Unirrigated Lands of Eastern Colorado. 
Based on a Study and Residence 
of Seven Years. 
By J. E. PAYNE, M. S. 
After spending seven years on tire Plains, three of which 
were devoted to traveling and making a special study of the conn- 
try, and collecting information concerning the results obtained by 
settlers, we give the statements contained on the following pages 
to the public. 
We are often asked, “Can a man make a living on the 
Plains?” The only answer which can be safely returned is, “It 
depends upon the man.” 
Soil. The soil of the country is quite fertile, as a rule, and 
whenever it is watered sufficiently at the proper time—either by 
rainfall or irrigation—abundant harvests are reaped. The most of 
the soil of the region would be classed as sandy loam. But there 
are large areas of heavy clay soil, and some which is called 
“adobe.” With some exceptions, the more clay there is in the 
soil, the more water is needed to raise a crop upon it. Good crops 
have been raised on some dark sandy soils with very little rain¬ 
fall. On the “adobe” soil “dry farming” is a failure. 
Rainfall. The average rainfall of the country is between 
fifteen and twenty inches. Records kept for a few years indicate 
that it is not far from seventeen inches, but they have not been 
kept long enough to be considered reliable. 
Wind. During only a few days in any year is there a dead 
calm. There is nearly always a breeze, varying in velocity from 
four to forty miles per hour. At first, this seems hard; but when 
we consider that nine-tenths of the stock must depend upon water 
pumped from deep wells, we realize that the wind is an extremely 
valuable free power, and decide to put strings on our hats and not 
complain. 
Sunshine. Eastern Colorado is eminently a land of sunshine. 
Very few cloudy days occur. Probably, 300 days in the year are 
