New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
THE IRRIGATION PROBLEM.
PEOPLE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS NOT
COMPETITORS OF THE EAST!
MIR, NIMMO DESCRIBES THE PRESENT STATE
AND PICTURES THE FUTURE POSSIBLE
TIES OF AGRICULTURE IN
To the Editor of The Tribune.

the following:
@That National legislation be deferred in reference
TO the irrigation of the Western arid lands at public
expense until the consumptve demands OF the people
shall require q greater productive area
The New-York State Farmers Leagne has I'M
fortunately fallen the Of mistaking Gus
toner for a competitor. The arid or Rocky NOUN
tain area Is not and is not likely to become
competitor of the States east Of the western boundaries
of the Dakotas Nebraska Kansas and Arkansas, Ill the
markets of r,e East or in foreign markets. On the
other hand the arid region has been for the last
fifteen years is and will undoubtedly continue
TO be a valuable market for agricultural products OF
the East The promotion Of irrigation also is likely
to increase the cOnsumptve demand of the ARID region
for Eastern products.
The facts which support these assertions have re-
Gently been brought to my notice in an Impressive
manner. In the month Of october last accepted
service now concluded, under the Department OF
Agriculture for the purpose Of investigating the subject
OF irrigation in the Rocky Mountain states. From
Montana at the north to NewMexico on the SOUTH
was informed that large quantities OF agricultural
products are shipped from St. Paul Milwaukee, Chicago.
omaha. Kansas City and many smaller towns In the
socalled Western and Northwestern states. found
also that the prices of agricultural products OF all
kinds throughout the arid region gauged by prices
AT the eastern points Just mentioned plus the cost OF
sportation to the points OF consumption As this
matter Is one of considerable importance I will cite
exact facts in support OF this general drift OF tes
mony. At Helena. Mont was met by committee
Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of that city appointed for
the purpose Of aiding me in my Investigations. The
testimony OF this committee, and Of number Of
gentlemen assembled with them, including the Mayor
M the CITY, was that fourths OF the agricultural
product, consumed in Montana, exclusive OF hay, are
imported from other states almost all from states of
the East. Large quantities Of hay also are imported
from those Siatco.'
Ming bqe ilv rp-
ported that last year there imported into the
state for the coal mining towns along the Union Pachc
Railroad over half million dollars worth OF farm
prodncts7 although Wyoming is Of the best
watcrcd Of the Rocky Mountain states and has made
considerable progress in irrigation.
In a speech delivered at the Territorial Exhibition
last september. L. Bradford Prince. Governor of
The Territory Of New Mexico, stated that in the
last year there had been imported into New
Mexico from the States 1c,jJ2OoO pounds OF Hour
II 900 pounds Of wheat, about 20O0O.0OO pounds
Of corn and cornmcal. 7lij tons Of hay and
lfgl tons Of vegetables. and he summarized
by saving: The which we annually pay for
articles which have enumerated amounts to Tl,2oo.-
Ocop The testimony Of Governor Prince is sound.
He is a former citizen Of Ncw-York nativc-born
Long Islander and for several year, member
Of the Ncw-York Legislature. careful SURVEY OF the
entire arid region lead, me to estimate It's total I'M
port, Of agricultural products from the Fast at fully
S3OoOOOOO. And two questions naturally arse;
FI-,t-What has created this enormous home market
Seconds II likely 10 be- destroyed by promoting
irrlration2
The answers 10 these questions constitute an i'm
portant feature II the current history Of our coun-
try The Rocky Mountain region is d!'tinctVcly
mining country, probably the most extensive ana
in the aggregate the richest on the globe. H.
earliest settlers god-hntcrs It is not now and
never can become di,tnetiycly agricultural region
Ia MAJ min
have been washed out. is mountains yield over 40
per cent Of the gold and silver product ~ the
globe. During the latest year for which the statistics
have been compiled it produced 06 per cent Of the
gold 90 per cent Of the silver, 20 per cent Of the
lead and q. per cent Of the copper product Of the
| United states The total value OF the products OF
these four metals alone was about Sl3looO,oOO.
The important fact 70 be- noted just here IS that fuy
% per cent Of this product /, surplus or exported
product Ec,idc-, the mining product Il the Rocky
Mountain region include, large number Of other
metal, ard mineral substances, Including COAL iron.
petroleum salt soda, ETC.. etc. The development OF
these resource, +, going RAPIDLY, and their extent
j., practically illnitabc There vast treasures OF
gold hidden IN the mountain, of eastern oregon. In
Montana In Idaho ia Wyoming ana IN other states.
Capltal and labor together developing thee re
source. The work Of the prospcctor Is sin being
pu he'd forward. and Is constantly being rewarded with
new discoveries,
tl,c Rocky Mountain or arid region. While it, min
ing Interest, ar,. large and constantly increasing. IT.
Agricultural possibilities are exceedingly constrained
and sharply conditioned. The possible dcvcl pment Of
agriculture In TN, Is dependent entirely upon the
ouautlty Of which /, available for irrigation
and not at all upon the quantity OF land which would
become productive by mean, of irrigation 1t Is Ger
tain that tie water supply Will rcvcr be sufficient for
the irrigation Of more than per cent Of the total
are, and possibly not more than per cent. lrrigd-
ron simply creates fruitful oa-c, I'm what otherwise
would he "a vast desert, but lor certain peculiar MI
tritous grl.,c, suited to H. conditions. when make
! II a vast pastoral ana The Government owns IN
| those state, to-day 1jOOOOOOo acres OF And' Tor
which there are 30 toners. For agricultural pur-
pn.c, so per cent thi, land - worthless How
different T. thi, nom the OF uch states as Iowa
and Illinois, where T. 20 per cent of All the lhhi
is highly productive under the rainfall. and where III
the hackucycd phrase Of the last half century the SOIL
needs only to be chcd with hoe that II may laugh
with harvest
Throughout the arid region agriculture has Dech Is
! to-day and fir all time viii remain essentially an
| ,diuuct of mining The miner found that by turning
q part Of the wafer his ditch upon patch Of ground
he could raise vegetables and fruit ana gram, ana III
mi, way the work of irrigation Ia, been developed
The arge, irrigation enterprise IN Idaho to-day Is that
| of the Idaho Mining and irrigation Company, whose
extensive watcrSorhs will be- employed IN the opera
ton Of placer mining well of lrrsatng II tract
Of land. The largest irrigation enterprise in oregon Is
| IN U,lrr County. II also sub,crycs the double puI
! noses Of mining and agriculture. Many smaller aluc
duct, costing from 10000 10 100000 are used for
the double purpose Of washing the pulvcrzcd product
Of mines and Of irrSatng the land in the valleys.
| II Is the uniform testimony Of people throughout
the arid region that the vast mining interests of this
cctDu are restrained by the fact that small share
Of their az cutura products is produced in the vicinity
of the mines, 1t j., undoubtedly that If irrg;C
zion were so developed To enable them
10 produce all the vegetables, fruit and hay which
are there needed the cOnsumptvc demand for
other agricultural products Of the East would
| be largely increased. II is beyond the dreams
Of the people Of arid region that they shall
become exporters OF agricultural products. The idea
that the falling of the Atlantic seabOa states
r ~ lhe fnriiI. Me,tcrn nnd NOrhMc,iern Slatcs VIII