The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-12

Irrigation had an inning at the
meeting this morning From present
indications it appears that the prog
Tess of irrigation viii develop rapid
strides in Kansas during the coming
few years, and the subject was very
thoroughly discussed at the meeting
this morning
One year ago action was taken by
the Board Of Agriculture which result
ed in bringing United States govern
ment irrigation officials TO Kansas and
many developments have since tram
@pIred-
At the meeting this morning I. L.
Diesem announced that the. present
legislature would be asked to pass
resolution requesting the secretary of
the interior of the United States to
instruct the irrigation officials to de-
vote a portion of the funds available
for experimental irrigation work to
the work of establishing a gravity
water lifting plant in western Kansas.
A law passed by congress appro-
PIRATES a portion of the money de-
rived from the sale of public lands In
practically all of the western states, to
be used in experimental work to fur
Gher the development of irrigation.
c. G. Elliott, of Washington, D. c.
expert IN drainage in the Office of ex-
pertinent stations of the United States
department of agriculture, was here
and addressed the meeting this morn
ing.
He expressed it as his opinion.
moving as much as he does of the
conditions in Kansas, that this state is
entitled to portion of the funds
available for experimental work, and
said that he believed there would be
NO difficulty in securing the money for
This work.
ssThe main thing is to keep pushing
Ghe matter" he said. 1.-THE DEPART
ment naturally has many things which
are in need Of attention, and the Kan
sas people should keep the matter
Of the needs of the state before the
department and very. shortly action
Elwood Mead, of the United States
department of agriculture, has made
investigations in and around Garden
the opinion that a gravity plant for
lifting the water to the surface would
be successful in western Kansas
One Of the government engineers
who was at Garden City with the
corps of engineers and surveyors tax
eng measurements and making the
preliminary plans for a gravity plant,
said: THE underfloW in western Kan
aas forms the largest body Of water
known in any other like place on the
western continent"
'sThe people of western Kansas
want the government to carry out the
experimental work in this direction
Raid Mr.. Diesen. 1--WE have no funds
available to construct a gravity plant
as an experiment But If the govern
ment should construct the initial plant
and it is found to be a success there
will be no delay in finding capital to
continue the development"
Mr. Elliott, of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, addressed the
members of the board on the subject
Of the results of the investigation OF
Irrigation and drainage in his Office
AT this mornings meeting Prof. Thos.
Shaw, editor of the Farmer at ST. Paul.
Mimi, addressed the members on the
subject Of Breeding Live Stock on the
Farm
At this afternoons session ex-Gover-
nor Hoard OF Wisconsin, talked on the
topic, THE Men Behind the Cow"
Governor Hoard's talk was one of the
most Interesting of the session, and 1t
was followed by a general discussion of
the idea brought out in his address par
&icipated in by the members of the
board.
The following committees have been
named by J. w. Robson:
Committee on memorials: Edwin
Taylor Chas. E. Sutton, G. w. Click,
Ct. J. Moberly, and Alex Sleeper.
Committee on resolutions: Thomas NJ.
Potter. T. a Hubbard, E. L Miller, J.
4. Treadways T. T. Finney and W. L
Committee on credentials: A. w
Smith, w. E. Wilkinson, and 4. P. Ma
guire.
what would you do If you were a
@armer2 Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon at
che meeting last night delivered talk
an regard to this question: and his sub