The Delta independent., 1889-12-10
THE IRRIGATION PROBLEM.
An Interesting Address Delivered Be-
fore the New York Chamber
Of Commerce by Major
Powell,

Of Commerce by Major
Powell.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-Major Powell,
Chief Of the Federal Commission to report
upon the best method of irrigating the arid
lands Of tho country, read . paper upon
the subject before the Chamber Of Com
merce this afternoon.
He began with the statement that about
half Of tho lands Of the United States, ex-
elusive Of Alaska, were arid. These lands,
he said, SO far Is they can be brought un.
der cultivation by irrigation, arc the best
lands in the country, because crops are GER
tain, not being subject 10 the chances Of
an extremely wet or an extremely dry sea-
son, - in the case oflands dependent upon
rain.
OF the !, ,0O0, 000, 900 acres of arid lands in
the United States, about {, 6,00O. 900 are now
under cultivation by irrigation, and about
i2o, o,ooo,0Oo altogether can be rendered
available by that method.
For the proper carrying out of the work
. change in the land laws Is necessary.
Where irrigation IL unnecessary, land il
cultivated by private initiative, each far
mer being able to raise his crop in entire
Independence of his neighbour. In arid
countries cooperation for the distribution
OF water from its source Is essential In
humid countries the tendency IL toward
small holdings, while in arid countries 1t
IL toward large holdings. Many large and
small streams run through the arid belt,
but the amount Of water obtainable II not
largo enough TO irrigate the arid lands
which they traverse, and the question arises
~ TO what portion OF them are entitled 70
the use Of tho water
Major Powell holds that they should be
used at points where most good can be OBJ.
tainod. This poiat, he says, il where the
stream turns from . rushing crystal noun
tain torrent TO the lowland stream which
mingles with the soil Of tho land from
which IL flows. II taken above that point
IL would be where the chilly atmosphere of
= high altitude would make II less useful
in the production Of crops. II taken below
that point the water would be too much
evaporated and wasted on the way. 6
Thus, taking the Arkansas River as an
example, water enough to irrigate q mil
lion acres In Colorado would be reduced to
only enough TO irrigate 100, 900 or zoo, 90
acres across the line In Kansas. The same
rule, Major Powell says, applies to tho
waters in the upper Missouri, Colorado,
Rio Grande, Del Norte and Columbia Riv-
crs. He estimates the aggregate value of
tho waters OF all these rivers at i've thou
sand millions OF dollars.
The forests at tho headwaters Of these
rivcrp serve - catch basins and must bc
preserved. Provision also must bc made
for controlling and protecting the large
body Of pasture lands not suitable for cui-
tivaticn. In addition TO these arc great
tracts Of mineral lands which should be
held by the Government until mineral has
been discovered, when they should be par
cclled out in quantities only large enough
for economical workings.
Major Powell suggests tha. money for
carrying out these great schcmcs might be
raised by the issuance Of community bonds
or other similar methods. He summarizes
the matter - follows:
The plan to be presented for your con-
alteration directly Affects all industries OF
agriculture, forestry, mining and manu-.
featuring enterprises. Let the problem
be briefly reviewed:
First-Capital to redeem by irrigation,
l00. .0O0, 600 acrcs OF land Ia to bc obtained,
and q ,00o, ,0o0, 600 arc necessary.
Secoud-Thcac lands arc 70 be distrib-
uted TO the people, and As yet We have nc
proper system Of land laws by which 1,
can bs done.
Third-The waters Of the land must be
divided among the StAscs, and yet there is
no law for It and the States arc now in
conflict
Fourth-Thc waters arc to be divided
among tho people 20 each man may have
the amount necessary to fertilise his farm
and each hamlet, town and city tho amount
necessary for domestic purposes, that
every thirsty garden may Qua6 from the
crystal waters that come from tho noun
tAins.
Fifth-The great forests that olothc the
hills, platcaus and. mountains with vcr.
durc must bc protected from devastation
BY fro and preserved for use Of many
that farms may be protected and houses
built, and that all this wealth Of forestry,
these unborn cottages and school houses,
may be distributed among the people.
Sixth-Thc grasscs that arc 70 feed the
focks and herds must be protected and
utilized.
Seventh-Tho great mineral dcposits
fuel Of tho future, iron for railroads and
gold and silver for our money, must bc
kept ready TO tho hand Of industry and tho
brain Of enterprise.
Eighth-Powers for tho factories Of that
great land are To be created and utilized
That the hum Of busy machinery may echo
among the rocks Of tho mountains the
symphonic music Of industry . thousand
millions Of money must bo used. Who
shall furnish III Millions OF mon arc TO
labor. Who shall employ themi This 10
great Nation. Tho Government is pow
erful. Shall Il engage In this worki So
dreamers may dream and % ambition may
dictate, but Ia tho name Of tho men who
labor demand that the laborer,, shall en-
ploy themselves, that the enterprises shall
be controlled BY mon who have eenius "a
organize and whose homes are In the lands
developed and that money shall b fur