The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-15
HOPE FOR KANSAS
May Get Some Irrigation Work
From Uncle Sam.
Government Considering Utili-
zatiOn of the UnderfiOw.
TO BE AT GARDEN CITY.
Engineers to Discuss the Ques-
tiOn March %.
Experts Familiar With the
Kansas Situation.

Washington, March 15.-There is
hope for Kansas growing out of the
reclamation work which the govern
ment is carrying on in the west.
A convention of the board of con-
sulting engineers for the government
will be held at Garden City on March
27 to consider data already collected
by the officials of the geological survey
and determine if possible, upon the
feasibility of some project in the west
ern Kansas region, based on the
Arkansas river underfow.
Some time since the Kansas legisla-
ture adopted a concurrent resolution
asking that some of the money in the
reclamation fund be set aside by the
department of the interior for work
in Kansas.
In due time a copy of these reso-
lutions came to Senator Long, who
presented them to the secretary of the
interior, and asked that they be sent
to the United States geological survey,
with the request that they be consid-
cred.
Senator Long has just heard from
the secretary in regard to the matter.
The director of the geological survey
states that the reclamation service
has had under consideration for some
Time the IGdSlDlllly Ol 70 Tic
surface for irrigation purposes water
from the underfiow which is known
to exist.
The field operations have been un-
der the charge of Professor Charles
S. Slichter. Such Investigations have
been devoted to the measurement of
the depths of ground water at a large
number of points so as to establish its
gradient and relation to the altitude
of the irrigable land. Extensive ex-
aminations have also been made to de-
termine the velocity of movement of
these waters, and a large amount of
data has been collected and is being
tabulated and studied out
The chief engineer, Mr.. F. H.
Newell of the geological survey, who
knows every foot of the short grass
City on March 27- He will be accom-
panied by J. H. Quinton and Charles
S Slichter, consulting engineers; and
H A Storrs, electrical and mechanical
engineer. 1t is presumed also that
western Kansas men interested in this
matter may meet Mr. Newell and his
engineers. and possibly Representative
Victor MurdOck, who has interested
himself so greatly in this work
On June 80, 1904, the amount avail
able for Kansas in the reclamation
fund was approximately $5O.O0O=to
be exact, $40, 9,902.2S. OF course there
will be an increase of this amount by
the beginning of the next fiscal year,
July 1 of this year. 1t is held by the
geological survey that at least $4,000
will be available for a feasible project
in Kansas, when the place and man.
ner are determined upon.
Until the report of the engineer
board which Will meet soon in Garden
City is received. the officials of the
geological survey state that it is i'm
possible to give Senator Long a def
mite reply in regard to the project.
Both Senator Long and Mr.. Muir
dock have given a good deal of time
to this matter and it is believed that
substantial relief to western Kansas in
an irrigable way is bound to come in
the near future.