834 thp: eeclamation of the west. 



vain, to secure permanent settlement, and thousands of industrious and 

 hard-working settlers have been forced to leave by starvation. This 

 is due to the fact that the rains are erratic in character, and, on an 

 average, are just sufficient to produce good crops. In one year, or 

 series of years, large crops may be raised, and the report is widely 

 spread that here is the "promised land;'' no sooner has settlement 

 been established than the rains decrease slightly, or come at the wrong 

 season, crops are lost, and the settlers are forced to migrate. 



This is also called the countr}' of the ""rain belters," the phrase 

 originating from a popular belief that bj" the building of railroads, the 

 stringing of telegraph wires, the breaking up of the sod, and by otlier 

 human agencies the belt of permanent rainfall is extended westward. 

 This popular delusion has ensnared many emigrants, and even now it 

 is repeated )\v those whose hopes lead them to the belief that the rain- 

 fall is actually becoming more stable. 



AHEA WHICH CAN BE RECLAIMED. 



The area of land which can be reclaimed by ii-rigation is relatively 

 small. If 2 or 3 per cent of the vast extent of arid lands of the United 

 States are ultimately reclaimed and put under cultivation it will 

 mean a population in the western half of the United States almost as 

 great as that now in the eastern half of the countr3\ Figure 6 shows 

 the areas where it is proljable that irrigation can be carried on, or 

 wdiere it is now being carried on, and where it can further be extended. 

 If the West is developed to the extent that all these patches indicate 

 we will have a wonderful change in the social and connuercial relations 

 of the United States as a whole. 



The comparatively regular distribution of these irrigable lands in 

 each State is notable. The entire extent of irrigation development 

 in each State is, of course, very small, but, if I am correctly informed, 

 the proceeds from the small irrigated area in Colorado are alread}" 

 greater than from the mines. 



The vacant lands of the arid West may be considered under three 

 distinct categories: (1) The irrigable land, which alwavs will be rela- 

 tively insignificant as regards area, but of first importance as to 

 A'alues; (2) forested areas, where the land has relatively little value 

 for agriculture, l)ut is of great importance in producing perpetual 

 crops of wood or timber, and in protecting the water supply — this area 

 comprises probably from 1(» to 20 per cent of the arid West; (3) the 

 great bod}^ of arid land which would be productive with water, but for 

 Avhich an adequate supply can never be had — this includes 80 per cent 

 of the entire West, and is commonly spoken of as "desert," although 

 nearh' every acre has some value for stock-raising purposes at one 

 time or another. 



