Omaha daily bee., 1893-12-17
IRRlr4nyN IN NEARIskl.

Except in a few extreme western
cJunties irrigation has not made rapid
progress in the arid and seml-arid por-
tions of Nebraska, which comprise more
than one-third of the state, or practi-
cally all of the territory lying west of
the M hundredth meridian. In the
sections where irrigation has been APP
piled the results have been in the
highest degree satisfactory, and when it
is understood hat the soil of nearly the
entire irrigable area is as rich n fer
tile as that which has been reclaimed,
and capable of an equal measure of pro-
duction under like conditions, the i'm
portance of the question of irrigation to
the development and future well
fare of Nebraska will become APP
parent. The area OF the state
is 1906, 400 acres. Assuming that
10, O0O, 900 acres require irrigation in
order to be made productive, and esti-
mating the annual value of the products
per acre at the lowest figure that can
reasonably be named, say So, and
the reclamation Of this area would
increase the agricultural of
the state to the amount of at least SI5,-
OOO,0 0 a year. But every practical
farmer will understand hat this esti-
mate is much too low, especially in view
of the fact that irrigated land yields
more generously thar land whose pro-
ductiveness depends upon rainfall. At
any rate it can be most reasonably as
sumed that the reclamation of
the arid land of Nebraska would
add annually to the value of our
agricultural resources fully $780,
600, 600, with immense benefit to every
interest in the state. No practical mind
can reflect upon the possibilities of a
general system of irrigation where it is
needed without reaching the conclusion
that the question merits the intelligent
and earnest attention of our people.
Within the last year or two the peo-
pie of the western portion of the state
have become thoroughly aroused to the
urgent Importance of this subject, and
have Deer organizing for a united and
vigorous effort to advance the cause of
irrigation. In all, or nearly all, of the
counties having irrigable lands societies
have been formed with this object in
view and they are manifesting great
energy and zeal IN the work.
These organizations will be repre-
sented in the state irrigation COW ention
that will meet at North Platte next
Tuesday. This convention promises to
inaugurate throughout the state a move
ment for the promotion of irrigation
from which great results are to be ex-
pected, 1t will present to public atten-
ton a great deal of valuable informa-
ton regarding the condition and posi-
bilities of the arid and semi-arid por-
tions of the state, the available water
supply, the probable cost of a general
system of irrigation, and other facts
bearing upon the material aspects of the
subject. 1t will also discuss means and
methods, consider the relations and
duties of the federal government
in the working out of the prob
lem and counsel as to the best
course to be pursued to arouse popular
interest and to enlist capital in this
work. Omaha should feel a profound
concern in the question of making avail
able to agriculture the extensive area OF
Nebraska that is now nonproductive.
The reclamation of that region would be
of almost incalculable benefit to this
city, and Omaha's representatives in the
North Platte convention will be ex-
pected to take an enlightened and earn
est part in promoting the object of the
convention.
OF course everybody at all familiar
with this matter understands that the
work to he accomplished is not easy and
that it is not free from difficulties. It
will take years of time and an enormous
amoun of money to carry it tc
completion. But it is practicable and
there can be no question as to the bene-
fits to be derived from it. Perhaps the
most serious obstacle to the solution Of
the problem is in The relation that the
federal government bears to it. The
arid public lands are Of no value to the
government and in their present condi
ton never can be. Why would it not be
wise policy for congress to cede these
lands TO the state, under conditions that
would require the state to utilize them il
promoting irrigation? This is one of the
questions, it is presumed, which the
convention at North Platte will be called
upon to consider. 1t is to be hoped the
convention will be largely attended and
representative in character.