The National tribune., 1891-07-16

What 1t VIII Do Tor ihe arid Regions or the South


EDITOR NATIONAL TRJBrNE Any man in
middle age TO day can remember the time
when 10 was generally believed that California
and Colorado would never be able 20 produce
anything bat silver and gold, and chat ali tho
men engaged In mining In those States would
have 90 be fed BY ether portions OF the coun-
try: but California to-day exports more wheat
than any ether State In the Cui1n while her
/ fruits, fresh and canned. are known around
the world. Aud Colorado is not much behind
her older sister on the Pacific already she il
not only seif-sustaiuIug but has for shipment
abroad a large annual surplus Of wheat which
ranks with the best in tho markets Of the
world; while her potatoes, which are uusur-
passed now supply ths whole ~04t Invest. And
there Is nothing IN the natural conditions 20
prevent the experience Of these two States
from being repeated in New Mexico to the
extent at least Of feeding her own people tho
elements Of climate and soil are essentially the
samo-the difference, where any exists, being
IN favor Of New Mexico. The climate is miIdcr
than that OF Colorado, and, gs compared with
that Of California, IS superior in all essential
respects for the growing Of every prod1ct
except the semi-tropicai fruits, while the power
/ Of the soil is practically unlimited The two
/ great States named, when in q condition Of
nature, were az barren and unprcductIve a.
any other section Of what we call tho arid
| regions" and all tho mUnifccnce Of their
/ CATION. IT certain portions OF the desert can
be thus made to blossom NJ the rose, viii not
/ the same means applied % other sections pro-
duCe the same resu.ts2 Who. then, viii as
sumo 20 set q limit to the countless millions Of
bushels Of grains and fruits which a general
and Intelligent system OF irrigation viii some
I time produce upon the now barren plains Of
+ the great Southwest, or % the sum which such
| products will annually add TO the aggregate
Z wealth Of the Naton2 lf the man who causes
/ two blades of grass to grow where but one
/ grew before is q public beneGlCtor by what
name shall we characterize system which
shall cause the food supply Of a nation to grow
\ upon land on which only cactus and sagebrush
I have grown before2
\ As an illustration Of what irrigation can ac-
pIish for an otherwise barren region, il is
/ only necessary 10 look at the Valley OF the Rio
u Grands. For nearly three centuries this valley
/ has been known as the garden of New Mexico.
! Long before the first American inning grant set
\ foot upon its soil this country WAS celebrated
| among the Spanish natives Of the Territory for
/ the fertility Of its lands and beauty Of its cii-
mate It's luscious fruits aud It's unsurpassed
vegetables were carried into all the neighbor-
ing districts, while its genial and sunny climate
caHsed il to be sought as a Winter resort by the
| Heaithier classes who came here IN large mum
/ bers from hundreds of miles around 70 enjoy the
/ bright skies and mild atmosphere which here
constitute the RUE Lnr0uGnOuL Jue W iuLeF sea-
son. And the example which was thussct by our
/ Spanish predecessors has been wisely followed
by the Americans, and the comforts and bene-
fits of the delightful Winter climate of this
lovely valley are now known and enjoyed By
people from not only every section Of New
Mexico, but from many portions Of the country
abroad, who come here 10 escape the rigOrs Of
/ the Winter in the Eastern States
By such persons the Winter season Of this
district is hardly considered Winter at all
The sun shines every day; the air, though
warm, is dry and bFacing. and The times whea
one may not Sit ont Of doors on the sunny side
Of the house are the exceptions and not the
rule. But Of what value would be its equable
climate its cloud!e55 skies aud its perpetual
sunshine, If irrigation had not reclaimed the
desert and made the erstwbile barren lands Of
the valley 10 bring forth their abundance? All
other conditions may be perfect. yet without
vegetation a country is not habitable and
hence it is that regions Of the Southwest, with
soil and climate surpassed by no section Of the
globe end equaled by no division Of the Ameri-
can Continent. must remain uuinhabited and
uninhabitaJe till the geniu3. the energy, and
the progress Of modern times shah bring the
fructilyiug waters which will make here the
I homes Of millions, and what is now the "arid
regions viii then become the sfOre-hOu5e Of
the Nation.-W. s. BCERE, Captain, l1th Iowa,
Albuquerque. y. NJ.