Omaha daily bee., 1891-02-08

wealth. or wealth per capita, in the two sec
tions but from the general character of the
localities it is safe to say that if such a COM
parison could be made it would be startling in
its showing against Nebraska.
One significant fact can be noted by a
glance at the railroad map of the two states.
There are several counties in our arid region
which are not penetrated by single line of
railroad. Each one of the Iowa counties
named is gridironed with railroads This
is important as an indication of the state of
development which has been reached there
and may be reached here.
The object of this comparison is not to show
that Nebraska has accomplished less than
Iowa, or less than she ought to. 1t is simply
to point out what development still waits for
our arid region, in the increase Of population,
of railroads and of general prosperity, if we
can now relieve it from the disadvantages
which bear it down. And it is plain that ii it
does no better than western Iowa it will
nearly quadruple it's population, and increase
its wealth, its railroads and its towns inimuch
greater ratio.
HI.-PossBILITIEs OF THE ARID REGION
Now let US consider what our arid region
can become on the basis of these Iowa Stats
of the Tooth meridian is capable of irrigation.
Much of it is sandy and fit only for grazing,
or the cultivation of light crops. Not all Of
the rich soil can be reached by water without
unreasonable expense But by far the larger
portion can be made most prosperous agri-
cultural country and tho waste places will
serve admirably for stock.
II a similar district in Iowa, dependent
wholly upon rainfall, can sustain popua-
tion of nearly $4,000 people, the ard region
of Nebraska can readily sustain twice that
number with irrigation. 1t is not unreasona
BILE. therefore, to predict a growth in popua
tion fully equal to the Iowa figures in the
next ten years. In this connection it must be
remembered that it is a somewhat onerous
task to cultivate forty acres well with irr-
CATION, and that the profits of a farm of that
size are fully equal to the earnings of 100
acres in Iowa.
The governor Of Iowa recently stated at a
New York banquet that the farmers of his
state had made no money in the last five
years, When the governor of Colorado, Of
Utah or California makes similar remark
about the farmer in his state it will be time
to doubt the feasibility of irrigation.
III, then, the energetic and enterprising
inen Of Nebraska can make the desert gar
den and put prosperity where distress now
tiourishes like rank weed. are there not un.
told possibilities of growth in the next ten
years. Shall we not see the farmers multi
piled, old towns swelled in population and
new towns springing up like magic from the
soilt With this Increase in population, shall
we not have new lines of railway into dis
, tricts which now only catch glimpse OF the
iron horse as no rushes breathlessly on his
way from Boston to San Francisco! In
other western states, land has risen in value
under irrigation from sl.25 to s25 per acre
in remote districts, $50 per acre
within fair distance of large cities and 500
per acre in their immediate vicinity Sup
posing the western homesteader now holds
his desolate farm at s. per acre and it rises
with irrigation TO SIS, is not a vast sum
thereby added to the wealth OF the state, as
well US to that of Individuals
1t is unquestionable that splendid devel-
opment can be built up in the arid country,
aud that 1T can be made the pride of the state
In the next decade But that is not the most
urgent consideration. Irrigation is great