The state herald., 1889-11-29
THE ARID LANDS.

The following extract from the
monthly statistical report Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture will be read with
especial interest by persons living In this
new West
The distribution Of crops, methods of
culture, ind management Of farm animals
In the arid region, are 80 at variance and
In contrast with conditions obtaining In
the districts Of adequate rainfall that our
ordinary statistical methods are only
partly applicable to the territory west OF
Kansas and Nebraska. Crops have been
SO scattered that no accurate gcneraliza-
tions upon area or condition could be
hazardod, and breadths, 90 small that 100
per cent. increase in single year might
not be improbable. Tho status Of individ-
ual crops has been liable TO extraordinary
md sudden changes. AS TO farm animals,
the owners themselves do not know the
numbers OF the range stock, and can OBJ
tain only an appi oximation Of the facts
once year Mt the round-ups, and some of
them do not care to impart tho indefinite
knowledge they possess. The assessors
returns, as q rule, are lamentably incom-
plete, and are supplemented, In tho esti-
mate Of intelligent people, by 30 TO 100 per
cent. increase, according to tho proportion
Of omissions, which local tests, tho beef
outcome, and other evidences tend to
prove. Tho United States census itself is
and can be only an approximation, though
1t should be made close Que, by thorough
revision and test Of returns and estimates.
Years ago 1t was seen that more
minute and searching methods Of
collecting statistics than those avail
able in settled parts Of the country
would be necessary, involving something
moro than voluntary work, and rcquir ing
special appropriation, ut least while tho al
lotmcnt for collection Of statistics is so
small rs at present,
At the last session Of Congress Q small
part Of the regular appropriation for sta
tistics was reserved, by proviso, "for
statistics Of the Rocky Mountain region"
An investigation has been commended and
will be continued, with the very limited
means available for such purpose, to OBJ
tain more complete and accurate view Of
tho agricultural resources of that part Of
the continent, and Of the extent and direc-
tion Of their development. A statistical
survey Of the mountain region Is now Of
vast Importance as an indication Of tho
real value Of Its natural resources, and as
stimulus of their development
The recent brief journey Of tho statisti-
clan, which occupied scarcely month,
sufiiced for hssty observation OF portions
Of Western Nebraska, Colorado and Wy
oming; conference with civil aud ngri
cultural officials and representatives Of
rural industries and irrigation enterprises; ;
collection Of available facts from State
and Territorial archives, and for obtaining
| better standpoint Of observation Of the
real condition, tendencies and limitations
of mountain agriculture, md 4 suitable
preparation for planning and pushing the
statistical campaign during tho current Hs-
cal year.
The desert Of few years ago, 30 bare
and barren and 80 hopeless In the view Of
all beholdcrs, estimated only at the value
of its carrying capacity for range cattle
aud sheep, is rapidly changing In appear
ance and IN public appreciation. Its cast-
crn portion, Us u newly found ''rain-bclt, :"
has been carved into homcsteads, ind
farmed without regard to irrigation. II
was held alike by sage and citizen twenty
years ago that half of Nebraska was agrl-
cultural, the other half pastoral; that sue
cessful agriculture could not bo expected
to succeed beyond the Tooth meridian. The
settler gradually moved westward, and
utterly regardless Of this dictum, passed
tho desert line, building his cabin and
turning tho soil and growing corn, stop
ping not even NJ the Colorado line; aud TO-
day he is growing . better crop Of maize
In nil the eastern counties OF tho Ccnten.
nial State than is the farmer Of Michigan
or Northern New York. He has been told
that year OF drought and starvation
would come, md some pinchlng droughts
have confronted him, US they havo the
farmer Of Illinois; still he has pushed
westward with heroic determination,
breaking and subduiug the soil, and show
ing by his improvements that he Is there
TO stay.
In visit to Yuma, Colo, there were
found farmers who had fled from the
ironghts Of Illinois, some old men Of sixty
starting anew on desert homestead, who
had broken the soil deeply with horses aud
cattle and even cows, and are getting
wheat yielding 20 bushels per acre, crib
bing hundreds OF bushels Of corn, growing
oats and potatoes, hny and vegetables, and
converting u former scene OF desolation
into one OF beauty and bloom. Deep break
Ing. sabsollIng, and frequent cultivation,
processes the very reverse Of thosc prac-
tIccd by tho pioneer farmer, arc tho sources
Of tho new prosperity.
Colorado agriculture Ia contcsting with
mining for superiority In value OF produc-
tion, and her wiscst publicists assert that
onc-third will this year bc produced with
out irrigation. The eastern counties, tho
great divide between the Platte and the
Arkansas that extends eastward from the
base OF the mountains, and other arcns
where potatoes aud other vegetable, alfalfa
or milets will grow without irrigation,
and tho range with Its natural pasturnge
will glvc this year Of tho fruits OF the
earth many millions Of dollars In value By
virtue OF the rainfall properly utilized.
What Is 10 cause OF this magical
chnngoi Asst. .alnes IN which tho ores
have been hidden for ages were discovered
soa now agricultural country, that has
also existed for nsos, Inns been discovered
by the ligh, Of practical experience and a
higher science. Has there been nm In.
crease OF RAINFALL The records Of the
rnin gnugo do not show II very
conelusiyciy, though II Is now said
that this instrument IL no true
tcs, Of the real precipitation. Yct thcrc Is
n change Of climate. The agricultural
values OF the climate have increased. The
moisture that wns before carried away,
flowing from tho surface like water from,
H.. L.. u. H.. A..