Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-08-26
ruE FUTURE or lRnrGarroN.

Tho future food producing sec
tions Of the world will be in the
lands Of canals and bitches, where
the moisture for growing crops, is
furnished by irrigation. Past his
tory justifies this assertion and en-
phasizes the necessity for a more
thorough and systematic applica-
ton of irrigation to the agricultural
world where the benefits are com
paritively unknow. The countries
Of the globe are becoming SO thickly
populated, and the channels of com
merce so morrow by reason of trust
organizations, that a partial failure
of crops prccipitates a famine and a
financial panic, resulting in politi-
cal revolution, social disintegration,
and physical and mental wasting
Of the human family. The soil
must be made to produce its annual
ratio of fruits, cereals and grasses
with as much regularity and GER
tainty as the weekly manufacture
er's pay roll is balanced. Joel
Shoemaker in Irrigation Market,
says:
irrigation is the hope Of the producer and the con.
sumner. Its powers Tor reclamation OF arid lan,ls,
and insurng absolute safety in the rain belt must be
utilized In order 10 avert impending calamity and
cure unlimited supply ~ food for and beast.
The past age Of drought, ~et and consequsn,
destructive pests and storms must not he repeated.
Speculation upon the corn, wheat and eotton crops
and resorting to ancient signs and for discern
ing crop snrses- cr failure, should be rclegate TO an
unprngressiNe and non productive past. This ear
easily he accomplished by systematically utilizing the
natural reservoirs. and protecting the forests the
sources Of moisture Necessary TOT the production u
About two ffths Of the cultivated lands OF tho
world are supplied with moisture for crni,s hy
system Of artificial irrigation but in most SECTIONS,
the art Of storage and distribution 81 water is
crude The principal sources 81 supply the rV,
ers and mountain streams from which the waters Is
taken by gravity canals, current wheels and the
ious pumping devices from the man pow Of China
20 the electric engines Of California. Money has ccn
expended In improved machinery for lifting and III
version OF Sater In proportion IN the thrift and In
elligehce Of the people, the productive powers Of tho
soil, and the market value Of the crops pfosucel
While none of the methods employed may be reck
oned As failures, the possibilities Of future develop
mcnt and progress almost beyond the powers u
human comprehension.
The sandy plains and parchcd deserts will be con-
1
able by the reyiying powers OF irrigation, coupled
with Its legitimate handemaid suhsdrface drainage.
Abandoned and worthless farms will be unknown, as
the system OF intensive farming and scientific feFti
zation, natural outgro~ths 81 irrigation, moro
extensively practicei The necessity for preserving
the natural forests and adding 10 their acreage b,
continual plSntng Of young trees, will he fore
IDLY presented TO the frrmena OF the universal irriga.
4 ton empire OF the future. Less land and 70
rled crops will be- the motto u intelligent tlers Of ths
| soil throughout the world.
/ The most improved system az storing. conducting
and distributing OF water will beeome universal. and
apply to the rainy regions well TO lands termed
arid. The food waters will be gathered Ia appropri
| ate catchment basins; the undernow will be tapped
| and brought to the surface mountain streams and
springs will be deveopssi and pipcd TO the valleys
waste, seepage and drainage waters will be i'm
pounded in convenient reservoirs and under surface
drainage, consisting of thing made VI wood. steel
| clay o. cement, will conduct the surplus surtacl
waters from the tillable fields TO Reservoirs TO bs
lifted by electric wind, steam, water horse power
and used again. Farming will he independent
| remuneratiye and happy vocation, and the intelli
gence OF the world viii emanate from the homes o
entcrprseing, contented and wealthy tillers of tn
/ aall