San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-29
A HOPEFUL SIGN.
Irrigation the Harbinger of a New
Epoch.

IL NhO DoiiJ
1t is quite hopeful sign to see
the lively interest which is man.
ifested in South West Texas in the
matter of irrigation, as it is the
harbinger of new epoch of plenty
and prosperity throughout large
section, unblessei with rainfall to
insure plentiful crops year in and
year out. The interest in irriga-
ton has passed out Of the stage OF
talk in many localities and has
happily assumed practical shape.
Individuals have taken the neces-
sary steps to irrigate their lands,
and in other localities companies
have been organized for the pur-
pose of securing extensive irri-
cation. This movement is in
the right direction and every
county in Southwest Texas
should hasten to join in with this
suspicious movement. Delay in
this important matter would be
absolutely suicidal.
1t is impossible for the most
vivid imagination to overestimate
the permanent benefit which
Southwest Texas would derive
from irrigation. 1t will cause one
acre of land to produce as large a
crop as Is now gathered of ten
acres. 1t will insure tip.top crop
every year, Independently Of the
rain fall. 1t will increase the value
Of land to 500 and 5000 per acre.
The certainty of a good crop each
year cannot fail to largely enhance
the value and the desirability OF
land and to prove potent magnet
in drawing population and capital.
The soil of Southwest Texas, with
sufficiency of moisture is fertile
enough to produce large crops OF
corn, rice, sugar cane, cotton, to-
bacco, oats, wheat, rye, barley, and
alfalfa and Johnson grass for hay.
Two and three crops Of vegetables
could be grown on the same land
during the year, and these crops
could be shipped to all parts of the
union and sold for fair prices.
With irrigation, fruits and
grapes would prove safe and profit
able crops.
The climate of Southwest Texas
is genial and healthful. The farm
ers in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Kansas, Nebraska, Montana and
Dakota would gladly remove to a
more genial climate. Irrigation
would cause them to flock to
Southwest Texas in droves.
Why? Because they could
enjoy the charm and the
comfort Of a genial climate as well
as make fine crops every year.
This is by long odds better coun-
try for stock raising than Iowa,
Wisconsin, etc., from the fact that
our mild winters render it unnec-
essary to shelter and feed stock
from November to April.
Without irrigation, farming in
Southwest Texas will always be a
most precarious as we'll as unprofit-
able business, as the rainfall is
seldom adequate to furnish moist.
ure to crops two years in success
sion. With irrigation, crop fail
ures would be almost impossible
any year. Every person endowed
with common sense can perceive,
at a glance, what vast difference
irrigation would make in South
west Texas. In order to beget an
interest In irrigation, the people
must be made to realize the i'm.
mense advantages which will re-
suit from irrigation, and whenever
they shall conclude that irrigation
will transform this portion of
Texas into blooming garden, then
all hands will unite to secure the
blessings OF irrigation. The press
will have to educate the people on
this subject, by dwelling upon it
continually.
But is irrigation practicable in
Southwest Texas? There is no
room for doubt on this matter. or
course, all the water supplied by
the creeks and rivers traversing
the country must be utilized Tor
irrigation. All storm water must,
likewise, be turned to account. Ar.
tesian wells must be resorted to
for water for irrigation. If the
Dutch were able by indus.
try, pluck and perseverance
to reclaim Holland from the
ocean, surely we can secure
water for irrigation in Southwest
Texas. But all such undertakings
require energy, pluck, perseverance
and money. Farmers and land
owners must combine together and
work together as one man, as 1t is
only by pooling and concentrating
their resources and means, that
they will be able to obtain the re-
quisite capital to prosecute work
on any considerable scale. Half a
dozen, or a dozen men in neigh