THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



enormous quantity of fertilizing matter in their long 

 journey from the mountains of Wyoming to the Gulf of 

 California. There is no guesswork in this instance. 

 The scientific men of the University of Arizona, fit Tuc- 

 son, have made patient experiments, extending over 

 many months of time, to determine the actual commer- 

 cial value ofthe fertilizer contained in these waters and 

 precipitated on the land in the process of irrigation. 

 Basing their computation upon the use of thirty-six 

 acre-inches of this water, they find that the fertilizing 

 material so applied would cost, if purchased in the mar- 

 ket, the sum of nine dollars and seven cents per acre. 

 Where such conditions prevail cultivation can never im- 

 poverish, but actually enriches, the fortunate soil. But 

 we have yet to mention the chief blessing of aridity. 

 This is the fact that it compels the use of irrigation. 

 And irrigation is a miracle ! 



