The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-10-13

with equal force 10 all of the states OF
the plains, including the two Dakotas.
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado Nebras-
ka, Kansas and Texas.
The amount of rainfall on the plains
gradually decreases from the Missis-
sippl river to the Rocky Mountains.
Eastern Missouri and practically all
OF Arkansas have an excess Of 80
inches rainfall per annum; Eastern
New Mexico and Colorado have but
10 to Is inches per annum. Oklahoma,
which lies midway between the noun
tains and the Mississippi, received
from Is inches in the western part TO
As inches IN the southeastern corner.
The rainfall in the eastern half Of Ok
lahoma is practically the same as that
of Kentucky, Ohio and Illinois, an
amount ample for al purposes. The
western part Of the state. however. re-
ceiyed on an average only about half
the amount OF precipitation that falls
in the eastern counties.
There is no more fertile area in the
Union than that occupied by the state
Of Oklahoma. The soil is capable Of
producing a large variety of crops, and
the warm climate renders the matur
ing of these crops almost an absolute
certainty. If western Oklahoma pos
sessed an adequate water supply the
great problem Of the future develop
ment Of that part Of the state would
be permanently solved
There is enough water in western
Oklahoma for the present population:
there is waite renough for twice and
perhaps three times the present popu-
lation, but as the population increases.
as it must inevitably increase. it will
eventually be found that the water
supply is not adequate for the demand
as made upon it.
The sources Of water supply for
western Oklahoma are threefold, viz
precipitation. streams and wells and
springs.
It has already been stated that the
rainfall in this region averages from
Is TO 80 inches per year. This amount.
which often falls as a few violent show
ers. is not sufficient to mature large
variety of crops Corn, for instance.
requires 80 to 40 inches Of rainfall
per year Cotton and wheat. nearly
as much. Such crops as kafir corn,
broom corn and milo maize thrive in
western Oklahoma, but, unfortunately.
many farmers persistently refuse to
raise these crops,
All the streams in western Oklahoma
flow down the plains; that is, they fol
low the general slope of the country
from the mountains to the Mississippi
this slope being approximately eight
feet to the mile. Beginning at the
north. the largest rivers are Salt Fork
of the Arkansas, Cimarron. North Car
olina, South Carolina, Washita and
Red rivers With the exception OF
the Washta. which is more like an
eastern stream. these rivers are typi-
cal streams of the plains: that is, they
have low, sandy banks, with little or
no timber and broad shallow, sand
choked channels. During a good part
of the year these streams contain little
or no water, but at irregular intervals.
without warning, great volumes Of
water, sometimes many feet high. rush
down the channel, carrying everything
with it, The stream will be bankful
for several days. or even weeks. when
the water viii recede and the chan
mel will again be practically dry, pos
sibly for months The origin of these
infrequent rises is probably due to
violent rains near the heads Of the
streams.
Entering the larger streams there
are number of small tributary creeks
few of which are more than 20 miles
in length Many OF these creeks are
perennial, being spring fed. and carry
water throughout the greater part of
the course throughout the year 9th
ers are usually dry except after heavy
rains.
Western Oklahoma contains many
springs. The water from the springs
in the Redbeds region, which occupies
many of the counties, is often i'm
pregnated with gypsum and other sol
uble salts, rendering it often unfit for
domestic use The springs in the
Sandhills reg on, which lie along many
of the larger streams, furnish a large
supply of pure water The water from
a number of these springs often unite
in supplying the small creeks which en-
ter into the larger rivers
There is scarcely a locality in west
ern Oklahoma in which good well wat
er may not be found As in the case
of springs. the wells in the Redbeds
often encounter gypsum water Those