84 WESTERN GRAZING GROUNDS AND FOREST RANGES 



farming class of settlers were working westward into 

 Kansas and Nebraska, following up the streams where 

 the rich bottom lands offered splendid returns to the 

 agriculturist. For many years the higher lands or 

 mesas (from the Spanish meaning table) lying back 

 from the streams were passed by and allowed to remain 

 for the open range of the stockmen. Gradually the 

 available locations along the streams were taken up 

 and the newcomers tried farming on the higher benches 

 back from the bottom lands, while the line of settlers 

 worked farther and farther west out into the region 

 where the rainfall was much less. 



For a series of years they raised great crops all over 

 this region. Then came a setback through drouth that 

 extended over several years. Not being prepared to face 

 such a condition they were forced to abandon their 

 farms, and from about the line of the 97th Meridian 

 west almost up to the foothills of the Rockies they prac- 

 tically deserted the country en masse. The land went 

 back to the stockmen and the tide of westward emigra- 

 tion stood still for several years. 



Meantime, in some parts of the Southwest, in Ari- 

 zona, New Mexico and'Colorado, the California method 

 of irrigation was gaining a footing. Thin lines of settle- 

 ments were working up the various little streams whose 

 waters were taken from them through ditches and 

 poured upon the thirsty land. In northern Arizona the 

 Mormons established themselves at several points, sur- 

 mounting obstacles that no other class of people on 

 earth could have successfully overcome. 



All that great country along the Arkansas River in 

 Western Kansas and eastern Colorado was then consid- 

 ered as the very cream of the open range. Thousands 



