Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-26
THE rRRTgATToN pRoBLEM.


The question of irrigatiug the arid
regions of the west will very likely have
prominence in the attention OF the next
congress. The senate appointed a
special committee to investigate the
subject of irrigation in the regions
where IL is believed TO be feasible and
desirable, and it will soon enter upon
its work In connection with party OF
engineers and surveyors sent out to
take the preliminary steps for the con-
struction OF a national system OF reser-
voirs. A great deal OF interest
was manifested in this matter
by the last congress, and the
appropriation made for the inves-
tigation and experiments will enable n
good start to be made toward demon
stratng what ought to be and can be
done. The future OF this great project
will depend very largely upon tho con-
clusions of tho senate committee, which
is empowered to pass upon the whole
matter. We do not know that the COM
| mittee has determined upon the extent
OF its investigation, but it is presumed
that 1t will confine its inquiry to ascer-
tanning the most feasible and economi-
cal plan of establishing reservoirs at
certain convenient points. In the opin-
ion of engineers and surveyors who
have made careful study OF the sub
ject, the easiest way TO accomplish the
object is to build dams at the mouths of
certain large gulches in the Rocky
mountains and thus store up the water
which comes from the melting SHOWS
| above, to be distributed over the arid
lands below by means OF canals and
bitches.
The very great Importance Of this
| question OF irrigation for the vast re-
| gion in the west that can be reclaimed
only in this way was strongly set forth
| in recent magazine article by Sem
ator Stewart, Of Nevada. the principal
| facts and arguments OF which we
have heretofore presented. The arid
territory is Of immense proportions, and
in the opinion of Senator Stewart much
the greater part of it can be made
| profitably cultivable by irrigation, be-
coming in time the home of prosperous
millions of people and adding enor-
mously to the wealth and resources Of
the nation. Even making a large al
| lowauce for an over-estimate OF the
possibilities of this region under u sys-
tenn of irrigation and there will still re-
main sufficient probable results to war
| rant an effort to reclaim it. If
but one-half of it can be made
available for successful agri-
culture the gain will far overbalance
the expenditure necessary to reclaim it..
Vast as the proposed undertaking is in
the probable outlay it would involve,
this is insignificant in comparison with
the value OF the results believed to be
assured by those who have given the
subject careful and intelligent investi-
cation.
| just now the question 6 the safety OF
such system of reservoirs as would be
required naturally suggests itself, and
it is possible the undertaking may en-
counter some opposition on this score,
but this can hardly be serious. Modern
engineering skill is competent to
construct dams and reservoirs that
will be safe, and which with adequate
supervision can be kept so. A matter
of such vital Importance and vast possi-
bilities will not be defeated by fear OF
something which skill and care can
render well nigh impossible.