The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-27
GIVES BIC RETURN
Irrigation Is Profitable, MOhIer
Tells Larned Congress.
Problem of Raising Water
Cheaply Has Been Solved.

Larned, Kan, Sept. 27.-Irrigation
is such a valuable aid to agriculture
that it should be available wherever
possible, even tho not an absolute ne
cessity, J. c. Mohler, secretary of the
state board of agriculture declared
here today before the final session of
the Kansas State Irrigation Congress.
Mr.. Mohler said in part:
1.-THE western Kansas people no
longer consider it an affront to the
country to associate irrigation with
it's development. There was a time
when they resented the idea, claim
ing that the precipitation that came
from the cluods was sufficient for
profitable agriculture. And so it was
oftentimes, but not always. Since they
have found way of profitably lift
ing the underground water which is
inexhaustible, opinions are being re-
vised. They have learned that irri-
cation pays big dividends, and that
it is insurance against dry weather
every year.
while the possibilities of the sub
waters of the plains for irrigation
have never been lost sight of in the
past 80 years or more, they could not
be extensively utilized because of the
difficulty in lifting the water to the
surface in sufficient quantities at a
cost that would warrant. This diff
Guilty, however, seems to be removed
and the problem in a fair way of being
solved. The putting down of large
wells, thru the water-bearing gravel,
with centrifugal pumps. and the
powerful engines burning the cheap
oil, employed in drawing the water,
are doing the business In this way
the water is being brought to the sur
face in immense streams, as much as
5000 gallons per minute in several in
stances.
Is Progressing Rapidly.
This is all of recent development,
and as time goes on improvements in
machinery are reducing the cost of
pumping, while methods of handling
water are coming to be better under
stood This all means greater profits,
and has given renewed interest to the
subject of irrigation. That progress
is being made is shown by statistics
According to the United States census
in 1900 there were 37,4SO acres irri-
gated in Kansas; now there is twice
that much, If not more, and experts
declare that there are probably two
and one-half to three million acres
in the western half of Kansas where
water may be encountered at so feet
or less. And it has been abundantly
demonstrated that water may be prof
itably lifted from that depth, while
drawn much greater distances with
profit.
1T is hoped and believed that the
operation of the Federal Farm Loan
act recently passed by Congress may
have wholesome influence on the
fortunes of this western country. I'm
der this new law there appear to be
large opportunities for expanding and
upbuilding the farming industry be-
cause of the present undeveloped state
of its agriculture. In the past capital
has not been available on terms favor
able for such enterprise. A drawback
to rapid general development has been
a lack of capital among the farmers,
many of whom are referred to as land
poor That is, they own a great deal
of land without funds to develop their
holdings. AS the pressing need is for
money, it seems entirely probable that
this new measure may fulfill that re-
quirement. If so, a great TRANSFORMED
ton may be looked for. and not a few
believe one of the most fruitful soil
areas of the continent will be the
result