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

merely the nucleus fer their herding oper-
ations.
f'or While the opinion was generally en-
tersained that the arid region Is available
only for pastnraee. and il must be forever
tTexted as sneh. Bat this IS . mistake.
Another great change is taking place. Is
has been proved that By means Of irriga-
ton the lands OF that vast area are suSeep
tihae Of an enormoaes and splendid ag-
ricuitural development and the re-
suit is that the cowboy has eeen
forced 70 the confession that when
tire man with the plow comes. the man
with the spurs has cot % get Out Neither
tie savage nor the numsd can resist the
forces OF civilization. The severe winter
losses. ths failure Of the supply Of natural
grasses on the ranges through oyerstoek-
ing them, the hieh price OF young cattle In
TexSs. and low price Of beef cattle in Chi
cxgo, have led 10 the conviction thai
hencefortA pastoral pursuits must be car
ried on chiefly rs adiuncts OF agriculture.
The economies al Fodns in thai direction.
This new era summons the nation 20 the
solution Of such problems OF development
as have confronted the countries OF Asia.
Africa and Southern Europe in all ages
problems the solution of which depends
upon the establishment OF q wise and bene-
flcent systems OF irrigation
IaKIsATIoS or AID AGRICULTURAL LAMBS.
From the earliest ages very much the
larger part OF the human family has been
irrigated lands. But such has not been
the case on this continent. The early set
tiers, and for many years almost ell the
Great Britain and Ireland. and from the
countries of Norfhern Europe which have
an abundant, and TO some extent super
abundant. rainfall. Besides, our ancestors
landed here. upon The eastern shores Of by
far the largest area OF, the earth's surface
within which agriculture Is possible with
out artificial irrigation: an area ex.
tending from the Atlantic seabo2rd
to about the Tooth meridian. This
meridian passes through western
Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. Thus
the United States grew 20 Oe great nation
With irrigation practically lost art. AS
the tide OF emigration rolled westward
the borderland OF the great ard region was
at last reached. Here nature seemed TO
call halt But the indomitahle spirit Of
adventure and the wild fascination Of gold
and silver mining led the more adventurous
10 invade even that vast and inhospisabe
region. Soon the brave freiitisrsmen who
composed the host of fortune seekers were
driven by the sheer force of circumstance
to agriculture by irrigation. Thus wealth
OF soil was discovered far in excess Of the
wealth Of mine, and within. the last year
the important fact has dawned upon the
country that the reclamation Of the agri-
cultural lands OF the arid region OPENS up
the last and perhaps the most important
chapter in the history Of the suhjugation OF
wild lands 10 the'uses Of civilized man upon
this continent
The area OF agricultural land susceptible
of reclamation by means Of irrigation is
variousiy estimated at from $4,000. 900 TO
900 GOO .000 acres Even los. 900 900 acres IS
sufficient for the agricultural area OF q
mighty empire. It ~ nine times the area
of the improved land in farms Of Pennsyl-
vania. eight times that of New York, and
sixty pep cent. more than all Of the New
England states, New York. New Jersey.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Vir-
ginia. North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida combined. But every
acre Of irrigated land is about twice as
productive as lands dependent upon the
natural rainfall. This has been demon
strated beyond all doubt by thousands OF
brave settlers who. under the provisions OF
eur desert land laws. have already reclaimed
about : ,000, 900 acres OF land by means OF
irrigation.
The great practical question which now
confronts the country is. How can We. by
large and comprehensive scheme OF irri-
CATION, reclaim from 10. 900 900 to 200. 0oe, :
600 acres more OF this vast region p Hap
PLY we are not left TO the uncertain results
OF tentative enterprise in the attempt 20
solve this great problem Of the age, for it
has been solved again and again IN other
countries, and under natural conditions
quite similar 70 those which characterize
the arid region of the United States.
Al last the people Of this country are
fully awake 10 the fact that they must
grappIe with conditions in the arid region
similar to those which have been boldly
met and successfully overcome by the ma
tons Of antiquity and by the nations OF the
present day IN Asia. Africa and Southern
Europe. But such achievements clariy
opens Ut, 70 as as a nation grand develop
ment ana splendid future.