The Delta independent., 1889-01-08
IRRIGATION. IN COLORADO.
From tn. Drov.r. Journal.

From the Drovers Journal
Within the past few years what we may
call the irrigation system Of farming has
been making wonderful progress in the
Rocky Mountain Country, especially SO in
Colorado; in California, too, great attep
ton has been Of late years paid to this sys-
tenn for the good reason that wherever ir,
rigation has been applieo IN sound princi-
pies in the business Of farming it has been
found to fully Justify every reasonable ex-
pectation in the way Of producing abund-
ant crops without failure, either through
the effects Of floods or drouth in all
cases where good soil has been brought
into use.
In Colorado there are At the present
time 600 linear miles of irrigation bitches
large and small, and the irrigation facili-
ties thus provided have outrun the demand
for its use SO that there are at present
about /, ,0OO,000 acres of unimproved lands
lying in the irrigated districts. Notwith-
standing this fact the work of extending
the system il still being pushed forward
rapidly; the advantages of the system
have been SO fully demonstrated that CAPT
talists seem TO have no misgivings as to tho
soundness Of any Investments they may
make within reasonable bounds in this
kind Of Improvement.
These water rents range from $l.5o to
ESQ per acre per annum in Colorado, or
II farmer is so disposed he can purchase
perpetual rigat to q supply of water suf-
hcient for eighty acres Of land; this will
cost from Is to SIS per acre, according to
locality and other conditions. A far
mer who has eighty acres of good
land with n perpetual water right at
tached and paid for, certainly has an
sured living rs long as he gives his farm
reasonable attention and labor. Crops Of
all kinds can be produced with certainty in
all years after the minor bitches are all
provided for distributing the water to
every part Of the farm, and the farmer can
mako reliable calculation as to the expense
OF applying the water TO the crops on any
given area Of ground, and also as to the
outcome OF the crops on the same 30 far rs
yield il concerned. Colorado has within
her borders large stretches Of land that is
of superior quality for the production Of
wheat, tho soil being rich and containing
Just enough alkali TO make it especially
we'll adapted to the raising Of tim; cereal
under the irrigation system that is now be-
Ing brought into common use, and under
this system oats, rye and barley are pro-
duccd of overweight. Superior quality of
root crops and garden truck Of all kinds
can be brought TO the utmost perfection
under this system, and all kinds of small
fruits as well.
sfna hat Hhv-s.x, tx,AG .N,x.-s ehs.
growing season crops require to be thor.
oughly well wAtercd, and q man who is an
expert atthc work can go over eighty acres
Of growing crops in eight or ten days. The
nrst application Of winter il given about the
middle of May and the last about the first
of August In addition To this irrigation
Of the growing crops 1t is n common thing
to irrigatc the land late in the fall so that
the ground may be in good condition for
putting In the crops the following spring.
Colorado leads all the other States in the
production Of alfalfa Although this for
ago plant will give surprising results in
rainless doscrta, its growth under the Colo
RADIO irrigation system is simply marvel
ous. Tho alfalfa plant as II stands in the
held. REACHES height Of two feet, and the
hrst cutting takcs place In June, and after
this crop il taken on Of the ground tho
water is applied, and in about one month
the second crop is ready TO cut; the ground
is again watcrci and third crop IL ma
turcd, the land thus treated giving two tons
To the acre At each cutting.
The constitution aud laws OF Colorado
have been 80 framed us &c especially On
courage the fullest development OF n thor
oughly effective system OF irrigation, and
all the valley lands Of the State are in n
fair way to be brought under this kind Of
system within u comparatively short time
There arc, however, somc large tracts of
high plain and meea lands, rich enough as
TO soil, that lie 30 high as TO be out Of tho
water furnished by the streams that have
thus far been tapped. These districts will
have TO be supplied by large reservoirs
Suilt ut sufficient elevations to meet such
cases.
A move 10 now being made in this direc.
ton with vicw TO the establishment of
such reservoirs in different portions Of the
Rocky Mountain country. The plan for
storing water In large reservoirs during
the spring season to be used for irrigation
purposes during the dry season secms to be
steadily gaining favor in the public esti
nation. The prospect now 10 that large
irrigation plants Of this kind will bc cstab.
lishcd IN different portions Of the Rocky
Mountain country within . comparative
ly short timc.