The record-union., 1893-08-15
AMERICAS ARID AREA.
Millions of Unirrigated Acres in
the West.
Nearly Half the Land in the United
States Is Without weII-DIstrfbuted
Rainfall-IrrIgation has Proved I'm
able to supply the Deficiency.

York Sun. the superficial areas of the
United States aggregate about l, $685. ,O00,
900 acres. OF these. about 1,O00OO0,000
acres are within the region of well-dis-
tributed rainfall. The remainder is arid
plain or mountain.
From about the Goth meridian west to
the outlying buttresses of the Rocky
Mountains, stretch wide and rapidly as
cending slopes where the rainfall is so
deficient as to limit the field Of agricult-
ural production to the insignificant frac-
ton OF these enormous areas that can be
watered aruficially. These arid plains
include all of Texas, Kansas, the Indian
Territory. Nebraska and the Dakotas,
lying west of the 9Sth meridian at the
southern and the l0lst 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
littoral to the national boundary. North
OF that boundary the line defects sharply
westward, and the arid plains narrow
rapidly, probably disappearing wholly
above the Doth parallel. 1t does not fol-
low, however, that these Canadian plains
are better adapted to cereal culture
than those south of the boundary.
Late and early frosts are believed
to render such culture as extra
ira hazardous occupation north of Mani
toba, although there are those who con-
tend that the climate of the AthabaSca re-
gion is even more favorable to agricult-
ure than that Of the border province.
Neat 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 re-
gion form an oblique-lined parallelogram
whose sides are between SIX and seven
hundred miles long, the lower axis be-
ing from southeast 10 northwest. In the
deeply sunken valleys and gorges of this
mountain mass run great rivers and purl-
ing brooks, and within its rocky walls lie
hidden great mineral treasures
These vast mountain ridges, narrow
valleys and basin-like plateaus, as well
as the wide plains sloping to the regions
of rainfall and fertility in the east, en-
brace no less than Il per cent. of the en-
tire Ianu service of the republic. They
are of little value for agricultural pur-
poses and are likely so to remain. In the
absence of fruculying rains cultivation
Is possible only through irrigation. and
water Is available to tertilize 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
essays wherein have been pictured ideal
and truly Arcadlan agricultural commu-
mites which are TO irrlgate and cultivate
more than 100000, 900 acres of these arid
wastes. The special agent in charge of
irrigation inquiries for the department
OF agriculture, improving upon the geo.
logical programme, lndlted a fourteen
column article tor the advertising sheet of
one of the land grant railways and sent it
broadcast IN the official envelopes of the
department. His attempt was to prove.
at least TO the satisfaction OF the railway
officials, that not less than 200, COO 900
acres, or one acre of every four, of these
dry areas were susceptible of irrigation
and profitable culture from waters read
lily available.
The glowing optimism of the geological
view was doubtless exploited for the Dur-
pose ofinducing Congress to make such ap-
propriations as would enable the Director
OF the survey 10 keep great forces in the
field until the topographic, hydrographic
engineering and geological surveys which
were said to be necessary to successful
irrigation should be completed. The
radiant optimism of the Agricultural De-
partment was only a reflection of that of
railway company possessed of great
numbers of arid acres which it was quite
willing Congress should spend any
amount of money in reclaiming.
AS TO contributing to the food supply.
the arid areas will in the future, as in the
past, do so almost wholly by atfordiug
pasturage for meat-producing animals, IL
beng very questionable whether as much
as per cent. OF the surface can be made
serviceable in any other way The CEN
sus reports dealing with the several irri-
CATION districts show that the water avail
able for irrigation at any reasonable cost
has nearly all been appropriated and
brought into use IN the major part of the
1uvial basins, and yet the lands brought
under cultivation represent but a fraction
OF per cent of the arid regions, More
over, II is actually shown that New Mex
lean areas which have been under cult
vation for more than a hundred years
have had to be abandoned because of the
appropriation of the water nearer the
heads OF the streams, in Colorado. In
ali this region water Is abundant when
not needed, but in the growing and ripen-
ing season the streams are at their lowest,
and the supply is so diminished by the
summer heats that there is little left for
the parched fields.
SO dependent is the agriculture of the
arid regions upon artificial watering, and
so deficient are available supplies, that
with millions desirOus of opening new
farms upon the public domain, and after
two-hfths of a century spent in develop-
ing the lrrlgable lands of U Ctah and other
mountain Territories and States, less than
oue-half OF l per cent. of the S00, ZOO 900
acres included in the arid belt has been
brought under cultivation by irrigation:
and Of this small fraction more than 25
per cent. is found in the sub-humid re-
gionS OF the Pacific States. Although
much of the land under cultivation in the
eight mountain States and Territories is
found in limited districts where the rain
fall sutfices, as in northeast Colorado and
Iatah County, Idaho, yet the whole
cultivated area of the irrigated districts
excluding California, does not equal /
per cent. OF the enormous area of aridity
In nearly all the irrigating districts the
census officers found the lrrigators di-
vided into classes having primary, sec
ondary and tertiary water rights. such
rights being determined by priority of
settlement, the water being distributed
under regulations varying with State,
Territory and district. These diverse
rights are an endless source of neighbor-
hood trouble, and result IN much litiga-
ton that adds to the cost of production
Cultivators possessing secondary rights
suffer, in seasons OF deficient snowfall
quite as much from drought as do the
farmers of the Central States. Their croDs
are often hopelessly ruined by the ab-
sence of needed water. The possessor of
tertiary rights has not a right that any
one respects, and never has sufficient wa
ter for his crops If II is possible for his up
stream neigh bors to use it all, or even
waste it, although he may have gone to
great expense in securing his water right
and in preparing the means of distriou-
ton. The result of this deficient supply
is to reduce greatly the yield per acre,
and to bring the average down nearly to
the level OF those secured in the Central
States where no irrigating expenses are
incurred. But for the high prices result
ing from deficient local supply of farm
products, the returns from the whole area