The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-05-03
POPULATlNC The
GREAT PLAINS.
Government to Pump the
Arkansas Underhow
Guy Elliott Mitchell.

0uy ElllOtt Mltcucll.
The very mention Of home building
In western Kansas and Nebraska will
call up painful recollection to-day in
more than one household in New Eng
land The disastrous attempt OF years
back to inlabit and farm these semi
desert prairies lends much interest to
the first government irrigation works 10
be located IN the Great Plains region
the Garden City project Contracts
will be let In May and the work will
doubtless be completed in time for irri-
cation in the spring OF 1907.
Unusual interest attaches 10 this pro-
ject not because II Ia the first which in
wolves pumping from underground
sources bat because It's believed that its
successful operation will usher in a new
era for the Great Plains. The importance
of this project Is more fully realized
when IL is rememb ered that the division
OF the United States known as the Great
Plains comprises 700 600 square miles or
over one quarter of the total area Of the
whole country. Over vast portion Of
this region the settlers are few and far
apart. II is the "short-grass" county
and is today furnishing forage and graz
ing for great herds and hocks. West OF
the Tooth meridian the climate belongs
to the semi-arid region and general
farming without irrigation is not success
full except in years Of unusual and
timely rainfall. The history Of tlis
section has been marked by number
of disastrous failures, most oil which re-
suited from lack OF knowledge OF the
climatic oscillation and from fever OF
speculation in western mortgages.
HOW THE EAsT WAS BUSKoED.
ture was extended far across the plains,
the movement being greatly facilitated
by companies formed TO place loans and
take mortgages on real estate. The
East wss the treasury frnm whiO,. Tie
funds were drawn. During the con-
tinuance OF several years Of ample rain
fall the profits OF these loan agencies
were great and prudence was thrown to
the winds. a series OF dry years and
the consequent failure OF crops forced
the settlers to abandon their farms aud
whole countries were practically de
populated. Today here and there on
A.. A. l.. A. A..
more substantial farm dwelling are
framed against level landscape, lone
some reminder OF the pioneers failure.
Occasionally the remains Of dozens OF
structures mark the site of what was
once prosperous town or county seat
but what is now only haunt of the
coyote or the gaunt gray wolf. Mort
cages were foreclosed and the makers
Of loans became burdened with large
areas OF land practically valueless. At
tempts were made to construct irriga
tion works TO insure crops but the re-
suit as n rule were not successful and
the stockholders lost their investment.
NANbsiALhp oNNhb ihE bNis
Some of the pioneers tenaciously hung
on TO their homes and when the bitches
failed they sunk wells and irrigated
small tracks from windlnills. The yields
from these small bitches were phenom-
enal and sufficed to tide many OF the
farmers over the years of drought
Farms of 10 and 20 acres in gardens anj
orchards aud irrigated from wells now
support whole families in comfort
Systematic irrigation OF this kind moi
only embraces intensive cultivation
small farms aud orchards, but il in.
creases and speclalzes production, call
ing into play the educated brain and tn,
trained hand and massing the cultiva
tors into highly organized communities
The well in Kansas has been mos
potent factor in esta blishing number
OF the best communities in the State
These facts are recited to explain why
the Garden City project is attracting I
public interest greater than would follow
the construction of a project of this kline
in other sections Of The West. III,
water for this project must be recovered
from the underhow waters of Arkansas
Valley which lie in gravel deposits ex-
listing below the bed OF the river. The
plans OF the Government provide fo
the sinking Of several hundred welll
from which the water will be pumped
and discharged into \ collecting conduit
These wells will be scattered along
line nearly five miles long.
BIG PUMPING PLANT.
The power is generated at u singl,
central plant situated OH the railroad
and is then distributed by electricity Il
the wells.