150 SURVEY OF COLORADO AND NEAV MEXICO. 



Between the Divide and the Eaton Mountains along the valleys of the 

 Arkansas and its branches, the lands can be irrigated with moderate 

 cost, though the streams are not so rapid as those in the northern 

 section. In this part of the Territory, as well as immediately north of 

 the Divide, the land between the streams does not assume such regular 

 terrace forms as those north of the Platte. 



Ditching at present is generally done by plowing and throwing out 

 the dirt, except where very large ones are required. The process is 

 also often facilitated by using a scraper. But doubtless ditching machines 

 will soon be introduced. ^ 



The largest acequia I know of in Colorado is near Denver, on the 

 south side of Platte Eiver. It is several miles in length, and cost 

 about $14,000, and irrigates quite a number of farms. 



The cost, when estimated by the number of acres irrigated, is much 

 lessened by several farmers uniting and making one large ditch suffi- 

 cient to supply the farms of all entering into the combination. The 

 smaller side ditches, which lead oft* to the various fields, are made "with 

 the plow, and hence the cost of these is but nominal. 



There appears to have been but little improvement made in this part 

 of agricultiu-e for centuries past; and, in fact, it is susceptible of but 

 little imiDrovement. In my more extended report, which I expect to 

 prepare during the winter, I propose to take up this subject of irriga- 

 tion more fully, as it seems to hang somewhat as an incubus over west- 

 ern agriculture, at least in the minds of those living in sections sup- 

 plied with rain. Yet when it is considered in that broad view corre- 

 sponding to the vast extent of our country, it will be seen that it is one 

 item in the series of variety necessary to the complete prosperity of 

 the nation — one liuk in the grand chain necessary to render us inde- 

 pendent as a nation. 



One advantage of irrigation, which will occur to the mind of any 

 one, is that the crop can be watered whenever it is needed. But at the 

 same time irrigation has some disadvantages which are not apparent 

 until shown by experience. One of these is that the crops do not re- 

 ceive exactly equal portions of water throughout the same field, and, 

 consequently, do not ripen evenly. I have seen fields of wheat and 

 oats presenting every variety of condition in the same field, from quite 

 green to very ripe. Every farmer will at once perceive the difficulty 

 arising from such a condition as this. It might be supposed that when 

 the fields have been overflowed for some days with water, the laud, after 

 the water was drawn off, would assume that condition termed "baked;" 

 but nature generally furnishes a counterj)oise to all her apparent aber- 

 ration; and, following this rule, she has here suited the soil to the cli- 

 matic conditions, and hence this anticii3ated state does not follow irri- 

 gation. 



I made an effort to ascertain what the average cost of ditching is to 

 the acre, but found it next to an impossibility to do this. The difference 

 in the nature of the ground at different points, the uncertainty iu regard 

 to the price of labor, the difference in the sizes of the ditches, would 

 render an average, if it could be obtained, worthless. 



DRAWBACKS. 



As the want of water has already been somewhat fuEy considered, I 

 will omit it here. 



The scarcity of timber for building, fuel, fencing, and other purposes, 

 may very i)roperly be classed as one of the drawbacks in this Terri- 



