The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-01
THEY WILL IRRIGATE
NEBRASKA FARMERS HAVE NO
HOPE EXCEPT wITH THIS METHOD.
Three Poor Crops in Succession Drive
Them To Concerted Action in De-
handing N Canal System.

The extensive and protracted drought OF
the present summer has demonstrated one
thing beyond all possibility of successful
contradiction. and that is the fact that ir-
rigation is not only a decided advantage,
but an absolute necessity so far as thor
oughly satisfactory farming is concerned
in many portions Of this agricultural sec
ton of the great West In ordinarily wet
seasons the need of augmenting the natural
supply of moisture is not apparent. and
the greater returns from the irrigated
lands do not attract SO much attention ow-
ing to the generally satisfactory yield of
the nonirrigated portions, but in a year
like this the difference is so marked that
the contrast forced itself upon all. Where,
on the one hand, nonirrigated farms are
well-nigh barren of vegetation on account
of the lack of moisture and the long-contin-
ued burning of a summer sun. and the dis
couraged farmers rave loaded their few
personal belongings on canvas-covered
wagons and are pulling back to the older
States, despairing Of ever being able to
make both ends meet while depending on
unfriendly natures meager rain supply,
on the other hand appears the welcome
contrast of richly headed grain fields and
evidences Of soil production that induce the
belief that corn is king. indeed.
Three poor crops in succession have come
to the Nebraska farmer, the failure of this
year being the most disheartening of all.
1t may be truthfully stated that there will
be no crop at all. In even the most for
tunate of the counties the yield will not
amount to a third Of a crop, while in many
OF them the farmers will be actually desti-
tute and will require State aid.
1t may, then, be easily understood that
many an envious eye is turned upon the
little tracts here and there where an album
dance of water was available, owing to ar
tificial means and the enterprise of man,
and many an agricultural vow has been
registered not to longer attempt TO extract
a living from the soil unless under condi-
tons equally promising as those that there
obtain.
PROMISE CONCERT OF ACTION.
That there will be a concert of action in
the Legislature the coming winter on the
part of the representatives from dozens of
the agricultural counties is an absolute
certainty, and legislation favorable to the
immediate development of irrigation in this
State is assured. Long and loud have been
the expressions Of regret that the irrigation
bill which was SO ardently championed by
the representatives from the northwestern
counties in the last Legislature was de-
feated, and popular sentiment gives the as
surance that proposed irrigation legislation
viii not meet with a similar fate at the
coming session.
Already negotiations are in progress
looking to the construction of a large irri-
cation canal in the northern part of the
State, covering a distance of 135 miles
through the counties of Rock, Holt and
Knox, at an estimated cost of over $50, 900,
While plans are also being matured that
contemplate the building of dozens of SINH
lar bitches, although on a less extensive
scale, in various other portions of the State.
Power canals have. up to this time, at
tracted attention in localities where it was
possible TO secure a waterfall Of sufficient
height at anything like reasonable cost,
but 1t is now conceded that an irrigation
canal that Will assure unfailing crops and
build up a thickly settled, thrifty and
prosperous farming community as a solid
and substantial backing for the towns is
Of the first and greatest Importance. Then
the power canal and the consequent fac
tories to still further develop the towns
are in order and eminently all right in
their way.
The great irrigation canal system in the
vicinity OF Greeley. Col,- has excited a
nails at Kearney and Gothenberg, in this
State, nave directed considerable attention
to those places. but the canal which seems
to possess the greatest attraction al the
present time is the one just completed al
Edgemont, S. d., the seat of FAN River
county, the southwestern county of thar
young and growing State. Although To-
Gated across the line in another common
wealth, Edgemont is just now attracting
the attention Of a number of Nebraskans.
especially farmers, who have no rich fields
to harvest after a seasons labor in prepa-
ration. 1t is burt twenty miles from the
State line, and it's location in the fertile
Cheyenne valley would of itself attract the
agricultural eye. but the canal is the mag
net that is drawing the farmers there at
this time.
FIFTEEN MILES OF CANAL
This canal is fifteen miles long, tapping
the pellucid waters OF the Cheyenne that
distance above town, and swinging over
the edge of the rapidly rising bench lands
nearly a mile away IF beams "a. l;~L..
the bench as possible throughout it's entire
length. and the full width of the valley is
thus laid open to the great advantage a,-
cruing to irrigated lands. as the mains
and laterals of the canal cover the entire
bottom; 1t directly waters 10000 acres.
While 1000 acres more are reached by the
laterals that connect with the tail-race be-
low the mill, for be it understood that this
is a power canal as well, with an eighty
foot fall at the town of Elgemont, where
furnish employment for 400 operatives is
now building, the first of it's kind in the
entire Northwest. and a winning bidder
Tor this seasons wool clip in Fall River
county, a~ggregating COG, 600 pounds.
Forty teams are now at work breakinp
out all of the land that has not yet known
the upheaving touch Of the pillow i'm order
that the entire bottom may be under cul-
uvation another year. There is no telling
been made for that land were it not for
the canal, and the instance is merely cited
10 show the positive and OverWhelmine
turn that the sentiment of the farmers in
the. drought-stricken sections has taken,
| evidencing their growing independence OF
irrigation and marked prediction for ir-
| rigated lands.
Under present conditions the supply Of
irrigated land will fall far short of the de-
mand, and this will increase the pressure
TO bring about legislative encouragement
| for canal building. 1t will likewise TEND 10
cause the owners of the power canals in
| the State to develop the irrigation features
in those localities, as did the Edgemont
company with its great power canal, and
will cause the Douglas county farmers &c
| insist on it's addition to the provisions OF
the contract in the proposition that will
! come before the voters this fall to yotC
| 100000 bonds to aid in the construction
| of the Omaha power canal, forty-five miles
long, which is to cost upwards of 50. 600. 90
1t is because of this effect i'm the way q,
| irrigation development that il is an Sper
question whether this will be such a ha6
year for Nebraska after all. for while the
immediate effects OF the drought will bt
| severe the permanent result will be a sys.
tenn Of bitches that will make the sol
tillers independent of the whims of Jupiter
| Pluvius and bring material good and last
ing prosperity to the State and to ali with.
in its borders. The same is true of tn,
surrounding States. and there is ever,
reason to believe that out of the agri
cultural discouragements of this year viii
| grow a new condition, based on the arti
fetal furnishing of water to crops when
ever desired, through the medium Of irri
cation canals that shall permanently Sc
that has heretofore been his only in small
quantities and by piecemeal.
Dealing Unfairly with EmuJoHes