Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-10-04
ARTEsIAA WELLS
AND UNDERTOOK YIELD uNLlM-
TIED SUPPLY or PUREsr
WATER.
Found Everywhere In Fertile South
western kansas, Along the
Santa Fe.
THE FARMERS RAISE BIG CROPS.

1
Garden City, Kan. Oct. lin II
explorations Of the subterranean waite
store Of the Arkansas valley, tn,
Atchison. Topeka q Santa Fe Rail
way company has found much evi
dence of Its widespread abundance
The undsrflow Is limited by the al
vides" north and south, which comm,
the valley, and ia available for irriga
ton, or domestic use wherever
rancher drives well and puts up I
windmill. The arteslan now, which Il
much deeper, IL not thus confined. II
likewise ID tapped wherever a drill
hole Is put down, although It does moi
always come to the surface Of its own
force, and IL found throughout the
southwest regardless Of valley con
fines. The deeper store IL found IN
the Dakota sandstone. and the under
now Is above In the sands Of the val
ley.
The deeper how possesses artesian
force In spots, and sometimes IL
pumped, but It is never failing In
quantity, and 1t only is q question Of
time, capital and population when
drills will penetrate it in thousand
places. At RiOhfield, in Morton coun,
ty, ~ miles south Of Coolidge, where
there are two artesian wells, which
6ow 40 gallons or more minute each,
artesian water was struck at depth
of 800 feet In 1887. These wells, cased
with four-inch pipe, forced water Is
feet above the surface. and until 1899
flowed copiously, when they collapsed
and, the population having left the
country, were abandoned.
At Johnson, In Stanton county, mid.
way between Coolidge and Richfield,
the same water is found at q depth
Of 500 feet, This, however, does not
now, but IL pumped freely and is the
best water in that section. The un.
derdow lies in the sands above It and
is tapped at about 100 feet below the
grass roots, but 1t IN not 30 wholesome
for stock or household, However, II
the purpose Of irrigation, and,
being nearer the surface, is more gen
orally used
In Meade county, 1875 miles or more
sast Of Richneld, the Santa Fe has
found flowing wells at q depth Of shout
$50 feet. It is the same water that 10
Iound in Morton county, the differ
once Of depth being accounted for by
the lower altitude. These wells are
not on the line of the Santa Fe, but
IN its explorations, as at johnson and
1t Richheld, the company's prospect
ors are not confined wholly to the
Santa Fe lines, but look for water in
III the country tributary. Abundant
water is found few miles east in
Clark county and further eaaA along
he Englewood branch Of the Santa
re, which lately has received much
lew immigration from Illinois, Iowa
nd other states Of the middle west,
tut 1t 10 not artesian.
The only flowing wells 30 far found |
a the Englewood section are in Meade
ounty, but 1t il the same deposit
along that line. J. W.
lobison, Of the state board OF rail-
Dad commissioners, who made a
yagon trip through that section 70
emily, says the Santa Fe has tapped
his water frequently, proving its gen.
raj and widespread abundance. He
avs an added evidence Of this abun.
ance IL the luxuriant growth Of al
llfa, which he declares IL the finest
Q has ever seen.
But 1t IL the underfiow that the
anita Fe prospectorB more often tap
nd from which agriculture derives
lie best results at prerent. Later
lore general developments Of the
rtesian water will irrigate the
pland and add to the supply in +
le fats along the Arkancss river,
ut the underhow IL what the ranch.
Is look to for the present. 1t is
le underfow that has made
falfa, kafir and sorghum pos
BILE in the valley. and lately its value
Is been made MANIFOLD greater by
% sugar beet experiments OF the
lnta Fe. For II was these expert.
ents that led to the mammoth beet
gar factory now in course Of con. ,
ruction at Garden City. This plant
Tilt Of iron and brick, will cost $780,.
0 before It turns a wheel and Il 4
N he ready for operation October 10. /
The Santa Re has traced this under I
W all the way from the headwaters {
the Arkansas to the Kansas state l
e, where the stream passes into =
liahoma. and that II is widespread. {
I'M one divide" TO the other. Il 3
owed By many evidences. For in. o
lnce. wells some miles from the
'er rise when the river rises and fan o
len It falls. Twenty miles north Of +
rden City IL one Of these wells. ana b
miles east, IS miles south Of Kins- d
/. is another These are not isolated .
tances. but examples Of many o
csc wells. shallow in the fats, are y
per in the billy country. Some.
les they are $50 feet deep. but such u
tances are rars. a
ltrangsr than TIE rise and the tan :
he wells with the tides Of the river :
lndubitabla evidence that the Ar. q
,oaa river n the aourr. ~ =. = ~