Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-04-20
A GREAT AID TO
TULSA 5 scheme
TULSA INTERESTED ~ PINN 10
~ I'D \ \\IIC
CANAL.
help TO RIVER NAVIGATION
Would More Than Double the Nol-
umr of water In the Arkansas
River

Tulsa, through the deep waterways
committee Of the commercial club
headed by /. j. +. Roonery is taking
a deep interest In the proposition to
create new artificial river through
the great arid plains Of western
South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and
Oklahoma. The plan was originated
by j. q. Hopper president Of the CT
izens' National Bank Of Ness CITY
Kansas. ana through him working
force has been organized that II ia
hoped will in the next few years lead
to definite action.
The plan In brief is to use the Pan
anna canal machinery TO dig a river
running from the Black llllls in
South Dakota, to the Cimarron river
in oklahoma. crossing other rivers
ON vladucts. This in itself, is "A stu
pcndous undertaking but one that
could be accomplished BY cmptying
into the Cimarron river which In turn
pours It's waters into the Arkansas
Just above Tulsa, the matter Of n1V-
eating the Arkansas would be helped
TO "A great degree, as 1t would double
the volume Of water in that river,
The Rocky mountains. six hundred
miles west Of the main channel forms
the source and west water shed ter
minus of the Missouri river. the lar
gcst and longest tributary of tho
Mississippi Paralclling these noun
tains Is a broad plain 500 miles wide
bv seven hundred miles long, con-
tanning 200 thousand square miles OF
the richest deep fertile soil To be
found In America. The climate IL
glorious and healthy. The seasons
right for the growing OF three-fourths
of the crops used for the sustenance
Of man and beast.
This vast area, now the home OF
the iack-rabbit prairie dog, and tho
prairie wolves with its eastern bor-
der dotted with farms and cattle
ranches. and the cunning american
pushing over its broad eXpanse, at
tempting to carve out homes, pre-
sents panorama, only appreciated
by those who have travelled over the
territory.
Here is an empire rich In every
element that goes to make up happy
and prosperous American homes,
save only one-water, yet the aver
age rain fall Of Is inches, added to
the annual freshets Of the accumu-
lated winter SHOWS that race down
through this country, on Its way to
the sea. carrying with II death and
destruction for those who live on a
half million acres of low lands, II
in this semi-arid region and used for
irrigation. chaos would be turned In
to order, destruction into helpful
ness
II plan can be inaugurated to
hold these flood waters this vast ter
ritory, now containing but three peo-
pie to the square mile, now prOduc-
ing only rough feed for cattle, would
invite % more people TO the square
mile from the crouched east, turn
hundreds of thousands OF American
into producers and thus
reduce the high cost of living.
Here Is territory comparatively
level. whole congressional townships
can be turned into one field without
the loss OF an acre. Sections OF land
are so level that standing upon one
corner man can be seen on any
bart Of the scctiO. Yet the engineers
commas. reveals the fact that as you
approach tho mountains the Increase
In elevation is sevent feet to the mile.
This rise in elevation, together with
the smooth troeless surface conveys
very rapidly the rains that fall into
the small riyulets. hurries 1t east on
Its way to death and destruction.
1t has been amply demonstrated
that channel improvement alone. for
flood prevention. Is a failure. that
likes cannot be built nigh enough or
strong enough 10 confine the waters
10 their naturel channel. II is time
10 turn to something else, that is, the
OF reservoirs into which
he surplus water may be turned and
from which II may be taken for the
purpose Of irrlgating the dry lands
and for making power, universal
need in the Industry Of the country.
Build system Of artificial lakes,
beginning at the Black Hills in South
Dakota. extending through the states
II Nebraska. Kansas and oklahoma.
made by the dammng OF the nu-
nerous streams traverslng this coun-
.ry. connect these lakes by an artlfl-
,ial river. thus a flood in the north
,an be- conveyed down this great
,anal. distributed into the different
axes and reservoirs thus formed.
hus using the once dreaded and de-
,tructive flood waters, for the service
Il man. while the low land farmer
Ills his soil without fear Of molest-
,tion. -.
The dams constructed across the
ieveral rivers. would be so arranged
ls to let the water pass az needed to
-egulate the channel Of navlgable
'lvers. thus promoting comemrce az
he water thus needed passes through
he engineers aperture In the dam,