, 1884-06-25
COLORADO FARMS.
How They Are Made Fertile by L.
rigaGing CanalR-
The Enormous Yield OF Wheat and
Other CereaIs---InterestIng Facts
and Figures Concerning h
Channela-
Denver Cor. Chicago Tribune.I

httE
Denver Cor. Chicago Tribune.l
Without the aid OF irrigation nothing can
be done ngriculturally in Colorado. for she Is
what Is known us a ~ralnless stnte-that Is,
not enough rain falls in the valleys to insure
the maturing of crops Having once learned
this, and that there was sufficient water in
the rivers and creeks, fed by the melting
SHOWS, to irrigate o considerable quantity OF
land, n number OF small bitches or canals
were dug from the Platte river and Clear
creek, near Denver and Golden, as far back
as twenty years or more ago. Horace
Greeley, on his trip to Colorado. saw the
wonderful products Of the soil of that state,
and the result was the formation
thirteen years ago OF Union colony and the
town bearing his name. There the first large
~irrigating cnnal was built, it being over
Thirteen miles long. 1t was taken from the
Cache In Ioudre, q tributary to the South
Platte. Farming was begun and carried OF
systematically, md such WINS the success OF
this colony that in a few years the entire
eastern slope of the Rocky mountains, from
Colorado springs to Greeley, a distance Of
about les miles, was covered with irrigating
canals, which result can be traced directly to
the success OF this first enterprise. Even
then the demands of the state for products
u AAIb hVAA tANttlAbd luo uPD u " Nv
100000 to SIC, 100000 annually, and such is
the case to-day.
IRRIGATION.
or the manner Of raising a crop by irriga-
ton very little Is known outside OF those dis
tricts where il Is practiced. The first step
necessary ia tho construction of the main
canal. Til water is taken from a river or
creek. the supply being regulated by means
of a headgate. This canal may be six, ten,
or fifty miles long. At intervals, as needed,
small canals or latcrals are taken from the
main canal each having a hendgate. These
laternls nre built 40 as TO accommodate the
greatest number of farms At regular in
tervals sub-laterals are taken from the
lntcrals, these being for the use of Individual
farmer. Before the time for blowing, unless
there has been rain enough to moisten the
ground, the farmer opens his headgate and
let's the water flow upon tho land until it Ia
thoroughly saturated. This is accomplished
by means of small trenches upon the highest
points, the water gradually flowing over the
land. When enough water has been put
upon one piece another gate is opened and
the same process employ ed, until the whole
farm is irrigated.
FLOWING.
The blowing is then lone and the seeding
follows. Ordinarily ten acres can be irI1-
gated by one man in a day, and eighty acres
Is the for one man to cultivate in a
season. The same process is employed after
the crops are up, two irrigations being
sufficient during the growing season to ma
trre them. 1t will be readily seen from this
that the farmer holds the means in his own
hands OF making a crop. There is every
reasonable assurance OF success, for by tho use
of water, always at hand, the roots OF the grow
ing crops can be kept constantly moistened,
thus assuring their maturity. Droughts,
therefore, are not to be feared, as the streams
are fed by melting snow in the mountains
and floods are unknown in Colorado. The
unusual dispensations OF nature Tor "acts OF
God'O, such as hailstorms and ~cloudbursts,
are the only things, then, that are to b,
feared, and every agricultural section is
subject to them while they do not possess
the advantages OF irrigation, The expense
OF irrigation, compared with the benefits, Il
very small, the cost not averaging 81 per
acre per annum.
II CROPS RAISED.
The yield Of all farm products Is enormous.
Fields of wheat average forty to fifty bushels
per acre, the average last year for the entire
state being nineteen bushels. against seven
teen for California and Oregon, thirteen for
Dakota, and eleven for Minnesota. This Is
the highest average Of any state and terri
tory. Oats average about forty bushels;
barley the same. Potatoes frequently grow
as large as five pounds, and yield as high as
$50 to 800 bushels per acre. Beets, turnips,
and all root crops yield equally as we'll.
Wild hay cuts from one to two tons rer
acre, while alfalfa ranges from four TO six
tons, at from two 10 three cuttings. Small
fruits. such as strawberries, raspberries, cur
rants, blackberries and ~gooseberries, yield as
well us could be wished, the average net
profit per acre being from $500 to 800.
Apples, pears, plums, and ounces, also do
we'll, the capacity of the trees being the only
limit These statements are facts that have
come directly under the observation of the
writer, and can therefore be relied upon.
THE IRRIoATINa CANALS.
In the near future Colorado will have under
cultivation 500, ono acres Large canals are now
completed that will irrigate 600, 600 acres OF
land and be the means OF increasing the ngri-
cultural wealth Of the state many millions OF
dollars. These canals have boon under CON
struction for from one to two years, and are
located in different parts of the state. They
are being operated, and the government land
lying under them is being rapidly taken.
When all under cultivation not only viii the
wants OF Colorado DO supplied, but Wyoming,
New Mexico, and Arizona will, as now, be
excellent markets for all surplus products.
by lar the largest i~rrigatng canals are
those controlled by the Colorado Loan s.
Trust company OF Denver, OF which the Hon.
7. c. Henry, formerly OF Abilene, Kan, and
known for many years as the wheat king OF
that state, is president The company has
water for irrignting nearly one million acres
OF land, the principal canals being in the San
Luis valley, in the southern part OF the state,
In this valley, which contains $500 square
miles, there are three large canals, the ca
pacity being G0O,0o o acres. In the Uncoin-
pahgre valley one canal recently completed
has a capacity OF nearly 100, 900 acres, and in
the Grand river valley the canal Of the same
name can furnish water for l25, 200 acres
The other enterprises are located in tho
northern part Of the STATE, and cover upward
of 800, 600 acres. There are other canals
owned by other parties, but they are small,
their combined capacity not being over
$50, 900 acres.
short Cut to Dividends.
WALL Street Newsl
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