I “Black Alkali'’ in the San Luis Valley 15 
conditions in this way by carrying the “black alkali” into the deeper 
remove 1t° f Ti e * th . ey d ° ,lot destro y jt or evel1 permanently 
icallv 13/ T le a , dd i n ° f a sufflclent amount of gypsum, theorem 
cally, \/ 4 pounds for every pound of “black alkali” in the soil 
prac icallv about 9 pounds of gypsum to one of “black alkali” 
will change it into 'white alkali” and then the land will not o- e t 
l ard for 4 inches on the surface and the crops will grow again 
he application of the water must be to the surface by means of 
furrows or by flooding. y 01 
A very important consideration is, How can the gypsum be 
obtained? It would have to be brought in, as this mineral doll 
prohibitive 1 " Th A * pr6Sent time > frei g ht rates are 
prohibitive. The net cost to me of 6 tons of ground gypsum at 
ortland was $24.00, the freight to Center was $48.00. The cost of 
this gypsum was too high and the freight was much worse ' ' 
While gypsum does not occur in the valley, it is usually very 
abundant between the first line of hogbacks, the Dakota sand 
s ones and the east flank of the Front Range. It usually outcrops 
and its quarrying is easy. The quarrying, transportation and 
grinding ought to be a community matter if this section of the 
pro fils , 1S redaimed - These thin ^ ™«st be done on small 
Some drainage is necessary to reclaim portions of this land 
but how much benefit is to be expected from large systems aim- 
mg to drain the whole section is an open question. 
