Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-12-07
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS OF DIFF
FERENT COUNTRIES.

1he traDh-Misslsaipfi feS VI 40 Sn'eioeN
from north 10 south by broad elevated
swell or plateau, occupying the greater part
of its area. The elevsting geologic forces
which caured this massive upheaval mani
tested special intensity along several anti
clinal axes, piliDg up great mountain ranges
and isolated peaks, which, in many instances
rise thousands of feet above the line OF per-
pe,ual snow. The main crest OF this general
uphesyal may be traced bv an undulaiing
line Of summits, separating the east and west
hound streams. The watershed IL the Rocky
Mountains proper, sometimes called the
backbone OF the continent. Il is the north
ward projection of the central branch OF the
Sierra Madre of Mexico, called the Cordiiie-
IA d'Apshusc. 1t crosses the international
boundary near the southeast corner OF Ari-
sona, with an eastward serpenline curve
through New Mexico aud Colorado, inclos-
ing in its commissions the magnificent peaks
Of the latter State. Il finally trends north
ward, across the western portions OF Wyon-
ing and Montana. Its greatest general alti-
tude is sbou, the thiriy-eigh,h parallel,
where j, presents no passes lower than lo,0OO
feet. To the northward the Union Pacific
has been able to find no gap lower than Ev-
ans Pass, s, 2i2 feet above sea-leyel. The
Northern Pacific has found Cade.te's Pass
about 5000 feet lover, while at the Sd par
ailel near the Mexican border, Its minimum
altitude sinks to $500 feet. These fact
show a central swell or elevation in thi,
"great divide" near the 3Sth parallel. Rail
road proiies show similar tendency in thu
platesu at the foot of the mountains. Denve
is 5. 800 leet shove tide water, Cheyenne i
G,O72, Desrborn's Valley, on Northern Pa
cifc is only 1901. These three poinis rep
resent the heights at which the great Contra
mountain axis springs from the general pis
teau, going wet. Denver is 100 feet abov
the summit in the SD parallel, and Chey
enne il 500 feet higher; while northward {
Dearborn's Valley the plateau sinks zoe
feet. Between the Rocky Mountains and tn
Sierra Nevada are three separate basins, @
which the northern is drained by the Coluu
bis and the southern BY the Colorado, Will
the Central, the great Utah basin, is cut o
by encircling mountains from all drainage
the sea. The great California Valley
drained py the Sacramento and San Joaqni
through the Golden Gate The western slop
of the Coat Range is watered BY numerou
streams Of mere local character. Some gen
eral facts in regard TO the capacities of thes
bssirs for irrigation have appeared. The de
clivily of the Upper Missouri and it' Stiiu
ents, except near the mountains, Is Sigh
For, B .n,on is not over 5000 feet above sc
level, while Omaha, at least one thousan
miles below. by the course OF the river,
nearly 1000 feet, giving fall OF lit'l
more than two feet per mile. In the sonlt
eastern basin, where irrigation IL especial
necsssar- the decree OF declinstion vari'
from 5 TO 10 feet per mile. The ,opogrsph
of the Colorado ba.in presents nearly a
equal generAl declination. To all of the'
iegions il will be necessary 10 apply irrig'
ton.
The future subjects will be irrigation
France. Spain, Italy, Indis and in our ow