The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-26
WESTERN KANSAS CIdBFATE.

The statement of that Iowa weather
bureau man-his name has already
passed from memory-made last Janu-
airy before the Kansas state board Of
agriculture. that the climate and rain
fall Of western Kansas Is just as it has
always been, and that the hot winds
and drouths that used to bring ruin will
come again some day-that statement
is bringing forth replies from people
who live in Kansas and who presum-
ably know nearly as much about condi-
lions out there as an Iowa man.
Some two or three years ago the wri-
ter Of these lines affirmed in an eastern
publication that the climate of western
Kansas had changed, and he believes it
more firmly today than ever. The prairie
has been broken up and the soil absorbs
the moisture instead of sending 1t of in
floods to the sea. Crops have been
planted which conserve the moisture.
The actual rainfall may or may not
have increased. but it is undeniabIy
true that the atmosphere is far more
humid than it was a few years ago.
There may be some mild drouths and
warm winds, but there will probably
never again be such scorchers as there
have been in the past
One Of those who have been led to
dispute the statements of the Iowa ex-
pert is a writer in the Hamilton County
Republican. After observations cover
ing nearly 20 years says this Hamilton
county man, 1.-The writer believes that
the climatic conditions are changing for
the better. There are many things that
60 to prove this statement. The first
and most important is that the wheat
belt is gradually crowding westward.
For many years Sumner county has
been the banner wheat county Of the
state. This year Barton takes its Iau-
rels away. Until the last five years
there was practically no wheat raised
west of Dodge. People had become dis
couraged and did not try to grow any
thing because of a lack of moisture ex-
cept forage crops which required but
little. Now, however, it is different.
Large quantities of wheat are raised and
other small grain is grown all over the
territory west of Dodge to the state
lire.
Another thing that has been noticed
by many is the slow crowding out of
the buffalo grass on the uncultivated
area by the blue stem and other grass
that requires more moisture than the
DuHalO grass.
These facts demonstrate that the
rainfall is Increasing and that the days
OF 'drouth' in Kansas are about over.
The theory advanced in explanation
Of this increase in the rainfall and eli
matte changes is that the cultivation of
the land, the planting Of trees. and
building of storage reservoirs for irri-
cation purposes bring them about. The
theory is reasonable. Rain falling on
the compact, rolling surface of the IN
cultivated prairie runs Immediately off.
very little, if any settles into the ground.
But when the land mas once been .plow-
ed, it acts as a sort of cistern or res
ervoir and retains the water for some
time. part of it seeps away and ap-
pears in springs in low places and a part
Is taken up by evaporation. In this way
the atmosphere is charged with mois-
ture and this attracts and produces rain.
Another thing is attested In support of
this theory and that IL that since the
settlement and cultivation of the land
in Oklahoma on the south we have had
no more hot winds, such as used to de-
stroy our crops in a day ten or twelve
years ago"