Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-01-26
COMMUNICATED.

In the North American Review of
October, ex-senator Stephen w. Dorsey
publishes a rejoinder to Hon. Geo. w.
Julian upon the subject of land stealing
in New Mexico. 1t Is not with the pur-
pose of criticism as to the negative nor
affirmative of the question of land steal
ing in New Mexico that this article is
submitted to the reader. Mr.. Dorsey
says: Il challenge those who PERSISTS
in claiming that what is now known as
the Arid Region-will sooner or later be-
come productive by the natural rainfall,
to show me single instance anywhere
on the surface of the earth, where such
a result has been attained He gives
as evidence that New Mexico, parts OF
Arizona, and nearly all of the Republic
of Mexico, Peru. Chilli and Central Asia,
have been irrigated for thousands Of
years, probably, and still are irrigated.
There is no part of this earth had irri-
cation been resorted to at any previous
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There is not county in Kansas in ILL.,,
Iowa or any other state but if irrigation
had been brought into use, would be con-
tinued. 1t only proves that at an early
date, il was necessary for irrigation in
order to raise crops successfully every
year. There are valleys in the eastern
states where. if irrigation was had, the
crops would be immense every year.
The Shenandoah, the Cumberland and
other valleys east. The time will come
when they will irrigate those valleys
If CalifOrnians were to move back to
that country, they would begin irriga-
ton at once. So it is not so much an alb
solute necessity. as knowledge and
habit among the settlers of these coun-
tries. Hon. Chas Francis Adams strikes
some of the causes, and answers to rea-
sonahle extent, these statements made
by Mr.. Dorsey 1t must be remembered
that Mr.. Dorsey is one among the num-
Der of men who opposes the immigration
of settlers on the domain, for another
more important, personal reason, he is a
cattle man. He is largely interested in
the non settlement of the territories and
foreign grants. The same theory has
been taught in southwest Kansas. This
is that belt called the Arid belt, and
the rainfall has by degrees. increased
since 1S75-the report of which | have
before me, although irregularly but this
is where there has been nothing compar-
atively done as yet to produce the
change in moisture. At Dodge City in
1873, the rainfall was 1919 in 1876,
1910; i'm 1877. 27.S9; in 1878. 1896; in
1879, lj.43: in 1880. 1872; in 1881, 33 80;
in 1882, 13.14; in 1888, 30: in 1884,
3O.3G; in 1885. 1927; in 1886, 23.7l. The
difficulty is not even now in the amount
of rainfall, but in the distribution
throughout the year. The IL years gives
an average of about 30 inches each year,
which as it is sufficient is equally DIS
tributed during the year. AS to the
scientific investigations. they fail when
confronted with the natural facts. Ey-
erybody vuotes John G. Feemont's re-
ports as to desolation and barrenness of
the plains along the Platte valley, when
he first travelled up that valley. Other
settlers and travellers who have traversed
the same route since that time, have
made different statements 1t is not nee
essary to consult their statements, nor
Mr.. Dorsey's theory, but examine the
conditions and surroundings now along
the Platte and elsewhere, since the plow
has been put in the sod The single
roof in the shape of short Buffalo grass,
has given way to Blue Joint and Prairie
grass, and rain-fals ARE as bountiful as
anywhere in the states along the Platte
and as far west as the settlement have
gone. 1t has been proven that where
the tough Buffalo sod has been broken.
the soil here retains moisture most aston
ishingly, and that it is porous, and evap-
Grafton supplies the demand abundantly
with but little rainfall. 1t is ALWAYS
proven by the experience of settlers of
eastern Nebraska and Kansas that they
have more rainfall than we have three
hundred miles further west. and the dis
lance does not come into the considera-
ton, but the state of cultivation. There
are but few things farmer can do in the
way of improvement. that does not ad-
vance the moisture line: keeping out
fires; digging wells; planting trees;
breaking up the sod; producing and
even if nothing but weeds. The theory
must first be sustained by proof that the
moisture is not here at all. that the atmo-
sphere is destitute of moisture When
the facts are that there is an abundance
of moisture above. and cultivation will
bring. and does bring it down Travel
ers tell us by their writings, and even
those living tell us that the Arkansas
river was 20 years ago lined with barren
sand hills all along the south side. How
now! the sand hills are covered with the
most luXuriant grasses. The fires are
kept out TO some extent and the moisture
retained. Ii is possible that ex-senator
Dorsey had in his mind the old scare
which has kept the settler back for
purpose which is reasonable and to which
no one can find any particular fault.
That of holding on TO the vast plains for
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