PULSE OF THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY. 



37 



The reclamation of our semi-arid lands by irriga- 

 tion is a live subject that is stirring not only the 

 dwellers upon the great plains, but men who are look- 

 ing about now for homes. Kansas, Nebraska and Col- 

 orado have a vast area of semi-arid lands, and just 

 how to irrigate these lands in the most economic 

 method is something very essential to know. The 

 first step is a step to be taken by the government, 

 not that the goverment is asked to construct the 

 actual realities of irrigation, but that it should go to 

 the cost of ascertaining the economic facts necessary 

 to induce capital to enter upon the work on an intel- 

 ligent basis. This is being done to a limited extent, 

 but it is not being pushed in the manner in which it 

 should be. Let it once be shown that a reasonable 

 reward awaits the investment of capital in the recla- 

 mation of arid lands and capital will be eager to for- 

 ward such enterprises. 



Late reports indicate that work is being pushed on 

 the Arrowhead system of irrigation in Southern Cali- 

 fornia. Some 8,000 feet of tunnel will soon be com- 

 pleted, and the necessary steps for impounding a 

 vast quantity of water among the San Bernardino 

 mountains are being taken. 



The management of the Pecos Irrigation and Im- 

 provement Company, of New Mexico, is going to un- 

 dertake to dispose of the alfalfa crop this year in 

 eastern and European markets, to get the largest 

 possible profit for producers. This course should 

 be appreciated by the people. 



There seems to be a disposition on the part of large 

 land owners to subdivide their immense holdings and 

 sell them to actual settlers at a reasonable price. 

 The coming time of small farms irrigated and inten- 

 sively cultivated means the opening of a new era of 

 prosperity. 



Wyoming has 30,000 square miles of coal deposits. 

 There are 6,000 miles of irrigating canals, watering 

 2,000,000 acres. The canal cost over $10,000,000. The 

 live stock interests exceed $100,000,000 in value. 



King county, Arizona, claims to have more wind- 

 mills than any town of its size in the State and the 

 supply of water seems practically unlimited. 



The Colorado desert will soon, with the application 

 of water from the big river, become one of the love- 

 liest gardens of the world. 



The Crow Creek Land Company, Colorado, owns 

 3,500 acres of good arable soil. Owning the Ogilvy 

 ditch they are well provided with water, an average 

 of 2,000 inches running in it daily.* This is a seepage 

 ditch and is well supplied with water when neighbor- 

 ing ditches are running scant. The land owned by 

 this company is along the Platte river, the ranch 

 house of Manager Ewing being situated about 10 

 miles east of Greeley. The company is dividing the 

 land into small farms of 40 acres and upward and 

 renting it to practical farmers. 



Last year the cultivated land produced per acre 

 from 30 to 35 bushels of wheat, 40 to 45 bushels of 

 oats and 125 sacks of potatoes. 



Congress lately assigned the space of twenty min- 

 utes for discussion of the important topic of irrigation 

 and after wasting an hour or two in filibustering 

 against a motion to extend the time to sixty minutes 

 compromised on thirty. The need of irrigation as a* 

 method by which seventeen States and Territories 

 could be practically added to the public domain and 

 by which the agricultural and horticultural products 

 could be multiplied and improved immeasurably, not 

 to mention the sociological feature, was to be discussed 

 in half an hour. It is to be hoped the congressmen 

 will soon see the error of their ways. 



To find the horse-power required to elevate water 

 to a given height, multiply the number of gallons 

 raised per minute by 8%, and this by the height in 

 feet, and divide the product by 33,000, which gives 

 theoretical horse-power. In ordinary practice 50 to 

 100 per cent, should be added to provide for friction 

 of pumps and water in pipes. 



Secretary Morton takes a conservative view of the 

 irrigation question. The $10,000 appropriated by 

 Congress are being used to gather available informa- 

 tion that will enable the people to secure irrigation at 

 the least expense. 



Texas farmers and stockmen are rejoicing over 

 the break in the terrible drouth. They are going 

 ahead with various irrigation enterprises, however, 

 and some time will not dread the drouth as they do 

 now. 



A newspaper item says the drouth in Southern 

 California will result in a boom for irrigation. 



A local irrigation association has been formed at 

 Indianola, Red Willow county, Neb. 



The canaigre tannin plant will soon be one of Ari- 

 zona's most valued growths. 



A gallon of fresh water weighs 8.34 pounds, and 

 contains 231 cubic inches. 



