The sun., 1893-07-02
Tho Vast Region without Water.

Exclusive Of lakes. rivers. and bayous.
areas OF the United States aggregate about
1860. 900 acres. or these. about. 1.oOo.-
100000 acres are within The region Of we'll
distributed rainfall. The remainder is arid
plain or mountain.
From about the 99th meridian. west to the
outlying buttresses Of the Rocky Noun
tains. stretch wide and rapidly ascending
slopes where the rainfall Is SO deficient
as to limit the field Of agricultural
production to the Insignificant fraction
OF these enormous areas that can
be watered artificially. These arid plains
include all Of Texas. Kansas. the In
dian Territory. Nebraska. and the Dakotas.
lying west Of the 9sth meridian at the
southern. and the 1O1st meridian at the
northern extremity OF the belt: the trend
of the area Of sufficient rainfall
being westward as we go north
from the Gulf Httoral to the ma
tional boundary. NoBth Of that boun-
dairy the line defects sharply westward,
and the arid plains narrow rapidly, prob
ably disappearing wholly above the 55th
parallel. 1t does not follow. however. that
cereal culture than those south OF the
boundary. Late and early frosts are be-
lieved to render such culture an extra-haz
ardous occupation north Of Manitoba. al
though there are those who contend that
the climate Of the Athabasca region Is
even more favorable to agriculture than
that Of the border province.
West Of the arid plains. and mostly south
OF the national boundary, lie some OF the
greatest mountain masses upon the planet.
The outlines of the mountain region form an
oblique-angled parallelogram whose sides
are between six and seven hundred miles
long. the longer axis being from southeast
to northwest. In the deeply sunken val
leys and gorges Of this mighty mountain
mass run great rivers and purling brooks:
and within its rocky walls lie hidden great
mineral treasures. These vast mountain
ridges. narrow valleys. and basin like pla-
tealls. as well as the wide plains sloping
away to the regions OF rainfall and fertility
in the east. embrace no less than A per
cent. Of the entire land surface Of the re-
public. They are OF little value for agricul-
tural purposes, and are likely 80 to remain.
In the absence of fructifying rains. cultiva-
tion s possible only through irrigation. and
water is available to fertiize only the
merest fraction Of these enormous areas.
Hence. there has been little agricultural
development. and little seems possible; al
though learned chiefs Of the Geological
Survey have treated the public to glowing
essays wherein have been pictured ideal
and truly Arcadian agricultural communi-
ties which arc to irrigate and cultivate more
than lOO.OO0,OOO acres of these arid
wastes. The Especial Agent in charge
OF Irrigation Inquiries" for, the De-
partment Of Agriculture. improving
upon the Geological programme. indited a
fourteen-column article for the advertising
sheet of one Of the land-grant railways. and
sent it broadcast In the official envelopes OF
tho department. His attempt was to prove,
at least to the satisfaction of the railway
officials. that not less than 200. 900. 900 acres,
or one acre OF every four. OF these dry areas,
were susceptible OF irrigation and profitable
culture from waters readily available.
The glowing optimism Of the Geological
view was doubtless exploited for the pur-
pose of inducing Congress to make such
appropriations as would enable the di-
rector Of the Survey to keep great
forces In the field until the topographic.
photographic. engineering. and geological
surveys which were said to be necessary
to successful irrigation should he COM
pleted. The radiant optimism of the Agri-
cultural Department was only a reflection
OF that of railway company possessed OF
great numbers OF arid acres which 1t was
quite willing Congress should spend any
amount of money In reclaiming.
Ill - Ak4
the arid areas will In the future. as in the