The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1904-02-25
Congressman Murdock Hearing
from Western Kansas.
INFORMATION ACCEPTABLE
Government Experts Idea Of
the Arkansas UnderfIow
is Given.

A Washington dispatch says that Mr..
r. R. Thorpe Of Lakin, Kas., and Mr..
George W. Watson, of Kinsley, familiar
lly known as "UOlOnel UnderfOw," be-
cause bis pet irrigation scheme is the
utilization of the underhow waters of
Western Kansas, have recently written
letters to Representative Murdoch, bring.
| ing his attention to their irrigation ideas
Mr.. Murdock, who Is deeply interested in
the subject, referred the letters to the
Geological Survey, the government de-
partment which has charge ofthe admin.
lstration of the irrigation act passed by
the Inst congress. The Geological Sur
vey has written preliminary letter, CON-
menting upon the plan advanced By Mr.,
Thorpe and Mr.. Watson. Mr. Murdock
has been promised that the matter will
receive further consideration, with an
eye to practicabilty md cost. The pre-
liminary letter Is as follows:
"1he matter has been referred to Mr.
r. H. Newell, chief engineer Of the reca-
nation service, and be has been endeav-
oriug to get time to prepare such reply
1t is, however, extremely difficult, with
the immensity of detail, to take up all of
these matters and answer them
satisfactorily.
"Ihe project of utilizing drains, con-
structed on n low grade, to draw ont the
waters percolating upon the surface, is
extremely old, and as applied to Kansas
has been discussed frequently In various
documents, at public meetings and in the
press for several decades.
"The Geological Survey has made Il
typographical map Of the lands along the
Arkansas river, showing the slopes, and
all the larger confguratons of the sur
face. Studies have also been made Of the
underground structure, the distribution
of the sands and gravels, and their rela-
tion to the present river channel and
valley. Measurements of The rate of the
movement of water in the courser sands
have also been begun, and facts acquired
bearing upon the physical situation.
"The 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 mean
ders through region where more or less
continuous gravel beds are found. These
beds are saturated 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 prohibtive,
excepting where wlndmllls, or similar
devices, are employed. Fuel is relatively
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 til" cost of pump.
Ing may be avoided by laying a suitable
drain on gentle grade from we'll, or o
series of wells, making this so long that
ultimately the drain or pipe will reach
the surface of the ground. The cost of
constructing such drain of imperishpblc
materials Is, however, so great that,
taking into comparison the amount Of
water which can probably be had, 1t has
been deemed lmpractlcable. In other
words, the interest charge and cost OF
maintenance Of an extensive drain or
underhow system Of this character,
though small, would be greater than
would pay for the operation of ordinary
steam or similar pumps.
ut is recognized that this statement Is
not accepted by many persons, but so far
there has not come forward any expert
encsd constructing or hydraulic engineer
who has been able to demonstrate 10 the
contrary.
"Ifthc gentlemen who advocate the
plan have any figures or statements Of
cost which seem to prove the contrary,
these will be received and examined.
"Ihe matteris one in which great in
terest ls felt, and 1t is desired to assist in
every practicable way the development
and utilization Of the waters now saturat-
Ing tile graves Of the Arkansas valley.
The long study and consideration given
the subject has not as yet developed any
satisfactory solution of tho difficulties
met" LESLIE WALLACE.