Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-04-02
WASTE OF WATER.
A Matter Which Should be Investigated
by Farmers Everywhere.

never Iully appreciated, nor tHe var
ious modes fairly understood, until
one has experience in them. PROBES
sional treatises on the subject are help
full, and study of them necessary to
best results, but p little practice, with
good Judgment and some genius, are
ofmuch more value; besides, one never
comprehends the usefulness nor the
practicability of it under the many and
various circumstances whore it might
be practiced, until he has gone aud
done 1t himself. l remember many
places in the Eastern States where
not only irrigation OF gardens and
lawns, rs we'll M great fields. is prac-
ticable, easy and cheap, but l call to
mind many household where they
pump and draw all their lives every
drop OF water used. and for all their
stock, and where the dry spelr cuts
of their garden stuff and the grass
dies into brown patches and tho shrub
berry suffers In the front yard. all be-
cause they never had attention called
TO a source OF supply OF water, abund-
ant. clear and excellent, so near and 20
located that a few days work would
bring It to the very door; where a
beautiful spouting fountain and no
freshing pool with pretty ash p.syis-g
In II and bordered with magnificent
water plants might take the place OF
tho dusty ehicken-wallow; and grass,
green and fresh all summer. that OF
unsightly weeds. | know many a
place where lovely brook might be
brought to the farm buildings, and
after supplying, by pipes or troughs.
every other need could be so turned as
10 carry every particle OF useless stop
and refuse and offensive matter away
70 the fields ard meadows. where 1t
would BIO useful; contributing at the
same time TO the cleanliness and health
fulness OF the surroundings and to the
cultivation Of refined habits in tho
growing family. II every farmer who
may chance to read this, all over tbs
Middle and Eastern States, and es-
pccialiy the southern part OF the coun-
try. where almost all OF them assume,
without thought that their only de-
pendence for wats<ed fields is the
clouds iii they would look over the
geography of all the land around for II
mile or two, and take WAFER level
along TO examine the grades OF the
surface, the majority OF them would be
surprised to find that living brook
might have been flowing for an age
past through their fields aud by the
house and barns and TO the lawn and
gardens, and even to furnishing an
abundant and refreshing drench OF
water 10 whole fields Of crops strug-
Cling through protracled drouth.
The commonest error Ia TO presume
that irrigation Is not needed TO any inn
portani degree. and therefore not prac-
ticable, in those regions subject TO reg
ular rains; to suppose that the practice
Is costly and. therefore, II would not
pay, is also not necessarily true. j
could find dozens of places In almost
every community where, II several
farmers would join, water might be
had for all future time for few days
work with plow and scrapor on the
supply ditch, and the irrlgating bitches
made in few hours with the pillow
alone. Aud then when the dry spolln
Is at hand, one man with judgment
could turn the water into three, five, or
even ten and more acres every day, to
the joy aud gladness OF his heart in
watching the thirsty soil drink 1t In,
and to behold the grateful countenance
OF the parched crops as they put on
holiday attire and start afresh toward
the goal OF a bountlful fruition. am
we'll acquainted with the regions OF
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois where tile
draining has almost redeemed the land
and made 1t habitable. and | do
not hesitate TO say that even In
those very regions, at least par
tial system OF irrigation. In the
most practicable places, would pay
as great profit on the cost as the
draining, and even In the more I'M
promising sections, tho advantage OF
water In every field, added to the
other, would Ia time make the practice
ENh'NhiAe HbFNiafs HHEt Is ulhuS
village and town could have pretty,
babbling brook flowing In every gutter
IL they only knew 1t. aud 1t is surpris-
ing 10 me, now that look back. to see
how people and places arc blind to
their advantages. One needs 10 spend
n season where water is appreciated,
and its value and various uses discov-
cred. to get his eyes opened to the
blessing OF having plenty OF II every.
where control. Take the aver
age farm Of the Middle, Western and
Southern States whore house aud barns
water IL pumped for every purpose,
add where only the best OF them arc
provided with ponds In the fields. and
the owner. II he could have brook
where he could want it. would place
value on it OF $500 to $4,000 or more
and the selling price Of the farm would
be increased TO that extent by provid-
log that almost priceless boon diving
water for stock in every field" The
possibilities almost everywhere are
great; the practicability in thousands
and thousands OF cases would astonish
all who would investigate the matter.
u. q. Irwin, in N. Y. Tribune.
lis it the destiny of type to be
hustled TO its place by the intelligence