Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-05-16
PLAN TO CREATE
A GREAT RIVER
Western Banker Would Reclaim
Arid Lands by Channel.
BLACK HILLS TO CIMARROA.

Originator OF Scheme Suggests Use Of
Panama Canal Machinery IN Digging
Course Of the Stream Across Vast
Plsius--Msny Interested In Project
Results Outlined.
Much interest has been created in
the west by the suggestion Of J. G.
Hopper. president OF bank at Ness
City, KAN that new artificial river
he created through the great arid
plains Of western South Dakota, Ne
5raska. Kansas aud Oklahoma.
The plan IN brief Is to use the Pan.
ann canal machinery 70 dig river
running from the Black ILLS In South
Dakota 70 the Cimarrou river IN Okla
homa. crossing other rivers on via,
ducts. THIS in itself Is a stunendous
undertaking, but one that could be nc
complished By emptying into the
Cimarron river. which IN turn ponrs
Its waters into the Arkansas iust
above Tulsa, okla. The matter OF nayi
eating the Arkansas would be helped
to a great degree, as Il would double
the volume Of water IN that river
The Rocky mountains, GOO miles
west of the main channel form Che
source and west watershed terminus
Of the Missouri river, the largest and
longest tributary OF the Mississippi
Paralleliug these mountains Is a broad
plain 800 miles wide by 700 miles long.
containing 100000 square miles Of the
richest. deep. fertile soil to ho found In
America.
Almost Desert.
This vast urea. now the home OF the
jack rabbit. prairie dog and the prairie
wolves, with It's eastern border dotted
with farms and cattle ranches and the
cunning American pushing over it,
broad eykanse. attempting to carve
out honieF presents q panorama only
Appreciated ny those who have travel
ed over the territory,
Here Is an empire, rich In every Gle
mcnt that goes to. make up happy and
prosperous American homes, saye only
one water yet the avernge rainfall of
eighteen inches, added TO the annual
freshets Of the accumulated winter
SHOWS that race down through this
country on the way 90 the sen. carries
death aud destruction for those who
live on half million acres OF low
lands. IL these food waters could be
stopped in this sfnliarid region mud
used for irrigation. chaos would be
turned into order destruction into
heIpfulness
If plan ran be inaugurated 10 hold
these food waters this vast territory,
now containing but three people 70 the
square mile, now producing only rough
feed for cattle, would invite twenty
1--WE more people to the square milo
from the crowded enst. turn hundreds
Of thousands Of American consumers
Into producers and thus reduce the
high cost OF living.
Here Is n territory comparatively lev
81, where whole congressional town
ships can be turned into one Geld with
out tire loss Of an acre Sections o.
land afe so level TINT. standing upon
one corner, a man can be seep on any
part Of the section Yet the engineers
compass reveals the fact that as You
approach the mountains the increase
in elevation Is seven feet to the mile.
This rise in elevation, together with
the smooth treeless surface conveys
very rapidly tho rains that fan Into the
small riguIets, hnrrylng the winter east
on IT'S way to death and destruction.
Flood Prevention.
II has been amply demonstrated that
channel Improvement alone Tor flood
prevention Is 4 failure that dikes can
not be built high enough or strong
enough 20 coniine the waters 10 their
natural channels Il is time to turn 70
something clse--that Is, the construc
ton Of reservoirs into which the sur
plus water may be turned and from
which It may be taken for the purpose
Of irrlgating the dry lands and for
making power, a universal need Ia the
industry Of the country.
Build a system Of artificial lakes.
beginning at the Black Hills. IN South
Dakota, extending through the states
Of Nebraska. Kansas and Oklahoma.
made BY the damming OF the numerous
streams traversing this country; con
meet these lakes by an artificial river.
Thus a GOOD Ia the north can be cor.