Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1889-07-07
WATER AND LAND VALUE

a.-, il Is worth $40 an acre wher
Supply of water to irigate it car
be had.
THIS rule will not apply in all
FOR in most cases There arc
thousands of places where the land
is absolutely worthless without
water, or where thu Gnvernmer
prize OF it is only 81 20 an acre.
which put under water becomes
worth hundred times that amount.
Major Powell of the United States
geological survey, estimates from
his large experience, that any land
when irrigated, becomes worth from
$50 to 5000 an acre, ard places the
average value of irrigated lani
throughout the United States at
$50 an acre. This value is put up
on it not by its capacity TO produce
spesial crops. bu, Tor the ordinary
farm rrodurts for which there is an
unlimited market. Where fruits
are high priced products are cult
waited. the hi, cher range of prices is
justified by the returns to the Guilt
vator.
The valne attaches not only by
reason OF the high fertility OF the
soil. hut because Of the certainty
which attends cultivation. When
the season for planting arrives.
there Is no waiting for rains to put
the ground in condition to pillow.
Tho farmer iur rs on the water TO
such land rs he desires to cultivate.
and gets il in the proper stage to
work we'll and to germinate the seed
promptly. He does not lose his
seed by rntting from too much rain,
or by drying up because of too Int
tie. He gives it water at any stage
of growth as may Le required
When the crop is maturpd he takes
il from the ground, and 1t is ready
to water again and plant with an
other crop. He can calculate Tor
his business with less contingencies
in = word, he becomes in a degree
independent OF tie natural ele-
m.nts.
Under these circumstances, he
neither needs nor wants rain
during the cultivating season.
Every shower is detriment. as it
disarranges his plans. Ii the
location is i'm the southern belt,
where the seasons are long and !
the Sunshine bright and warm, he |
gets the great advantage, hut |
South or North, there is no locality |
where irrigation will not he found |
beneficial, even though the natural |
water supply NAV be ample. |
There are always days or weeks |
during the growing season when a |
little water would add materially |
to the product. There is the |
further advantage of fertilizlng the |
soil, which never wears out If |
irrigated. The water which runs
over the ground is an accumulation
of fertilizing elements, from the |
time IT touches the surface until it
deposits its precious bur,,en where
1t is absorbed into the earth.
Fields cultivated for generations
sud centuries grow constantly
more productive.
Another advantage, most appar-
emit in the cultivation of orchards
and vineyards, is the destru,- ton
of depredating insects, and the
consequent improvement in the
quality OF the fruit. There are no
worinesten apples from an irrigated
orchard; there are no curculio to
destroy the plums.
Here. then. is the foundation
upon which irrigation is built as an
industry. l. paws. How mnch it
will pay, how much expenditure it
will justify. will depend on the
local conditions. The better the
lxnd the better the crops, and the
larger the profits. A climate
which permits two or three crops
in the season gives hotter results,
and will justify larger outlay.
Considering all the points herein
it follows that wherever