The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-10-02

perhaps three times the present pop
ulation. but as the population in
creases. a It must inevitably increase
1T viii eventually be found that the
water supply Is nor adequate for the
demand as made upon il
The sources of water supply FOR
Western Oklahoma are rnreefoId w.
precipitation. streams and wells and
springs
All the streams Ia Western 0klaho-
ma flow down the plains. that .
rhsy follow the general slope 81 the
country from the mountains 10 the
Mississippi this slspe being approx
mateiy elght feet to the mile Be-
ginniHs At the north. the largest riv-
ers are salt FORK Of the Arkansas
Cimarruu. Norrh Canadian, south Can
asiian. Washlta and Red Rivers. Win
the exception of the Washira- which
Is more Ike an Eastern stream. these
rivers are typical streams Of the
plains that is. they have low. san
~ banks with LITTLE Or no timber
and broad. shallow. sand-choked chan
nssis During 4 good part of the year
these streams contain little or no wat
e. but ar irregular Intervals. without
warning great voiums os water. some
times MANY feet high. rush down the
channel carrying everything with ir
The stream viii be bankful for sev-
sral days. Or even weeks, when the
water viii rscede and the channel
wiz again Be practically dry. possi-
hly for mouths. The 1rigin Of these
infreauent rises Is probably DIE TO
Ticieat rains near the heads az the
streams
Is wil Be readily understood that
with an adequate supply OF rainfall
and relatively few perennial streams
the water problem ia Western Okla
aoma Is 4 serious one Irrigation has
been attempted on small scale IN
& number of Instances Government
suTvegs have been made il several
localities ia Western Oklahoma BY the f
United States Reclamation Service.
aut 50 far no large projects have been
Installed Or are any being attempted
Is the present time. Several private
projects are nov being proiected-
Ty nv mind the solution Of the
problem Is hreefold-fIrst. the install
alton o. Is many modern irrigation
llants ss possible. carrying water
rom the streams and snringg sec
md. In the colsrrucuor of numerous
ssrrhen dams 70 impouad storm wat
rs, and ghfrd. and NEST important Of
III the cultivation 81 such crops as
re suitable for rha Western country.
The older farmers are often Ioarh 10
.hange fheir methods OF cropping.
Hanv men Who have come to the
1lzins country from such states as
tennessee and Ohio have lost their
e because o. their misunderstanding
81 climatic conditions. It IS grzSssi
= oei1g bozne il upon them. how4rer.
.hat the crops AnI methods employed
a the Eastern States viii not necea-
ssriIg BE- successful On the plains.
Eaeh year more and more crops
suited 70 the climate are being grown.
zaffIr corn and milo maize are repIac-
ns corn and cotton. and broom corn
s beng raised instead Of wheat
ifsuy farmers il this region raise
more bushels 0f grain per acre from
-hese crops tAau Do the farmers in
ne Eastern States Dry farming is
ieing praetiesd and people are rad
lzlly learning how to farm the plains
country.
As stated aboye -..e soil ia extreme
3 fertile. and capable q producing ,
arge cr9ps. II tie water suppiv Is
ouserved and Intelligent msihods o. 9
armlng employed this rsgion viii