The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-22
TO RECLAIM ARID LAND.
Agent Nimmo's Report on Districts
Be Made Fruitful.

WASHINGTON CRY, June 2L-lSpecial. +
It is the official estimate of the depart
ment of agriculture that rat least 10000
acres of land in Eastern Washington and
Oregon are recIaimable by irrigation. As
every one knows, the agents of this de-
partment are now making an exhaustive
investigation of this subject. The special
agent for the northwest is Mr.. Joseph w.
Nimmo, the eminent statistician, and he
has submitted what is termed q progress
report of his labor. From this interesting
statement the following synopsis is made,
as it is q matter Of much local interest.
Mr. Nimmo introduces his Investigations
in Washington with the following:
The question as to the boundary lines of the
arid region confronted me in Montana, because
II may be safely said that all arabic lands of that
state are productive only By means OF trriga-
ton, other than the naturally irrigated bottom
lands and mountain slopes, which are compare
lively of small extent But when passed from
Missoula 10 Spokane Falls. In Eastern Washing
ton, the question as to the northwestern
boundaries OF the irrigable regions at once con
fronted me, for found myself on the border OF
perhaps the most productive wheat producing
area on earth without irrigation, beyond which
area there again occurs 6 region which is arabic
only by means OF irrigation
the arabic lands lying west of the Bitter range
and east Of the Cascade range from those which
are productive without irrigation and those
which are productive only by means Of trriga-
ton. These conditions are: First, the amount
of rainfall; second elevation; third, the nature
OF the soil and of the subsoil, and fourth, the
situation with respect to the Cascade range.
The precipitation OF this section OF the coun-
try all comes from the Pacific ocean. The
moisture laden winds sweep across the Cascade
range and pass over the lands Immediately
east Of that range with little precipitation, but
they yield an adequate supply to the more eie-
vated lands east of the Columbia river. The
Bitter Root range is much higher than the
Cascade range, and therefore its summit catches
and discharges upon its western slopes and
bench lands the moisture that gives life 10 them.
These lands are from 200 to 1000 feet above the
level of the sea. The Big Bend and the Palouse
countries represent the elevated. arabic lands
east of the Columbia river.
The Cascade range separates an area OF irriga-
bic lands on the west, with an abundant rain
fall, from an area situated between the base of
that range and the Columbia river, which has a
rainfall insufficient for the growth of any agri-
cultural crop without irrigation pass, there
fore, TO the consideration Of the arid land area
lying just east OF the Cascade range.
II is believed that there is a very considerable
underfiow in the Yakima river, and also in sew
eral of the side streams. The main evidence of
this on the Yakima, elsewhere in the arid
region, is the disappearance OF water in the bed
OF the stream where II flows through valley
lands, and its reappearance in the canons. No
attempt has been made II Kittitas county to
utalize the upderhow.
The largest wheat crop of which I heard In
the Yakima valley was loo bushels 70 the acre,
and the largest crop of oats 10 bushels TO the
acre The average wheat crop is forty TO sixty
bushels to the acre.
The opinion appears TO be entertained by the
best informed men that IL viii not be profitable
20 raise whea; ip the Yakima valley, although il
is produced at the average rate Of forty 70 sixty
bushels TO the acre, and for the that fruit
and hay-alfalfa and timothy-hops and tobacco
will pay so much better. The Yakima valley In
A raost prolific fruit country under irrigation.
No marked progress has been made in the
actual construction of irrigation works in the
Yakima valley since the visit OF the Senate com
rnittee in 1859, but there IL In contemplation q
work of great magnitude
Franklin county has q rich soil, but IL Is part
of an area west of the fruitful .sPalouse coun-
try'' and south Of the "Big Bend country"
which is absolutely arid and barren without
irrigation Abundant waters are flowing by on
either side, the Snake and Columhia rivers, and
the problem Of the hour Is how 70 get these
waters upon the vast arid waste Various plans
have been suggested
The famous "waila Walla country" is highly
productive of wheat, barley and oats, without
Irrigation; but ali vegetables and fruits need
irrigation, for which purpose water is taken
| from the waiIa Wglls river. ] would here re-
mark that wheat barley and osts appear 20 DO
about the only crop which can be raised in the
wonderful "Palouse country" without irriga-