Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-11-12
IMPROVEMENT ON
ARKANSAS RIVER
RECLAIM ATGON SERVICE COM.
PANN 10 BE INCORPORATED
~ OKLAHOMA.
CONSERVATION TO Assist
Parties Interested in Project Are Res
idcnts Of Tulsa
Expected to BE Endorsed.
OnA u r. Nlhertl

(By l.. H. Albcrt)
The state ut oklahoma has Just
recently experienced a set back In her
wonderful progress on account Of her
rams not being properly distributed.
Statistics show that our annual rain
fall Ii more than sufficient to supply
our demands. provided that the over
flows Of our rivers and streams during
abnormal periods are properly con-
served.
There is project now on foot, the
promoters OF which. intend TO work In
conjunction with the National Rivers
Harbors commission, and assist II In
making the Arkansas river navigabe
and at the same time they intend to
utilize the oyerflows Of said river for
Irrigation purposes.
The question now arises. how can
the reclamation and conservation Of
our surplus waters assist In making
stream naugable? After carefully
studying Irrigation and navigation OF
this country with similar projects OF
European countries. the founders and
promoters Of this great water service
system are firmly convinced that In
order 10 get navigation IN the state Of
Oklahoma We must make ample pro-
visions to handle the oyer-nows Of
our nayigable rivers, because the to-
pography along the Arkansas and
other rivers S such that by building
retaining walls. dlkes. etc, for nANiga-
ton purposes. We do great injury
TO abutting property owrIrs along the
beds u the rivers during rainy sea-
sons. So In studying and planning
ways ana means OF proftably handing
the oyer-floWs caused by narrowing
the channels OF the Arkansas river
for navigation, the promoters of this
gigantic water service project have
solved the problem by conser, ing and
utilizing the oyer-flows for irrigation
purposes Tn can be properly done
by building gates. locks and outlets at
certain regulated distances, thereby
automatically discharging the surplus
waters Of the river INTO nearby basins
or reservoirs to be later distributed
for Irrigation purposes during dry sea-
sons OF the year
Now this great conservation and
reclamation or water service company
which will be duly Incorporated under
the laws Of the state Of Oklahoma. IN
tends 10 organize all Of the Abutting
townships and counties along the Ar
kansas river into groups and districts
and cooperate with them. together
with the federal commission and the
state commission when appointed, IN
reducing the cost OF construction and
maintenance to a minimum, thereby
permanently lessening the cost to
each and all parties concerned.
The parties Interested In this great
water service project are citizens OF
Tulsa. and are very desirous Of Sc
curing certain legislation before un-
dertaking this gigantic work, and are
therefore submitting the following res
olutions which they expect to have
endorsed by the commercial bodies OF
our city and the commercial bodies
Of other important cities along the
Arkansas river.
RESOLUTIONS.
believing tnat through syste-
matte flood-water conservation. re-
claiming and water way improve
ment service the now dormant and
semi arid sections OF oklahoma to
gether with such sections lying along
the Canadian and Arkansas rivers
could be profitable reclaimed with
the proper uses OF flood-water and
watersheds for irrigation purposes
during the drought periods;
Believing such a system TO be a
thoroughly reasonable proposition
and commendable source and basis
for permanent, systematic and eco
nomic service In improving the con-
ditions effcctng agriculture In our
state and Jointly I'm the lower sec
tions OF neighboring states disatsr-
ously etf4-ted by such floodwater
or storm water on account Of not be-
Ing conserved or controlled.
And believing that such water-con-
servation and control beneficially ef-
fects and assists In the matter Of
drainage by reducing and eliminat-
ing the cost of construction OF re-
tain walls. dikes. etc. and such SER
vice win render preliminary assis-
tan"e in the matter of water way
Improvement for navigation;
And believing further that In the
carrying out Of the above mentioned
service through the cooperation OF
the federal government. the Arkan-
sas river may be eXpediently i'm
proved for transportation purposes,
thereby reducing the cost OF trans
portation and connecting Tulsa and
other river cities Of this state by
water transportation and commerce
with the ports aud harbors OF this
country and the entire world.
Whereas. in pursuance Of such
purpose and principles embodied
and set forth IN the Improvement OF
our streams and rivers for ira ga
tion and transportation purposes.
that upon approval OF the merits OF
said system or systems that he the
governor OF Oklahoma in his mes
sage to the legilature, recommend
the enactment Of law WHICH hall
establish state conservation and
irrigation commission that shall
have control Of all flood water. con-
sorvation. Irrigation and drainage
matters OF tho state and all such