The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-07
The Future OF Arid America.

Few people can fully appreciate the
changes that are going on in what were once
the barren tracts of the West. What the
old maps used to call the Great American
Desert does not exist: its metes and bounds
were always largely fanciful. but much Of
tho area that merited the name is now
crossed and cut up by artificial conduits.
bringing water from distant rivers and res
ervoirs. or perhaps from the depths OF tho
earth through artesian wells. To say that
Irrigation Is q mania at the West hardly
overstates the case. Ono Of the leading out
let's Of enterprise there Is in acquiring bar
renlands. bringing water to them with dams
and bitches. and disposlng Of them at in
creased prices. It seems strange to find
towns announcing as their leading attrsc-
ton for settlers and capitalists that they
are In the heart of an arid region. Yet
we see the Chamber Of Commerce Of Utah's
metropolis spreading broadcast . map in
scribed in an enormous circle Of 600 miles
radius. designed to show that "Salt Lake
City is the exact geographical centre OF tho
Arid States, the capital Of Arid America, tho
focal point Of the great operations which
are rapidly developing new empire In tho
West" In this fact, it Is declared. "ue
Utah's powerful attractions. No other spot
In the United States offers such opportuni-
ties for irrigation enterprises" And this IL
only ono instance Of these novel allure
ments. Aridity is advertised with as much
eagerness as II 1t were mineral wealth or
exuberant fertility for cotton or grain. It
IL marvellous instance Of turning draw
back into an advantage.
1t must be confessed. too. that the record
Of what has been accomplished within few
years. west OF the hundredth meridian,
somewhat justifes this enthusiasm. % It
also furnishes striking token Of the visor of
growing race. This is evident alike In the
extent OF the engineering involved and the
investment Of capital. Mr.. R. ]. HINTON, In
the Irrigation Age. gives the Mormons the
credit Of beginning this great work q
early rs 1857: while succeeding steps were
taken in 1870 and 1871 at Greeley In Colo
RADIO and Fresno In California. The atten-
ton Of Congress- was attracted to the sub.
ject few years later. and the capacity
of the San joaquin Valley for irrigation
was then examined. while Riverside, the first
great citrus-growtng community. was 90.
tablished. Still. little notice was taken Of
the progress effected In this direction until
about half dozen years ago. when the
publication Of certain Government inqui-
rles gave 1t great impetus. In 1885 the
area reported as reclaimed by irrigation
was above 100000 acres. but large part
OF 1t was only used for feeding cattle. In
1890 the area under ditch was reported at
cultivation. The cultivated area had about
I1I In
find for 1891 an estimate OF 1s.6sS.l07 scres
under ditch. and 8.049. 900 under cultivation.
Works projected or partly constructed will
add about 100000 acres.
Omitting this last as prospective only.
the estimate OF $50 acres per mile would
give a. 1872 miles OF bitches. At An estimate
OF s. per acre. we should have an expendi-
ture OF about 50. 100000. with an increase
for certain other works carrying 1t to per-
haps So, 100000. There are also between
1890 and $4,000 flowing artesian wells west
OF the ninety-seventh meridian. irrigsting
900 acres. California and Colorado arc
the two great irrtgating States. the former
having 4.5OO 900 acres under ditch and $780,
600 under cultivation. with $500 wells: while
the latter has 500. $50 acres under ditch and
100000 under cultivation. with $500 wells.
Together. therefore. they have half the
artesian wells and more than half the
acreage under cultivation. But Wyoming
has s.osl.4s4 acres under ditch. mostly for
pasturage. however. as only $4,000 are un-
der cultivation.
The vastness OF the capital employed and
Of the hydraulic works undertaken arc
not more interesting than the character of
tho results achieved. Regions onoe avoided
by the pioneer as cursed BY drought. are
now sought because pleased with artificial
irrigation. In the offers OF farms for sale
the purchaser Is warranted against having
to depend on rainfall for his crops. Irrigs-
ton gives him guarantee against drought.