The herald., 1893-10-13

ny the foreign and h0Ee ueiegeths
present, especially by Rene Lefevre,
y no occupied the chsir
The geographical features Of Russia
were tcuched unon ard the rivera geu-
erally described. Drainage and Irriga.
tion Is no new subject in Rnssia, and
has been practiced from remote times,
Peter the great fret introduced it on a
large scale. Emperor Alexander the
greats work in developing engineering
science in theee lines was also described.
Alexander the liberator had at heart
the prosperity OF the emancipated peas.
antry and pushed forward the work Of
drainage and irrigation of the barren
soils OF Russia. The present monarch,
Alexander the third, continues the work.
BY his order the mechanical laboratory
OF the institutes OF ways and communica-
tion has been enlarged. At the present
time there Is great growth in the mann
fsctures, mining and population OF Rus
els, hence the necessity for the improve
ment of barren lands and prevention Of
failure OF crops.
In vast plains OF northwest and
central Russia, are great depressions
biled with water making large swamps,
covering large areas OF tillable soil. The
connection between these swamps and
some adjacent rivers has OF late been
completed. reclaimiug an area OF land
amounting to 3,O00,O00 hectares. This
work has all been done by hand.
As water 10 life, that stored in our
riountains' rivers and eubterranean
channels must be utilizsd for purposea
% rural economy. Irrigation is neces-
cary with US in the valleys Of the
Draper. Bug, Dniester, Don and the
central and lover parts OF the Volga,
Urai, Sagys, Endu and other rivers
me area needing irrigation ia 3 600, 600
square miles. The greater part OF the
coil OF European Russia ia good for
grain, consisting OF vegetable mould,
that in the years of sufficient rain pro-
duces crops, but in ralnless years the
crop perishee the eun causes the earth
to crack, the roots Of the plants are laid
bare, and the grain isruined. At the pres
ent time an area OF 200, 900 hectares is irri-
gated. the water supply coming chiefly
from reservoirs in Little Russia and the
Crimea. In the southeast OF Russia the
water is supplied from the efsfiiuents OF
the Volga river, artesian wells and
reservoirs. In Asiatic Russia the sup
ply is provided by canals, cietsrns and
reservoirs. The most remarkable arti-
hcial reservoir is the Nero reservoir.
owned by the emperor. About eco
kllometers OF main irrigation canals
ind 700 kilometers of branch canals
have been built. Tho cost OF hectere
Of irrigated land varies from SO to
rs roubles, equal to SIG to $37.
The dama OF the reservoirs are built
of earth. win the paving OF the fAscines.
the newels Of which are in the clay they
are also built OF stone and cement, or OF
concrete blocks. The gates in the canals
are principally wood. though eome iron
ones are used. Wheat, barley, cotton.
fruits and timber are successfully grown
on irrigated land. However, the largest
portion OF them are devoted to pastur-
age. Vineyards and orchards are being
largely developed In the Crimsa, OAu-
casus and Bessarabis. In the valley
the Don. to guard against drouth damn
have been nconstructedacrosst the mou.ht
OF ravines to cave the Hnow water. 1ht
fields are also surrounded by ram mparte.
so that weter from the melting snow
may be retained. The level of the IN
derground water is thus raised. These
works were built by Chief OF Pubic
Works General Annenkoff. the con-
structor OF the trans. Caspian railway.
The southern part Of the valley OF the
vistn,A is eubjsct alternately to dron,b
and flood here is needed Rcomblnation
of drainage and irrigation. For irriga-
tion water supply dana have been con
structed across the Bobjs valley and q
deviation canal. The dam is 700 feer
long and has maximum height Of 25
feet. Four etorsge reservoirs are built
at various heighte. The dam was cor
struc'ed by filing In with heavy stone
scrcse the Bobis valley and. deviation
canai, aud the automatic action oi the
waits filled the cseyices with clay, thus
the dam bac@ms wgter tight.
'rne eonpt mentioned many details
shout the public WORKS and scientific
men OF Rassia. and whsn AIR. Patterson
ce,csudea tesstibg the hsper.the hesry
90 spplansr oi the session Was eiyea t +
iie eoant. to tho delight Of bis charm
ing vale, seated by hs eide ia his box.
FRANCE COMPLIMENTS RUSSIA.
Rene Leiebyre, French delegate, fol-
~ed Count CompdSissky, ana in tho
eaoicest Of pariaian Ersncn, saisl:
''S,nce yosi did mo the honor to elect
me as temPessry president dining
Count ComndziuAky's lsctuys. it de-
yolves upon nae o thank bin, in behalf
Of all preseat, tor the very interesting
communication we naye just heard
whch praovea tpat both Russia ard
A usfica rsnk Frat amongst shs leading
nations Of the earth ipTirrigation.'
Mr.. Abbott Kinney than presented the
following: .s
Resolved, That we are opposed 20 the
seesion OF afid lands, and water control
Of the pubiiG domain 20 tho eiatee OF 30
tb 10 terrikorisa.
Elft- Because no Important weEtern
watershed ana etrenrn isp entirely in
ons political division. Most ol the
large rivers traverse or border namerous
states and territoiiaa. Coneequently
that uniformity Of plan and com erehon
sivs scope al dSssribnAon necessary to
the fullest use Qftilsee infsfafete waters
can nat be had oy local regGiaSion.
sseond-Recsrss two nf thsee large
western livere, the Colorado and tie
Rio Grande, border or psss through
Me8ic&n tsrrjtory, and are likely 70
rAiss international qusstione in their
management. Tnese qnestirns are not
within the power of the states or ter
riioYias 10 dsal With separately.
Third Beoguse tia common land Of
our ntafe governments aseka the execu-
tive strength 10 properly hsndie Che
vAet Interests involved in tho irrigation
and settlement OF our arid lands. Much
as may properly be said egainst detscts
N the federal land uystem it is stlll
true, aside from the land subady policy
a. Nf