The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-23
Deep Oklahoma Wells
Promise Aid in Neigh.
boring States

CUP)-Optimistic from the re-
suits of a years research, state
agricultural and water conserva-
ton authorities believe today
they had discovered means of
permanent reclamation for the
dust bowl.
Great bodies of water have
been located under the arid Pan
handle district and scientists be-
lieve that the amount is sufficient
for permanent water well Trlga-
ton throughout the entire south
western dust bowl area of Okla
homa. Texas, Colorado, Kansas
and New Mexico.
Several irrigation wells are in
operation now, one of them hav-
ing flowed 1000 gallons Of water
a minute for the past year. 1t was
drilled by the state board of agri-.
culture at the Panhandle A. & NJ.
college, Goodwill, near Guymon.
In one place, body of water
500 to 700 feet deep was located
$50 feet below the surface.
BROAD PROGRAM OUTLINED
Results from other experiment.
tai work conducted by the u s.
Geological survey, the state Geo
logical survey and the u. S. de-
partment of interior, prompted
f. l.. Vaughan, oklohanta City,
director of the water resources
division for the state Planning
and Resources board, to outline
an extensive program.
While several wells are being
drilled by farmers, Vaughan re-
vealed that he would ask the next
Oklahoma legislature to set up
huge program directing q new
type Of farming in the dust bowl
sector.
Irrigation districts will be
marked off. The drilling, spacing
and flow from the wells would be
taken over much as the state has
taken over oil production through
Il conservation division.
"All of the experimental re-
ports show there is plenty Of wa
ter" Vaughan said, "if it is used
judiciously and not wasted"
Works Progress administration
aid will be asked for the drilling.
Estimated cost Of a we'll is So, 500.
Under the reclamation proposal,
one well would be drilled to serve
two to four farmers and the
amount of land to be irrigated
would be limited to about 80 per
cent of their entire acreage,
Vaughan said.
For each acre under irrigation,
each farmer would be allowed
about 20 acre inches of water Il
year." he said.
Vaughan returned recently
from a conference OH Ground Wa
ter Studies ut Austin, TcN., where
similar program is being formu-
lated.
The first research into ground
water was conducted about year
ago when the u. 5. Geological
survey sent a geOlogiSt to study
the sub-Surface water supplies III
the Oklahoma and Texas pam
handle. ...
His report, as yet unpublished,
shows that there are sands Satur-
ated with water throughout the
entire dust bowl area, Vaughan
said. They vary in size from 40
feet in thickness to 100 feet.
Joe G.. Scott, president OF the
state board Of. agriculture, said
that the report also included the
description Of a large body Of Wa
ter covering a vast area.
1.-THE geologiSt was unable to
determine whether it was running
water or whether it was an un-
dcrground lake" Scott said. ut
is 500 to 700 feet deep and IS
believed to have its source in the
Rocky Mountain area of Colorado.
1T was impossible to determine
its size"
WELL IRRIGATES $40 ACRES
The experimental irrigation
well at Goodwill was drilled in
August, 1887, an dhas been used
to irrigate a 640-acre farm be-
longing to the agricultural col
lege. ...... e.,
The college also has second
well, drilled last January, flowing
GOO gallons minute on the cam