New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-20
IRRIGAIION IN COLOEADO.
METHODS, PROGRESS AND RESULTS.

METHODS, PROGRESS AND RESULTS.
fRRoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENTS or the 1HBrNE'l
DENVER, Col, Dec. 7.-Watcr Is king III
Colorado or at will be when the great systems OF
Irrigation now under way in the state are fully dc.
yeloped Indeed il quite likely that the STATE viii
ultimately become important agricultural CENTRE ~
we'll AS a producer Of minerals Everything but tho
ncedfu rain fact hand TO make The heart OF The
,,rmer glad-a soil almost In eNhaustbly fertile. I!cii
auvia deposits borne down from the mountains 10 the
valleys by the turbulent streams, and maslhcc"t
stretches OF upland and mountain covered with timber
And the great systems OF irrigation nos IN operation or
being developed will enable the farmers to ignore the
one drawback-the absence Of rain.
Down all tho mountain slopes flow a multitude Of
streams some large some small. many Of
them fed from great fields OF perennial snow
These streams have been tapped their source far
above tho fertile valleys. and from them immense irrra-
ton canals have been aug many OF which are 100 miles
I'm length These canals not only convey the water 70
the farms but are utilized for the carryingof timber
from the mountains where 1t would otherwise be almost
inaccessible to markets where 1t can be readily sold
The irrigation compahlc' pay Hc"IJ d" ho c@P''O' u"
The water IS let in upon the farms nj their highest
point Ii Is allowed to run between the rows OF Shch
crops as potatoes and corn la Tho case OF es OF gi'
trenches about foot wide are made WIN INC iousl up
and down the Held about ly or hundred rect apart me
water which turned Into these trenches Is f'y nv
sorbed by the soil between them. by 10 a1W
mart of the field which especially needs II. Iwo risA-
tions e1ualling rainfall OF about nVe lGchcS' are
usually sufficient for wheat. All KINDS OF Vetcta'l9h
grow uxurianty In Colorado by means OF %
fact m Irritating waters heavily chalScu WIN cH
fertzing matter which of great bcncht to e crops
The cost of irrigation In Colorado Is sT h a6or and
wachfulness are considerable; but as an onset TO tI7
the farmer absolutely certain OF obtaining 'ne @
Iposture for his crops us when he wants IT, anu o hot
getting IL when he doesn't IT, That OF itself IS an IN
estfmable advantage In country where the nISHesN
0e rainfall Is only about third that OF ONO or
Illinois The crops raised by irrigation are thus surer
and greater than those dependent on the clements.
The rrigatng canals especially those leading btotho
great Montezuma Valley. also furnish splendid water
noWer for saw mills grst mills and other inanniaclur-
fnr without at all impairing their Valne IOr
pur noses OF Irrigation This beautiful city OF Denver has
shown TO how many irrigation may be put ana one
OF tho newest cities tho world Ia thus IN tho matter OF
following tho footsteps OF the ancient cities
of india and Egypt Irrigation Ia about 10 open up 10
IA ming co onisis the great MOntezuma valley cOnpTs
ing more than 300 900 OF farming lana togctho
W it'll rich coal beds and well wooded lhpci anus' ihiS
Is only one VI many such projeots