New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-24
XIVI.
MORE OF IRRIGATION.

10 the operation Such the valleys of the Platte
and Of nearly quite all it's auents after they leave
the Rocky Mountains such is the valley of the Upper
Arkansas; such the valleys of the Smoky Hill and the
Republican, far down as Irrigation may be consld-
cred necessary. Irrigation all these seems TO me
inevitable and certain 10 be speedily though capri
cioUsly effected.
believe dam across either fork Of the Platte, AZ
any favorable point above their junction, raising the
surface of the stream six feet at cost not exceed
ing $1,000 would serve to irrgate completely not
less than 50 square miles of the valley below It, while
serving at the same time to furnish power for mills
and factories TO very considerable extent for the
need of Irrigation is not incessan but generally con-
fined to two three months per annuIn, and all OF
the volume OF the stream not needed for Irrigation
could be utilized as power. Thus the valleys of the
few constant water-courses of the Plains may come
at an early day to employ and subsist dense and
energetic population engaged in the successful prose-
cution alike of agriculture and manufactures, while
belts groves and forests Of choice luxurian timber
will diversity and embclliSh regions now bare of
trees and but thinly covered with dead heritage from
June till the following April.
But, when We rise above the bluffs, and look off
across the blank, bleak where no living water
exists the problem becomes more difficult aud its
solution will doubtless be much longer postponed
To a stranger, these bleak upands seem sterile and
though such is not generally the fact, the presump
ton viii repel experiments which involve large
initial outlay. The railroad companies, which now
own large tracts of these lands. will be obliged
either TO demonstrate their value TO incte indi
viduas and cooniss to do ii by liberal concessions
As the case stands to-day most of these lands which
would have been dear at five cents per before
the roads were built could not be sold at any price
90 IL tbp mil in lain
sight because of the dearth of fuel and timber, and
because also the means of rendering them fruitful
and their cultivation profitable are out of reach
Of the ordinary pioneer Hence, so long as
the valleys of living streams profer such obvious in-
vitaions to settlement and tage, by aid OF lTiga-
ton Judge that the higher and dryer plains viii
mainly be left to the halfsavage herdsmen who rear
cattle and sheep without feeding aud sheltering
them by giving them the rang of qdarter-section
to each bullock and submitting to the loss OF
hundred head OF after each great and cold snow
Storm as an unavoidable dspensatiSn OF Provi-
dence.
But in process OF time the wild herdsmen will
be softened into or replaced by regular farmers,
blowing and seeding for vegetables and small grains
shcltering their habtations with trees and sending
their children to school And this change involves
Irrigation and the following are among the ways 1t
will be effected:
The Plains are nowhere absolutely fat las / pre-
sumo the desert" Of Sahara mott, but diversified
by slopes and swells and gentle ridges or divides,
afordug abundant facilities for the distribution OF
water well sunk on tue crest OF one OF these
divides viii be filed with living water at depth
ranging from 80 to 100 feet. A windmill of modest
dimensions placed over this well will be rarely
stopped for want Of impeling power Wind being
next 10 space, the thing most abundant on the
Plains reservoir or pond covering three or four
acres NAV be made adjacent 10 the well at a small
cost Of labor by excayating slightly and using the
earth to form an embankment on the lower side
The windmill left alone, viii fill the reservoir durlng
the windy Winter and Spring months with water
soon warmed in the sum- and ready TO be drawn of as
wanted throughout the thirsty season OF vegetable
growth and maturity. Carefully saved, the product
of one well will serve to mosten and WITTY good
many acres Of grass or tillage,
Such is the retail plan applicable to the wants Of
solitary farmers but hope to see it supplemented
and invigorated by the extensive introduction Of
Artesan wells whereof two, by way of experiment,
are now in progress at Denver and Kit Carson re-
spectively
Ineed not here describe the Artesian well farther
than to say that it is made by boring TO depth
ranging from 700 to than 600 feet tubing regu-
larly from the top downward until a stream is
reached which will rise to ard above the surface,
flowing over the top Of tie tube in stream often rs
large as an average stOve-pipe. Such Wen, after
supplying settlement or modest village with water,
NAV he made 10 fiji reservoir that will sufficiently
irrgate thousand cultivated acres. Its water will
usually be warmer than though obtained from near
the surface and therefore better adapted TO Trga-
ton.
OF course the Artesian wei il costly and will not
soon lie constructed for uses purely agricultural but
tAerailroads tTavorsug the Plains tdeat B'sn
will sometimes be compelled 20 resort 70 one with
ont having .tf'IG tw.nti' j .c'l Z .t' "~'er 'hcy
thus ertes from lie bowels ci tine cA.h aI4 .ha'
which they cannot use they win be Gaa 20 sell for
moderate price, thus creating GASES OF Verdure ana
honuteous production The papable interests of rail-
roads in dotting their long lines of desolation with
such cheering contrasts of field and meadow and
waving trees. renders their hearty cooperation no
wise doubtful with any enterprising pioneer VINO
shall bring the requisite capital, energy, knowledge
and faith. to the prosecution of the work.
These are but hasty suggestions Of methods which
will doubtless be multiplied, varied and improved
unon in the light of future experience and study
And. when the very best and most effective methods
of subduing the Plains 10 the uses OF civilized man
shall have been discovered and adopted there Will
still remain vast areas free commons Tor the heIus
men and sporting-gTounds for the hunter OF the Ek
and the Antelope, after the Buffalo shall have utterly
disappeared.
lido not doubt the assertion of the plainsinen thai
rain increases as settlements are multiplied. Cross
INC tbe Plains in 1852 noted indications that timber
had formerly abounded where none now grows anc
nresnme that, as young trees are multiplied IN tn
wake of civilization finally thickening INTO clinp
Of timber and beginning forest, more ram VIII IAN
and the extension Of woodlands become compare
lively easy. But relatively TO the country eAS'"ai'