, 1889-12-15
Mr.. MEAD'S REMARKS.
Report of the Territorial Engineer
to the Governor.
Great Progress and Grand Future
for Farming Here.
A Surplus of Water for Reclamation
Near Big Streams.

Territorial Engineer Mead yesterday
submitted to Governor Warren a report
of the operations of his office since the
organization Of the department in April
1886
IMPORTANCE oE IRRIGATION.
The reclamation of the arid domain by
the aid of irrigation is one of the most
important industrial problems now con-
fronting the country. Upon its solution
depends the value Of two ifths of the ag
r%icultural area and its climatic and.attend-
ant influences are often felt.
H RID BELT.
The arid belt extends across the country
from north to south and separates the
humid district of the east from that OF the
Pacific coast. Until made habitable and
productive by irrigation the region will
remain u~nproductlve. 1t has a climate
unequalled on the continent, its stimulat-
ing and inyigorating qualities restoring
the health and p~rolonging the life of in
valids in nearly every instance.
Within its limits are found our princi
pal deposits OF precious metals and i'm
mense bodies Of useful minerals. Upon the
development of these depends
the provision of a cheap and abundant
food supply for those engaged in the work
and the same must be grown in the con-
Stunning localities.
A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
1t becomes apparent that the success of
irrigation is not only a question of vital
interest to the localities directly interested
but is in the widest sense a subject which
has for the whole nation material interest
and importance. The extent of our
country and big area of unoccupied land
in the east has prevented, to an extent.
the recognition of these facts, but interest
has recently been aroused on the subject
by the dissemination of information
through various channels and the action
of congress in conducting Investigations.
All this will assist the arid region.
DEVELOPMENT IN WYOMING.
This territory differs from nearly all the
western commonwealth in the fact that
its settlement and development is not the
result of mining excitements. The chief
employment of the people is and has been
the care Of grazing and farming interests.
To the fact is due the surprising %agricul-
tural advancement of the past decade.
The territory has beer handicapped by
the lack of transportation facilities and
the heavy outlay involved In the construc-
ton of our big irrigation works would not
have been met save through the profits of
the cattle business and the necessity for
winter food supplies to be stored in the
early fall.
Wyoming, the youngest territory in
the Union. stands third in the area of ir-
rigated and and in the number and mile
age of irrigation canals. To make com
parisons, its farming land is greater than
the average of the New England states
and its irrigated territory is larger than
that of France and Spain combined and
equal to half of Italy. All this has been
done in ten years under unfavorable cir
cumstances, and should shelve all ques-
tons as to the ultimate greatness of this
commonwealth. II the pioneers of this
work can produce such results, what may
not be accomplished through tie inter
v%ention of ample capital or of state or ma
tional aid p?
Construction of canals here has been in
advance of legislation on the subject and
this has naturally resulted in unavoidable
injustice and hardship in some cases, and
has greatly increased the gravity and diff
ficnlty of devising and operating a system
for regulating the division and use of the
public water supply.
USE OF WATER,
The most unfortunate feature of our de.
velopment in irrigation agriculture is the
haphazard fashion in which water has
been appropriated and the absence of
proper supervision over the distribution.
This has in many cases increased expense
and made success difficult. At first the
people were aghast at any proposition
looking to restrictions on the use of water.
They had always believed that water was
public property to be used RS the appro-
priator elected.
A TRANSITION PERIOD.
Experience has demonstrated that su.
pervision is absolutely essential and there
is every reason to believe that we are now
at a turning point throughout the arid
belt. in which the unaided and often mis-
directed efforts of individuals are to give
way to works constructed according to
systematic plans having for their object
economical distribution of water and
reclamation Of large areas. Agricultural
values are rather in the water than in the
land. Important national measures which
will affect this interest are now under con-
sideration and local governments are tax
ing more efficient steps for protecting and
fostering this interest.
The prospective admission of Wyoming