IRRIGATION IN WASHINGTON. 



BY A. A. BATCHELL,EK. 



Several irrigation propositions are being pushed forward in 

 Washington and the adjoining states of Oregon and Idaho. There is 

 a very small percentage of the area of the lands of these states that 

 can be irrigated, and the arable land being largely in the arid part of 

 these states, the question of irrigation naturally comes very promi- 

 nently to the fore when there is any considerable demand for agricul- 

 tural lands. The development of the mines of this state and in Alaska 

 have made a demand for agricultural products, especially in the line 

 of butter, eggs, etc., far beyond the ability of this state to produce. 

 No time during the last five years has so much money been sent out 

 of this state for these products as during the present season, and no 

 state has better facilities for their production. The result has been 

 that prices for these products have ruled high all through the season. 

 This is attracting agriculturists from the eastern states, and is bring- 

 ing in a large number of farmers seeking agricultural lands. 



I have been interested in irrigation matters for the last eight 

 years. In 1894, I tried to do something in the line of irrigation by 

 endeavoring to induce parties to become interested in an irrigation 

 proposition that I have in eastern Washington. But on account of 

 the hard times and the price of agricultural products continuing to go 

 down, there was very little demand for agricultural land, and, there- 

 fore, no inducement for capital to make investments in this kind of 

 business. I could get no one to take hold of my irrigation proposi- 

 tion, although several times it was pronounced a good one. 



It seems to me that now is the time when a first class irrigation 

 proposition ought to attract capital, and be readily taken up. 



My proposition covers 20,000 acres of the very best arid land in the 

 state of Washington, at the junction of the Snake and Columbia 

 Rivers in Walla Walla county, and of the lowest elevation, being from 

 350 to 400 feet above sea level. It also has the warmest average 

 annual yearly temperature of the state, being 55 degrees, taken from 

 a weather record of nine years. The winters are short and mild, from 

 two to five weeks, and the temperature of any winter month seldom 

 going below 32 degrees, and that only from 2 to 4 degrees. 



Scientists tell us that the average yearly temperature of 55 

 degrees is that temperature which contributes to the greatest success 

 in agriculture in the North Temperate Zone. 



The total precipitation for the year averages a little over six inches. 

 There are nearly 300 days of sunshine during the year. 



