FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 53 



other portions of the State. From that place westwardly, the ap- 

 pearance of the soil continues promising. The portion not fertile 

 is confined almost entirely to the south bank of the river, and con- 

 sists of a belt of sandy hills covered with coarse grass and bushes, 

 and sprinkled with a few trees. These hills will undoubtedly be 

 turned to profit in raising forest trees, to which they appear well 

 adapted. 



The only question to be raised in relation to the settlement of 

 the valley is that of rain. This, however, applies only to the country 

 west of Fort Larned. Thus far there have been no forts or settle- 

 ment for a length of time sufficient to settle this important question. 

 We found some ponds on the high prairies west of Fort Dodge, but 

 the present season has been one of more than ordinary rainfall. 



Like all sandstone countries, the water in the wells is good. In 

 any portion of the bottom (in some places fifteen miles wide) it is 

 found at from six to twenty-five feet from the surface. 



The contractors of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad 

 sunk "drive" wells at intervals of two or three miles, and uniformly 

 found good water. In only one instance did we learn of a spring or 

 well of alkali water, and that was a few miles from Fort Aubrey. 



The river has a very gentle and uniform descent, according to the 

 railroad surveys, of seven feet to the mile. The entire range between 

 high and low water mark is not over five feet. This, on a river aver- 

 aging one-third of a mile in width, is most remarkable. In this part 

 of the valley it never overflows its banks. The peculiarities of the 

 river, and uniformity of level in the bottom, renders the valley a 

 favorable situation to try the benefits of irrigation. As this method 

 of farming has not been applied in Kansas, we hope some company 

 will be formed to make the experiment. 



