The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-19

cess of the crops. At other seasons of
the year and especially during the Win
ter months the river runs bank full,
but at a season when it is not possible
to use it for irrigation purposes.
1t was this condition which is respon-
sible for Lake Mckinney which was
built at an enormous cost by the United
States Sugar and Land company which
operates a million and a half dollar
sugar mill at Garden City and owns
thousands of acres of the best land IN
Finney and Kearney counties. the lake
was formed by the construction OF
number of dykes across a draw which
is on the upland just above Iakin ana
the water of the lakes covers IA OF
what were known as swallow water
farms. This land was considered among
the best in the country and was pur-
chased from the owners at price
varying from $40 to $50 per acre.
There were a number of orchards ana
groves on these farms which have been
swallowed by Lake Mckinney ana sew
eral hundred acres of alfalfa worth at
q low estimate of 500 per acre. Inc
longest of the three dykes which re
tains the water is 600 yards in length,
in height with an average width OF
so feet on top which is used as drive
way.
Work Required Eight Months.
The cost of this dyke was s12O,OoO
and small army of men and teams
structing it. The first water was turn
ed into the lake in June and it has been
steadily filling since that time wneh-
ever there was any water in the river
The bed of the lake is about 90 reel
higher than the bed of the river Whlch
is about half a mile south of 1t ana IN
plain view from the lower end OF the
lake.
The mode of drawing the water from
the river to the lake is an interesting
one and always causes comment when
the body Of water is seen for the nrsl
time. 1t is fed by the Amazon dltcn
which is taken from the river ABOUT
ten miles west of Lake Mckinney by
means of a low dam which extends
we'll across the river at this point Ihe
fall of the river at this point is about
seven and one-half feet to the mile.
while the fall of the ditch is about nan
this.
The ditch follows the base of the
hills winding in and out but all OF
the time gradually increasing the OH
ference in feet between the bottom OF
the ditch and the riverbed- In this way
the water is fed into the immense poilo
which is many feet higher than tne
bed of the river and mach OF the sur
rounding land. :.
drawn from the lake by means OF Two
head gates and in turn flows into otheT
bitches for distribution over the peet
| and alfalfa land of the FARMERS 10Y
4
the water stored during the winter
| months will furnish all the water nee,
| essary to irrigate 10000 acres OF lana
as often as necessary during the grow
| ing season. 5,.,
| The land which is under the d1tcn
fed by the lake has doubled in value
within the past six months and Iano
| that five years ago could have been
| bought for So an acre finds ready SAFE
| at from $50 to 500 owing to the loca-
/ ton and state of cultivation. Under
| the present conditions there can De no
such a thing as crop failure as Tar as
| the farms under this ditch are concern
| ed.
Water Varies in Depth.
| The water in the lake at the pres
| ent time varies in depth but there are
places where it is said to be fifty feet
| in depth and where a small steamer
could be navisated. The rise in the
| river came earlier than usual this
spring and was turned into the lake
| before some of the farmers had time
to remove their improvements and as
| a result several houses are now stand
ing in the lake with just a roof or
| chimney above the surface.
In one place a large grove of trees
| was completely covered and in an
other just a few of the highest tops
are to be seen. 1t Is the plan to stock