Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-09-18
lRRIaATION IN THE ARrp REGION


versity Ia the speculum
The rapid development Of the agri
culture of the west since 1915, Will,
aifording the greatest opportunit,
ever known for commercial advance
ment, has in its immediate result.
had depressing effect on the busines.
of farming in the eastern states, so fal
as the production of the staple crops
corn, wheat, beef and pork, are con.
cerned. This immense area of free
land, rich virgin soil, with cheap
transportation to the cast, has made
its influence felt.
The change from grazing lands to a
farming country has been so rapid,
and the quantity of crops produced so
great tnat it has been difficult for the
eastern farmer to adapt himself to the
aew-eondition Of things.
The cheering thought that has help
ed to carry the eastern farmer
through this time of despressloni is the
belief that the farming lands of the
west would soon be occupied, and that
the increased population and increas-
ed expectation would in time bring
about the former condition of things,
and prices OF farm products would
reach their former level
1t was believed, in fact known, that
nearly all Of the country west of the
Tooth meridian and south Of the 10th
degree of latitude, a section equal in
area to one-forth of the entire United
States, was either mountainous,
rough, broken country, or sandy, bar
rem plains, were nothing could ever be
expected but scant grazing, and where
even stock-growing would be subject
to serious losses.
The inyestitigation of the "arid
belt" by the senate committe, and the
report made, has called attention to
the possibility of still further develop
ing the agricultural production Of the
country by the use of water in irrga-
ton, but to the present time people
who do not live in or have an interest
in the ''arid belt" have l1oked on the
Investigation unfavorably, and object
ed to the expenditure of the public
money in surveys, or in proposed con-
struction of reservoirs and canals,
more from believing that it is fool
ish extravaganza, than that there is a
possibility of building up certain lines
Of agricultural industry in this i'm
mense arid region with which no
other region of the country can sue
cessluily compete.
All intelligent people have heard |
something Of the growth Of crops by
irrigation, where there is little or no
rain, in Egypt, India and several
other countries, and of the production
OF fruits and vegetables OF enormous
size in California, but that a conntry
without rain could become a great ag-
ricultural country has not even been
thought worthy OF consideration.
Before coming into contact with the
artificial (?l method of supplying
water to growing crops, the writer
held the belief that irrigation was per-
haps good thing for those unfortun-
ute people who could not secure land
where bountiful nature had made
provision for vegetation, but after
seeing what has been done, and study
ing the possibilities of scientific con.
troll, and use of water am forced to (
the conclusion that Il really scientific
method of farming is only possible
where water is under control, when
-he farmer can feed and water his S
growing plants as he may feed and {
water his growing animals. Instead
If suffering alternately from floods {
md droughts, he applies the water
when the crops should have it, and {
,nly then.
Farming on irrigated, arid land
means placing farming, as business, d
IN the basis Of manufacturing 1t is l
rot subjecting the work Of the season
o the chance Of having rain at the
time that means a differ
nee Of from % per cent to 80 per cent G
# the yield, for with his hand on the
leadgate of his canal, the farmer may S
ontrol the growth of his crops almost Y
0 the extent that the engineer, with
lis hand on the throttle valve of his B
ngine, regulates the movement of the Il
IN factory. l
The arid belt is subject to changes a
( temperature; crops may be in S
uenced by frosts, broken down by t
iinds, but these are universal draw a
acks and Of minor Importance. 3
iainfall, too much or too little, or not g
{ the right time, is the one thing II
nat causes more anxiety and greater C
,sses the country over than anything d
lse. 6
The arid belt extends from Mexico to o
Iontana and to the Coast Range on U
ne west. The tillable land has an
ovation of from tifty feet to six Il
lousand feet, and climate varying Il