The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-03-01
irrigation
F avored by Secretary
Thoburn for Benefit
of Oklahoma

Concerning the possibility Of the
Gems ruction Of the irrigation works
in Oklahoma by the federal govern
ment Secretary Thoburn of the board
Of agriculture. said today:
Il think the people at Washington,
ID c., have an exaggerated idea of the
sentiment existing in Oklahoma in re-
gard to this matter. 1t is true that
there have been some expressions in
opposition to irrigation construction
by some over enthusiastic real estate
boomers in the eastern part of Okla
homa; and il may be also true that
there are a few individuals in western
Oklahoma who would oppose such a
policy of Improvement in the hope
that that section might again revert
to the range cattle industry. can
not think that any intelligent farmer
would hesitate to pay the sum of $l3
per acre divided into 10 payments
wthou interest when in many cases
It would be possible indeed to reap
nearly. if not all, the entire amount in
single year Neither can think
that any farmer living in Kiowa coun-
ty would be satisfied with a single
crop Of alfalfa per year, for instance,
when by irrigation he could have an
assurance of four OF five crops.
"Of course It rains in Oklahoma and
in western Oklahoma SO it does also
at times in western Kansas, eastern
Colorado and other regions where irri-
cation is practived. Besides the
streams in which it is first proposed
TO store water must necessarily re-
ceive their supply from an excess Of
rainfall, else where could it come
from. as they do not have their
sources in the snow clad mountains
of the west? No resident of south
western Oklahoma doubts that there
will be an abundance OF water for
storage purposes If this matter is un-
dertaiSen 1t is understood that none
Of the streams there were gagged un-
I'll after the close of the flood season
last summer and the people of Okla
homa OF course understand that It may
take a year or two of careful investi-
CATION before the engineers Of the
geological survey can make a report
containing definite recommendations
to the secretary of the Interior.
Il can not believe that Director
Wolcott or any of the other onicials
OF the geological survey can be in
auencei by the absurd comments OF
unthinking people who neither know
nor care TO know the benefits TO be
derived from a development Of ihat
region under irrigation.
Il believe that one object lesson.
such as is proposed in the reservoirs
cf otter creek and the north fork OF
The Red river. win demonstrate that
practical value Of irrigation works in
western Oklahoma, and VIII uhoouol'
edly stimulate activity along this
line, even % the extent Of encourag-
ing the construction and operation OF
many individual irrigation plants.
Fl am not unmindful OF the fact that
in speaking thus plainly there may be
some who will accuse me OF being a
knocker. but it must be admitted that
there have been times In the past
when artificial water storage for irri
cation purposes would have proven to
have been OF an immense value, even
I Ia regions far east OF this section
eAt he recent meeting Of the board
Of agriculture. which was composed
Of delegates representing nearly every
county in the territory, resolution
was unanimously opted declaring iE
favor OF the construction OF snef
works in Oklahoma I think that h'
officials Of the reclamation service
can credit such expressions OF intel