The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-13
SURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDED.

SURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDED.
To see ourselves as other see US is
seldom palatable. But this is equally
true of all efficacious medicine. No
one thinks of throwing away doctors
prescription simply because it is bit
ter. Honest criticism of our short
comings should be treated accordingly,
, and especially SO when it is coupled
with a suggestion that is valuable. In
this category is a letter to the Kansas
City star, recently printed in that pa
Der, and written by an Englishman.
now in this country, under the sigma
ture "R. S. 1t is based on a sugges-
ton that was made not long ago by
The Star, and is as follows:
Before 1 came to your United
States from England my curiosity
used to be aroused by the great claims
that your countrymen make when they
are abroad. I was often tempted to
believe that this land approached a
Utopia in character. 1 hope 1 do not
deeply offend when 1 truthfully say l
found a country, which, in comparison
to my own, was wild and scarcely i'm
proved and its cOuntrymen barren OF
any desire or suggestion to improve
it.
I'm the Western states l have
lately found some evidences of an
awakening. 1t is not a great deal, yet
it is interesting to the watcher who
waits for the first faint signs of a finer
and more stable civilization in this
great country of yours. Among these
the suggestion in The Star that these
Middle States be made a great garden
spot by the extension everywhere OF
water mains was the most important
that 1 have come across in some time.
Americans lack foresight. Their boast
ed efficiency is the greatest inefficiency
because it is merely for the moment.
The facts brought out in your conser-
walton campaigns have brought out
that point. The dry farmers of these
states show it again. They know that
some years they will be without water,
yet they have never provided for such
an emergency. The wealth of Kansas
lies upon the drouth ruins of its
early years, And this year the fields
lie barren and dry once more. An in
telligent study of the water question,
an immense series of wells and mains
through country and hamlet would
correct this. The disaster which be-
falls the sun heated states would be
prevented, and the great wealth that
lies in the golden stalks of corn and
the green prairies would be conserved
Let me assure those who may read
this that what 1 say is in a spirit of
intended helpfulness."
Here is proposition, the merit of
which is patent on it's face. When
Kansas most needs an adequate sup
ply of water to nourish it's crops it
hasn't any. And yet the way is open
to provide such a supply and not only
through the medium of wells, and Il
system of water mains such as "R.
S. suggests. Kansas is blessed with
many rivers that are so tickle they Of
ten cease to be such, as at present.
They work overtime in some seasons
and in others they refuse to work at
all. Their seasonal activities could
easily be curbed and harnessed with
intelligently placed dams that would
do double duty. Not only would they
control the floods that often over
whelm many wonderful valleys, but
their stored waters could be diverted
through lack of rain.
Kansas statesmen would do we'll TO
consider this big problem. 1t is of
equal Importance to the common
wealth with good roads. In fact if
appears to be more important. The
undertaking is a large one. The ex-
pense would be proportionate. But
the returns that would come from such
an investment would pay rich divi-
dends.