Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-10-30
THE TRANs-MIssOURI REGION.

We make the following extract from
the speech of S. H. Elbert, of Colorado,
before the Irrigation Convention at Den
yer, on the 18th inst:
While it is generally known that there
is II large district of country west of the
Missouri river which is comparatively
raiuless, the fact, in all its extent Of geo.
graphical area, and industrial import
ance; in all its relations to the pioneer
citizen and his wants to the General Gov
erument and its duty in the premises,
has never fully presented itself to the
mind of either the legislator or general
public. Nor is this strange. The sub
iect has assumed that broad importance
which commands general attention only
by virtue of its relations to the well-being
of civil society. and civil society in the
trans Missouri States and Territories is
of but recent establishment. American
civilization, reaching the region Of the
Great Plains, is confronted by new
want, broad in geographical extent and
vital to its industrial life. Let me state
the case
THE ARID REGION.
The 99th meridian of longitude west
from Greenwich-the meridian Of Fort
Kearney on the Platte river-marks di-
vision line in the physical geography of
the continent Here the prairies merge
into the great plains-here the abundant
rainfall of eastern meridians ceases.
Westward lies one-half Of the geographic
cal area of the United States. All of this
vast region, excepting the maritime front
of the Pacific, is without sufficient rain
fall for the cultivation of the soil. This
is the fact which lies in the pathway of
our ,oumercial and industrial progress.
and to which we seek to call the atten-
ton of Congress and the country. This
arid region comprises the Territories of
New Mexico Arizona. Colorado, Wyom-
ing. Montana, Idaho, Utah, and the State
of Nevada, together with large portions
of California, Oregon, Washington, Da-
kota, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas; that
is to say, one-third of the geographical
area of the Republic--one million square
miles of arid country.
This region exhibits summary of all
continental features; mountain masses,
extensive plateaux, undulating plains,
fertile valleys, rivers, lakes and springs.
Two great parallel mountain chans--the
Sierra Nevada and the Sierra Madre--
trayersing the entire domain from South
to North; eight hundred miles in average
breadth Of intervening plateau, cut and
gorged by great rivers, and divided into
photographic basins of great extent by
transverse mountain chains; the great
plains descending by the gentlest of
slopes from the bases Of the Sierra Madre
eastward to the prairie lands of the Mis-
souri,; rivers and smaller streams sweep
ing down from the mountain flanks and
threading valley and plain as arteries of
the human system, constitute the grand
physical outlines of this arid region.
In supreme grandeur of mountain
masses, in intense beauty of mountain
scenery, in wide expanse of fertile plain,
in salubrity of climate. brightness Of
skies, sweetness and purity of air, the
entire region stands unriyaled and su-
preme. H..I.l.
The three great facts, however, which
bear upon the question in hand are
First-The region is arid.
Second-The productive capabilities
of the soil, when irrigeted, are unsur-
passed.
Third-The water supply Of its rivers,
properly utilized, is abundant to redeem
millions of acres which are now lying
waste.
The aridity of the region described is
well agriculture without irriga.
ton is impossible, and from it arises this
condition of things in all the States and
Territories mentioned.