THE IRRIGATION AGE. 189 



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works have earned good interest on the investment. From all of 

 which we can learn a lesson applicable to America's arid West. The 

 productive works have been constructed in arid regions so barren and 

 devoid of water that nobody could live there to produce crops of any 

 sort without irrigation, therefore those who immigrated to the country 

 were compelled to use the water and make the works do full duty. On 

 the other hand, the protective works have been built id semi-arid 

 regions where crops can often be raised under the natural rainfall, so 

 that the works have been in entire disuse through some seasons. 



STORAGE RESERVOIRS A SUCCESS IX ARID REGIOXS. 



Anywhere in our arid West, where irrigation works can be con- 

 structed, it is reasonable to suppose, therefore, judging from analogy, 

 that when a sufficient population settle below them, the works will be 

 called upon to supply their full capacity, and if they have been care- 

 fully planned and estimated for, economically constructed and admin- 

 istered under a proper system, they should return fair interest on the 

 original outlay. 



It has been in our semi-humid region of the United States, where 

 there are naturally good crops once in several years, that hard times 

 have fallen the hardest, but it is also here, judging from Indian expe- 

 rience, that irrigation works would pay least, because they would not 

 be continuously used. 



WHEN Y'ER FEELIIST RECKLESS. 



BY VINCENT JONES. 



I. 



When y'er feelin' reckless 

 Don't care how things go 



Light your darlin' corncob 

 'N watch the smoke rings grow. 



2. 



'Pears like pleasant mem'ries 

 Haunt the corncob bowl ; 



When the 'backer's burnin' 

 Out they allus roll. 



3- 

 Somehow thoughts of trouble 



Disappear in smoke, 

 'N sweeter rev'ries lighten 



Up the heart that's broke. 



