The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-01

latter the area IN which agriculture can be
successfully prosecuted only by mssns 81
artificial irrigation. The physical character
isties Of the arid region affect the national
economy in important particulars. ard
constitute conditions xhieh demand certain
notifications Of og1 TsssElic land policy.
Practically. the government has disposed
o. al Lands Of any valne within the burrid
region. This has given cause 10 westward
Immigration. The restraint which the
arid region has imposed upon settlement
WAS recently illustrated by fhe rush Of ina
migration into Oklahoma portion Of asse
Indian territory vel vi hin tie hSrsts az
the humid area. IN the remainder Of these
articles attention viii be invited exclusively
70 that portion OF :. Uncle Sans Farm
which lies wess OF The l09th meridian i.e.,
the arid region.
THE ARD REGION.
The arid region Of the United States en-
tends from about the Io0th meridian of
west longitude TO the Sierra Navada range
and the Pacific ocean. Approximately its
dimensions are no miles from north to
south and 1900 miles from east 10 vest.
IL contains. IN round numbers, one thou
sand million acres of land. According to
MAJOR John w. Powell. director Of the geo.
logical survey, il embraces about foilr-
tenths OF the total area of the United States,
exclusive of Alaska.
For many years the arid region was
known IS the Great American desert. =
This designation, with respect to one char
acteTistic. vas apparently correct Its rain
fall Is not sufficient for the needs OF agri-
culture. But in other important partieu-
lars ii is glaringly incorrect and misleading
When supplied with water. its soil Is highly
productive. Besides. throughout this area,
and suited TO IT'S conditions. nature. out OF
her fecundity, has planted 3 variety of
highly nutritious grasses. which cure in
the open air and retain their nutritious
properties through the storms and atnlos-
pheric changes of two and even three years.
No hay gathered into barns is SO well pre-
served. The principa! grasses Of the arid
region are buffalo grass (B,sehtDe dacfy-
loidcs), gramma grass (Boufeioaa olis0s-
fachy6) and .sbunch grass OF var
ious species. When these fail, ami
mails have recourse TO sage-hrush
and grease-wood gSaTcobahss Fsriafculat.a).
and the shrubs which grow along the
borders of streams. For untold centuries
abundant pasturage for millions OF buiia-
Ioes, elk, moose, deer and other gralninivor-
Gus animals.
In another important particular the
designation Great American desert" is
glaringly incorrect. The lands OF the arid
region become surprisingly productive
when irrigated By turning water upon
them from the rivers and smaller streams.
A given amount OF labor and capital ex-
pended in agricultural pursuits 10 the arid
region viii, by means OF irrigation, pro-
Guce much larger results than in the rain
fall area This is an economic and COM.
mercial fact of the highest Importance,
which viii be more fully treated In sepa-
rate article. Large portions OF the arid
region, however cannot be irrigated, and
for all time will be of value only as pastur-
age. Other extensive areas, embracing the
more mountainous areas, are valuable
only as forests.
PASTORAL INTERESTS OF THE ARID REGION.
Until about twenty years ago the arid
region remained the hunting ground of In
dians, who during the summer months
were permitted 20 leave their reservations
and engage in their favorate questionable
chase. But a change came Of moment0us
consequence to the whole country In the
discovery that the nutritious grasses of the
arid region. which cure so perfectly in the
open air, are available for the raising of
domestic animals with no care save that of
herding. Late in the fall of 1864 wagon
train hauled by oxen was on its way 20 a
military post in Utah. Its progress was
arrested on the Laramie plains by q severe
snowstorm, which compelled the PEOPLE in
charge to 60 into winter quarters Their
oxen were turned loose to die, but instead
of perishing with hunger during the winter
months, they grew fat upon the abundant
nutritious grasses-nature's hay which
covered the hills and valleys. The know
ledge Of this soon spread.
At this time there were in Texas millions
OF young cattle worth only from "a to- -
q head on the range, about the value OF
their hides and tongues. Hundreds OF
thousands, and even millions. OF these
were driven north in vast herds. Young
cattle were brought in from the East and
from the West, and within ten years the
ranges OF the arid region were stocked from
Texas to Montana. Thus the buffaios were
expelled from their former grazing grounds,
while hundreds OF thousands OF them we're
killed for their hides. But if no American
or foreign hunter had ever visited the arid
region the expulsion OF the bufiilos wsnlid
have been as certain and about as rapid as
Ii was. The moose, the elk, and the deer
also retreated to mountain Businesses, and
in naryelousiy short period OF time the
Indians occupation as hunter was Tor
ever gone. Besides, the Texas cowboy.
4.
enemy 10 the indian. held him close cor
raled upon his reservation.
The quality Of range beef has improved
considerably by crossing the native and
Texas cows with graded or fiiii-bloosisd
bulls OF the Hereford. Polled Angus. Sal
ioway and Shorshorn breeds. Besides. II
has been found that young Texas cattle a.
tain q greater weight on the Northern
ranges than IL held in Texas. sheep bus
bandrv has been successfully introduced
into all parts Of the arid region. The
losses among sheep On account OF severe
and protracted winter storms are mneh
less than among cattle. The wo9l product
OF the Arid region Is Of tine quality, and y
constantly improving BY the care taken Of
the sheer during the winter months. and
By iu,sicious breeding. The total N'ool
product az the arid region 70 1877 Eas
about 80, 0Oot0o pounds. and constituted
50 Per cent OF the total wool pFoagct o. the
United states
Raising horses on the range has also
heoome large ard profitable industry,
especially tn Wyoming, Utah. and IdAso.
The climate Of fhe arid regfon deseiops 30
horses excellent lang power, sna TIC Goa
titsons Of food and clsnafs proeuee strong
bones and boots imported stock Tor
hrne.linr rnrroses has been excessively ir-