THE IKKIGATION AGE. 



77" 



amount. Of the latter item, operating and betterment 

 charges, interest and sinking fund requirements would 

 absorb $6,500 annually, leaving a net result of annual 

 profits, $23,500. However, from what we have said it 

 must not be inferred that we favor the township system 

 of reservoirs. We use that area to illustrate the prob- 

 able profitableness of an enterprise of the character 

 referred to. As a matter of fact, such reservoir systems 

 as we have suggested would necessarily have to be con- 

 structed on natural lines of storm drainage the long 

 draws or drains and the channels of storm floods in 

 consequence of which township lines would cut no 

 figure in their development. 



But while storm drainage is the most important 

 factor in the reclamation of the arid uplands, it is by 

 no means the only factor. The waters of the Soutli 

 Platte river from November 1st to March 15th of the 

 following year are not required for the irrigation of 

 the Platte valley. During these months so much of the 

 Platte floods as might be necessary should be diverted 

 from that stream by ditches and used to fill the upland 

 reservoirs. We have not at hand sufficient data by which 

 to compute the average discharge of the Platte river 

 for the months of November, December, January, Bebru- 

 ary and half of March, but it is very great; probably 

 sufficient to irrigate all eastern Colorado, western Neb- 

 raska and Kansas, if it were all made available for 

 that purpose and was supplemented by the impounded 

 storm drainage; at least all of the territory indicated 

 which is susceptible of reclamation. At flood tide it 

 probably flows, in the vicinity of Sterling, conservatively 

 estimated, 5,000 cubic feet per second, or 432.000,000 

 cubic feet per day. The agricultural possibilities inci- 

 dent to the entire appropriation of the vast bulk of water 

 to irrigation are difficult to estimate. 



It may be that additional legislation will be neces- 

 sary to the effective working of upland irrigation sys- 

 tems, and, if so, representations to that effect ought to 

 be immediately made to the Legislature, which will con- 

 vene within a few days. More important yet, the Legis- 

 lature should be asked to make a small appropriation for 

 experimental purposes. The more conservative may 

 hesitate to embark upon a plan of improvement of such 

 magnitude and capitalists to finance a proposition of 

 this kind unless we first demonstrate to them the prac- 

 ticability of the plan a'nd the safety of their investments. 



IN PRAISE OF PROSPERITY. 



They raised his salary two years ago last May, 

 The said increase amounting to thirty cents a day ; 

 Since then they've raised the prices 



Of carrots and of beets, 



Of flour and of meats, 



Of corn and coal and fruits, 



Of babies' little boots, 



Of potatoes, milk and cheese, 



Of the product of the bees, 



Of hats and socks and coats, 



Of all that sinks or floats. 

 He's paying out the money that he saved before his 



raise, 



But prosperity's upon us, and his heart is full of praise. 



Chicago Post. 



THE IRRIGATION MATTER. 



The following is taken from the editorial columns 

 of The Implement Age, of Philadelphia, one of the- 

 leading implement journals of the world : 



"Mr. Fred Bond, State Engineer of Wyoming, 

 sends us the following regarding an editorial which 

 appeared in The Implement Age of November 24th, 

 which is presented in order that explanation may be 

 made : 



"Dear Sir In the issue of the Age for November 

 20th there appears an editorial in which is discussed' 

 certain criticisms of Mr. Geo, H. Maxwell by the 

 IRRIGATION AGE, in which you state that just as soon as 

 the least suspicion arises that irrigation development 

 is being promoted for selfish purposes the doom of' 

 irrigation will follow, and I wish to protest against 

 any such conclusion by your influential paper. It is- 

 not fair to insist that the experience of the country 

 following the enactment of the irrigation law shall 

 be wholly different from that succeeding the passage of" 

 other laws. Is it not a fact, and one to which there is 

 practically no exception, that adventurers and pro- 

 moters undertake to feather their nests at the expense 

 of the public immediately following legislation of any 

 nature, and especially that concerning new subjects and" 

 for which large sums of money are available? In this- 

 section of the arid region the feeling seems to be general 

 that the success of the new law can be best and earliest 

 assured by the prompt segregation and elimination from 

 any possible connection with its operation of any and" 

 all who may undertake to use it for personal or selfish 

 ends. Surely The Implement Age, whether the friend 

 or the enemy of the irrigation act prior to its passa-ge, 

 can join with the West in hoping that the funds made 

 available will be expended wisely and well without 

 damning the whole plan because 'promoters' who, like the 

 'poor,' are always with us, need first to be located and 

 weeded out. As long as Mr. Maxwell worked as a lobby- 

 ist for the passage of the law the West generally did not 

 inquire into his motives, but his present activity has 

 wholly to do with the disposal of the funds, and taken 

 in connection with the nature of his employment is- 

 indefensible from any standpoint. 



"Upon reading your editorial I communicated with 

 Prof. Elwood Mead, of Washington, D. C., and re- 

 quested him to send you a copy of his open letter to- 

 the delegates of the last National Irrigation Congress 

 held at Colorado Springs. This letter is now probably 

 in your hands. You will find in it an accurate and con- 

 cise statement of a few of Mr. Maxwell's positions and" 

 conflicting views on irrigation matters which are well 

 worthv of vour consideration." 



WHY HE DID IT. 



A characteristic story is told of Abe Gruber, the 

 well known New York lawyer. When he was a boy 

 looking for something to do he saw a sign "Boy 

 Wanted" hanging outside a store in New York. He- 

 picked up the sign and entered the store. The pro- 

 prietor met him. "What did you bring that sign in 

 here for?" asked the storekeeper. 



"You won't need it any more," said Gruber, cheer- 

 fully. "I'm going to take the job." Washington Post. 



The tongue usually has more to do with honor 

 than the conscience has. 



