Soule Canal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Soule Canal-Gray County Segment 1
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Between U.S. Routes 50/400 and Soule Ave., Ingalls, Kansas |
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| Area | less than five acres |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000857 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 2014 |
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Soule Canal-Gray County Segment 2
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| Location | North side of 50/400 east of Ingalls, Kansas |
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| Area | less than five acres |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000858 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 2014 |
The Soule Canal was a very old and ambitious project in southwest Kansas. It was meant to bring water from the Arkansas River to help farms grow crops. However, this big plan did not work out as hoped. Two parts of the canal near Ingalls, Kansas, are now recognized as important historical sites. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
The Soule Canal: A Big Idea That Didn't Work
The Soule Canal was designed to be an irrigation canal. An irrigation canal is like a long, man-made river. Its purpose is to move water from a river to dry land. This water helps farmers grow their crops. The people who planned the Soule Canal wanted to use water from the Arkansas River. They hoped this would make the land around it fertile and productive.
Where Was the Canal Built?
The canal started near the town of Ingalls in Gray County, Kansas. From there, it stretched eastward. Its path ended near Spearville in Ford County. The canal mostly followed the path of the Arkansas River. It also ran alongside the ATSF railway and U.S. Highway 50/400. This made it easy to see its route across the land.
Why Was It Called "Soule's Folly"?
The Soule Canal project faced many problems. It never fully worked as intended. Because of this, people started calling it Soule's Folly. A "folly" is a very expensive or foolish idea that fails. This nickname shows that the project did not meet its big goals. Even though it failed, it remains an important part of Kansas history. It reminds us of the challenges of building in the past.
