Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-11
WILL BLOSSOM LIKE THE ROSE
WHEN IRRIGATIoS HAS BEEN IN
TRoDuoED INTo TEXAS.
The Waste Places shall Bscome mn
Agricultural Paradise-Generni f.
81. Clarke interviewed on an I'M
portant subJect-La,vs Needed.


Agriculture by irrigation Is compare
lively a new feature in American tarih-
ing. Unknown to the early travellers,
they all united in declaring the great
arid region west OF the Missouri des-
ert which could never become the nome
Of civilized man.
But among the first settlers were
those who knew OF irrigation IN new
Mexico. where for over 200 years 1t mad
been practiced by the Spaniarus' anu
in California, where It had been ADOPT
ed from Mexico, and In Utah, where
1t was successfully inaugurated Dy the
Mormons.
The subject Of agriculture by irflsa.
ton has recently become mates %
much interest In Texas, ana tue lltei-
est materialized into action by the
meeting OF the first state Irrigation
convention, which was held az Sai
Antonio. commencing Tuesday, Deceii-
Der A. and continuing 1--WE Gays.
General Il. NJ. Clarks OF Fort Worm
has been deeply interested IN the SUD
Ject of Irrigation and was prime
mover in the convention at san Ahto-
Mo. General Clarke has returned from
aged with the results OF the meeting.
He anticipates that new interest VIII
be awakened all over the great state
of Texas in u plan, the successful CON
summation of which will open up tor
cultivation vast domain Oh ara SUI
and cause It to blossom as the rose.
At the convention held In san Anto-
! MO there were representatives from
hfty-nine counties Of the state and l69
delegates Among the delegates were
sone OF the most prominent scientists
| In the state. and the discussions were
/ upon the points Of great Importance
| to the successful contamination or lrr-
| eating the immense scope OF territory
| belonging to Texas that Is now COM
| paratlvely unprodnctive.
General Clark was interviewed upon
| the surject by Gazette reporter and
| EXPRESSED his views. He said that the
subject OF irrigatlng the great area OF
| dry lands In Texas was one Of the
utmost Importance, especially II we re-
| gard the future OF this magnificent
| state.
About one-half Of the state west
| from a line drawn north and south
through Fort Worth may be termed
thc dry HcctIon Of tho state, including
some 40,O00,0O0 acres, All this region
needs to cause it to become an agri-
cultural paradise is tlat elixir of vege-
table life-'water.
The possibilities OF converting arid
lands into fruitful fields has already
been fully demonstrated by the SPLEEN
did success that has attended irriga-
ton in California, Colorado. Utah and
other Western states, and the only
test that has been made IN the bOun-
dJiIes of Texas-in the PecOs country
has been q success. This has been ut a
very moderate expense to the small
farmer, who thereby culuvates his linz
tied area with success and profit. The
same thing. It, is claimed by the gem
tlemen who met in convention Mt san
Antonio, can be done FOR Texas. one
thing Is important tn General Clarke's
estimn ton, and that is some modlfica-
ton OF the state laws Of Texas with re-
gard to waterways, the laws at present
being hostile in character He suggests
that. first, n law FOR the condemnation
OF waterways liz needed; second, the es-
Establishment of priority rights of APP
proprating the natural streams Of the
state; and third, some construction of
existing laws. or else additional legis-
lntlon authorizing the requirement Of
lands in larger tracts than IL now per-
missible, for the purpose VI irrigation
work. All of these points General
Clarke esteems most essential to the
complete success OF the plan of irrl-
subject met with the approval Of the
San Antonio convention.
a committee was appointed by the
convention to bring the matter to the
attention VI tele next Texas legislature
and to impress the importance OF the
subject upon the minds OF the law.
makers OF the state, This committee
consists of men who are prominently
known and respected in every section
of the state, Their numcs are: General
j.. NJ Clarke, Fort Worth; Hon. Loh,
IL. Reagan, Austin. Hon, j. II. Me.
Lclry, San Antonio; II. T.Dumble
Austin; Major C, Il. Dutton, san An.
tonlo Henry Saylcs, Abilene; p. A.
Swinden, Brownwood; William Cassin
Havalla; j. b, Whelpley. san Antonio
J, l.. slayton. Hayes; Prof John b.
lIawley Fort Worth. and Hon. w. V
Hutchinson.
"a campaign Of education" remarked
General Clarke, "is what Is needed II
Texas TO aoqnaint the people OF the i'm
mense advantages TO be derived In thi.
state from a system of irritation"