Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-07
AN IRRIGATION PLAN.

s,ppes i late issue of the Florida Agri
cutlrist with paper on the above subject
apn ing il to his own state, of course. L
50 sell applies TO Texas also that we have
ron ded TO make up an article giving il
Substance me ideas he advances.
Mr. Lagergren says three things are
c becoming more and more apparent as
re arg for the continued and increasing
rr-.rriIg Of Florida: Irrigation, immi
grafton and capital. The application tc
r.,- IS entirely perfect in this instance
/ ia cannot raise much of anything as
8..- without heavy fertiIizing, yet in the
az. u. this fact the writer goes on to state
tbs -o much of Florida lands irrigation is
eleven more importance than fertilizers,
ar. mat this Importance will increase rap
iI.a5 timber is cleared out and over1owed
a~5 drained.
J. r cation IS of so much importance to
Tur.a, what ought it TO be TO Texas, where
,lr annual rainfall averages only about hall
VIA i averages there2
florida must irrigate, continues Mr.
Larr,Ten, and yet irrigation is a thing so
c hat few men of small means can I'M
r-.afa 1t for themselves. While there are
..l. rods areas in the state so situated with
r--nt 10 water supply that suitable pump
81. r.nerE could irrigate several small
:.l- Us well as one, many causes prevent
farmers from clubbing together for an cree
...a aaterworks. Now, the more neces-
s.r. a4e;tion becomes Tor The successful
Gill r.of fruit and truck. the harder it will
been. ap Immigration this way. on the ac-
count nt the increased cost of commencing
operations. and here is where capital
a-. 'ep i'll and make profitable invest
ua. us securing both irrigation and imrni-
.- Us suppose a capitalist is willing 10
'-. at~rAcme. This is an age of associa-
t. lt, first secures an eligible tract of
4a Hr then advertises his intention of
p,-rrau irrigation colony" and keeps
assn. apion list on which are entered
.a. parties wro agree to buy lots from him,
u ..a certain uumbel of wears pay
y. wat"r rent, and 10 conform to such
o-u.ruouditious as circumstances may re-
p..- The capitalist in turn agrees to fur
,.-asgaror for i rigation of crops on the
.-- '.rsa,r by him. When a sufficient
I.mg.r nave signed to warrant it, water
works are erected on the site and mains
.a...Hl everything made ready for the
y.0a.. OF course the lots sold should not,
aHtaord not, be larger than five or ten
alrs and should be 50 laid out and settled
q IL.
one nam answer rs long as possible before
--ruAC one IS laid.
fine waterworks need not be very costly
first. and among the settlers some one
YER .-ely would be found able to care for
.a plant and run the machinery when nee
e SID that an engineer would not have
,n.-=-eadiiv employed.
An.su, 10 lift water for irrigation pur-
poses need not be Al all a costly plant. i fact
waHu may hold the annual water rate to
consumers At comparatively low fIures.
E.' vaa, one could consistently put down
as @ .uH wafer rate-low enough 10 be en-
twg Profitable TO the lser-would pay
very fair per cent on the investment. A
I-uf tor irrgating $50 acres need not cost
above 5000. Say there should be but 100
anrs UNDER culture at the start, the work
f.su. ..ru his comparatively small acre
age could afford TO pay a reasonable per
nH' u4 rle investment With each sue
cseia- year the acreage under culture
vn'. be- rapidly increased to the advantage
@ 'r rIIjvator, Tor the water rate would
htp"r"a~ 1udu"lY reduced
Nothing tells SO well for an enterprise as
;o.Tt ever, body in any way connected
witt p rsoually Interested IN advancing
.- ..anH Such would be the case in an
t.. .lau venture on this plan. Each
W.-... Of f-e-acre lot would know that
ever. additional worker of sirilar lot
aa..''ul ue colony would prove direct
gaa t9 himself in a corresponding re
d..-.. ot uis own annual water rates. AS
an.lf every colonist would be free-act-
t-- advert sing agent and advocate, and as
eal.nen the lands OF the syndicate
So. e,pidIy taken.
| p.au outlined above, thinks the
"-.r is GOOD pointer for both men of /,
p" and iutenting immigrants. People |
Gre -"trug more and more alive to the ad- |
IL union and combined efforts, |
"' .'r' can Le no doubt that settlements |
.'.-"' Hnon ne plan mentioned would be |
N more prosperous and contented than
" sa5e in The prevailing hap-hazard, de- |
$40 ar. manner
A. tie success of such colonies would be |
Of vital interest to their founders, they |
COZ q. by exercising some judgment, man
d.. aEer about all the members of each |
a-a colony from the same class of |
F.n' so That 10 distinction by wealth, ed
ION or prejudice would disturb the har-
E. b4t all be actuated by the same in
and aims. A spirit of cooperation
y" a soon manifest itself under such cir
aareS. and the draft animals, imple-
'- tools, etc, that each isolated grower,
must be provided with, could here
b' .saa oiutly at 4 greatly reduced cost
H.ea several.
-.... careful study of this matter from
~ rr possible standpoint, we find ourselves
e. satisfied that such an irrigation ar
reut As suggested by Mr.. Lagergren
g.. oe made 10 pay handsomely in Texas.
ID. sc have the natural soil in first-class
and in very many localities we have
q. bio water supply comparatively easy of
."IA application. With Il view to get
BE- ourselves better understood we will |