216 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



This description should not omit a reference to 

 one of the most salutary effects of the drainage of these 

 lands and one which the cultivators of the low lands 

 of the South will be quick to appreciate. From earliest 

 times it has been the custom of the planters who culti- 

 vate low lands or those closely bordering them, to own 

 and keep up a winter and a summer residence. The 

 first was located on the land operated as a plantation 

 and occupied from September until May, while the 

 latter was located on some sandy ridge surrounded by 

 the long-leaf pine, which always indicated a more health- 

 ful climate. While the blacks do not appear to be 

 seriously troubled with malaria during the summer 

 months, white people can not endure the nights near 

 the overflowed lands. The custom _ still prevails and 

 the land owner or manager must make his daily trip 

 of from two to eight miles to attend to his farming. 

 This was the condition of things on Mr. Hinson's farm 

 on the island when he began the practice of underdrain- 

 age. After he had added to his drainage improvements 

 annually for about seven years it began to be noticed 

 that there were fewer cases of malaria and other forms 

 of sickness and that white men could remain on the 

 island much later in the summer than formerly. For 

 the last twelve years no attempt has been made to vacate 

 the farm during the summer months because of its 

 unhealthfulness. While this result of drainage is not 

 new to those who have watched its effect in other local- 

 ities, it should not be lost sight of in estimating the 

 benefits which may be derived from this kind of im- 

 provement in malarial climates. 



On the whole, so many unique features are found 

 about this farm by the sea that the writer could have 

 spent many more hours upon it with pleasure and profit 

 to himself. No outer fence but the water-swept beach, 

 strewn with driftwood and dotted with boats for crossing 

 the bay; no public roads by means of which the produce 

 of the farm is conveyed to the city market. It illus- 

 trates the varied conditions under which our field prod- 

 ucts are grown and placed in the hands of the consumer. 

 Through all of these vicissitudes the producer, though 

 often commercially wronged, lives "near to Nature's 

 heart," and enjoys her gifts at first hand. Every move- 

 ment in the interest of healthful living, bountiful pro- 

 duction, and the amenities incident to a happy and 

 contented life may appropriately originate with the in- 

 telligent agriculturist of modern times. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



A correspondent at Fort Dodge, la., writing under 

 date of April 13, says the Jackson township ditch, which 

 has been awaiting the decision of the county board of 

 supervisors for some months past, will be constructed. 

 Early in April the board, after a careful discussion of 

 the pros and cons of the matter, granted the petition 

 and established the ditch. 



The board did not take actioH until after a care- 

 ful investigation. At its last meeting it took up the 

 matter, and heard both the advocates of the ditch and 

 those who were opposed to it. In order to get still 

 more exact information in the matter the board went 

 to Jackson township and went over the ground to be 

 covered by the proposed ditch. The action establish- 

 ing the ditch followed. 



The ditch in question is approximately five miles in 

 length and its constructcion will cost in the neighbor- 

 hood of $10,000. It starts in section 6, Jackson town- 

 ship and runs south by southeast to the south line of 

 section 21 draining considerable swampy land. 



NORTH YAKIMA, WASH., April 16, 1903. 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. : 



Dear Sir: I am very much interested in irrigation and 

 will ask you to kindly send me a copy of your paper. I would 

 send a year's subscription, but am not sure that it will reach 

 you. 'I understand there are concerns in your city that 

 make irrigating pumps a specialty and have several in op- 

 eration. I will take it as a great kindness if you can send 

 me their address. Yours very truly, 



C. A. BRYANT. 



We take pleasure in noting Mr. Bryant's letter and in 

 forwarding him copy of AGE as requested. There are cer- 

 tainly concerns in Chicago making a specialty of irrigating 

 pumps that are in great use. A glance at our advertising 

 columns will remove all doubt on that head. ED. 



NORTH YAKIMA, WASH., May 2, 1903. 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. : 



Gentlemen : Many thanks for the copy of your paper, 

 also for your kindness in being instrumental in my receiv- 

 ing so many pump catalogues, Enclosed you will find $1.50, 

 for which please send me THE IRRIGATION AGE for one year; 

 also "The Primer of Irrigation," which please send at your 

 earliest convenience. Yours respectfully, 



C. A. BRYANT, 

 North Yakima, Wash. 



P. S. Can you give me any information about sub- 

 merged water wheels? C. A. B. 



A correspondent at Santa Fe, N. M., states that the 

 ranchers of the Mesilla valley are aroused to the subject of 

 securing a reservoir at or near the Elephant Butte, on the 

 Rio Grande. They have received information that the irri- 

 gation authorities in Washington are favorably impressed 

 with the condition along the Rio Grande for the construction 

 of a reservoir on the river, and that all the people have to do 

 to get an appropriation is to go after it. 



They have seen with mortification that Arizona has al- 

 ready received over $2,500,000 from the national irrigation 

 fund for the purpose of constructing irrigation canals, and 

 that not a cent of it has been appropriated for the territory 

 of New Mexico. Wnen inquiry as to the cause of this has 

 been made, the people have learned that the principal reason 

 has been that the citizens of the territory have entirely 

 failed to lay before the irrigation authorities at Washington 

 the necessary data to pass upon the merits of any proposition 

 which they desire the government to take hold of. 



They are going to supply that data. A large and enthusi- 

 astic meeting was held at the court house at Las Cruces not 

 long ago and a committee of five appointed for the purpose 

 of effecting the end desired, and protesting against the land 

 board leasing more of the irrigation grant to cattlemen. The 

 committee will collect funds and send the best men they can 

 to Washington with all data from the land office and the facts 

 and figures of the Elephant Butte country. 



It is confidently believed here that the territory can get 

 a good appropriation for irrigation. It is also learned that 

 the government is to change its form of attack on the old 

 English company and endeavor to secure a decree annulling 

 the rights of the company on the ground that it has forfeited 

 its rights by the failure to construct its reservoir within the 

 time limit fixed by the statutes. 



Our correspondent at Delta, Colo., writes under date of 

 April nth that at i o'clock on that morning the dam of the 

 Garnet reservoir burst and an immense flood of water rushed 

 down the valley at tremendous speed, floodin" the low lands. 

 A hasty telephone message was sent to this city, reporting 

 the state of affairs, and riders were sent out in haste to warn 

 the farmers in the path of the waters. 



All of them were told in time, and as a result no lives 

 were lost as far as is known. But growing crops are washed 

 out and stock of all kinds has been drowned. It is known 

 that several hundred head of cattle have been carried away. 



The Rio Grande tracks were washed out for about a 

 quarter of a mile. Workmen have been sent out and it is 



