1 HE IRRIGA TIOX A GE. 9 



Grand river, which forms the chief branch of the Colorado. Grand 

 Junction and vicinity a few years ago appeared to be a desolate dreary 

 waste, parched and killed by the hot sunshine of centuries, but now, 

 what a change, when one beholds the rich vineyards laden with 

 luscious grapes, big orchards bearing juicy peaches and choice red 

 apples, and countless berry fields where the queen of fruits matures 

 to perfection. Ditches have been taken from Grand river and smaller 

 streams, pumping plants are in successful operation and reservoirs 

 hold the floods of spring against the drouth of summer, thus equaliz- 

 ing the forces and supplying water for irrigation at the time it is most 

 required. All systems of irrigation are practiced in Colorado and 

 many of the most successful fruit growers insist upon giving their 

 trees a thorough soaking in October or November and delaying spring 

 irrigation till June. 



In 1897 Colorado produced 3,353,975 bushels of corn, of which 

 201,238 bushels were sold or shipped out of the county where grown, 

 as a surplus. The wheat crop for the same year was 5,117, 544 bushels, 

 the surplus shipments aggregating 2,814,649 bushels. The oat crop 

 of 1897 was 2,968,540 bushels, and 860,877 bushels were marketed out- 

 side the county wherein the grain was grown. During the same year 

 the estimated hay crop was 2,000,000 tons and the potato yield 4,000,- 

 000 bushels. The state had 151,721 horses, 8,755 mules: 85,669 milch 

 cows: 935.826 range cattle; 1,623,089 sheep and 22.035 swine. The 

 average prices for the principal agricultural products on the farm in 

 1897 were: hay, $5.50 per ton; corn, 38 cents per bushel; wheat, 70 

 cents per bushel; oats, 32 cents per bushel and barley. 51 cents per 

 bushel. Local conditions raised or lowered these prices, according to 

 demand and distance from market. 



Colorado has fifty-five county divisions, each having distinctive 

 peculiarities in soil, climate and water supply, depending much on 

 altitude and location of mountains. Dry farming is carried on very 

 successfully in some counties, such as Lincoln, Elbert. Sedgwick. 

 Yuma, Washington and points eust of Denver, but frequent dry sea- 

 sons and consequent crop failures cause much hardship and distress. 

 People have settled upon lands and grown excellent crops without 

 water the same as in Western Kansas, and in some seasons the yields 

 have even exceeded the irrigated fields, but the inevitable drouths 

 have come, crops failed and hard times chased the settlers from their 

 homes. While the drouths have affected the eastern counties some 

 inexperienced farmers have lost much money and become discouraged 

 in trying to make water run up hill or have destroyed their crops 

 because of too much downhill ditching. But irrigation is generally 

 understood by the present farmers of the "Centennial State" and we 

 seldom hear anything but praise for the irrigation canals and ditches 

 Many eastern readers of THE AGE write me scores of questions 

 about the prices of land, water rights, farm supplies, and whether 



