Underflow,' be-
cause his pet irrigation scheme is the
utilization of the under1ow waters of
Western Kansas, have recently written
letters to Representative Murdoch,
bringing his attention to their irriga-
ton ideas. Mr.. Murdoch, who is deep
ly interested in the subject, referred
the letters to the Geological Survey,
the government department which has
charge of the administration of the ir-
rigation act passed by the last Con-
gress. The Geological Survey has writ
ten preliminary letter, commenting
upon the plan advanced by Mr.. Thorpe
been promised that the matter will re-
ceive further consideration, with an
eye to practicability and cost. The
preliminary letter is as follows:
THE matter has been referred to Mr..
F. H. Newell, Chief Engineer of the
reclamation service, and he has been
endeavoring to get time to prepare
such a reply. 1t is, however, extremely
difficult, with the immensely of detail,
to take UP all of these matters and an
swer them satisfactorily.
THE project of utilizing drains, con-
| structed on a low grade, to draw out
the waters percolating upon the sur
! face, is extremely old, and as applied to
Kansas has been discussed frequently
in various documents. at public meet
| ingS and in the press for several de-
cades.
1.-THE Geological Survey has made a
! typographical map of the lands along
the Arkansas river, showing the slopes,
surface. Studies have also been made
| tribution of the sands and graYels, and
of the underground structure, the dis
| their relation to the present river chan
mel and valley. Measurements OF the
rate of the movement of water in the
coarser sands have also been begun,
and facts acquired bearing upon the
physical situation.
'',-'he gravels, sands and clays of the
| Arkansas valley have probably been
laid down very much in the same way
as the present river is doing. The
modern channel does not occupy the
position of older channels. but cuts
across or meanders through region
where more or less continuous gravei
beds are found. These beds are satu-
rated with water, and under certain
conditions considerable quantities can
be obtained by pumping. The cost OF
pumping this water for irrigation pur-
poses is usually found to be prohibitive
| excepting where windmills, or similar
devices, are employed. Fuel is rela-
lively expensive, and steam pumps
while they may be used in the future
are not usually found practicable.
/ "A proposition which has frequently
been advanced is that the cost OF
pumping may be avoided by laying q
suitable drain on a gentle grade from
a we'll, or a series of wells, making this
so long that ultimately the drain OF
pipe will reach the surface of the
ground. The cost of constructing such
a drain of imperishable materials is
however, SO great that, taking into
/ comparison the amount of water which
can probably be had, it has beer
! deemed impracticabIe. In other words
the interest charge and cost of main
tenance of an extensive drain or under
flow system of this character, though
small, would be greater than would pay
for the operation of ordinary steam OF
similar pumps.
ut is recognized that this statement
is not accepted by many persons, but
so far there has not come forward any
experienced constructing or hydraulic
engineer who has been able to demon
strate to the contrary.
IF the gentlemen who advocate the
plan have any figures or statements Of
cost which seem to prove the contrary
these Will be received and examined
THE matter is one in which grea
! interest is felt, and 1t is desired to as
sist in every practicable way the de-
Velopment and utilization of the water:
now saturating the gravels of the Ar
kansas valley. The long study anC
consideration given the subject has no
as yet developed any satisfactory solu
ton of the difficulties met"