Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-30
WESTERN LAKES DRYING UP.
Wheat Now Growing Where Fish
We're Once Plentiful.

Wheat Now Growing Where Fish
We're Once Plentiful.
From the New York Times.
1t was reported a few years ago that
the rainfall was increasing on the east
ern edge of the arid district, near the one
hurdredth meridian. in the northwest, and
the current explanation of this change was
that it had been caused by cultivation of
the SOIL That is to say, the farmers. NOV
lrg westward in Nebraska and Kansas, had
induced larger rainfall by their own OPP
eratiOns and were thus pushing back to-
ward the mountains the boundary of the
arid region. Statistics appeared for a time
to support thus theory; only for a time,
however, for the supply OF moisture de-
creased and hundreds OF farms and many
promising new towns nave since been aban-
uoned in the region where conditions SEEM
ed to have become permanently more IA
vorable TO agriculture.
An inquiry recently made in Minnesota
and the Dakotas concerning the lakes OF
those states shows that cultivation OF the
soil, While eXertllg directly no perceptlble
mn uence upon rainfall, has been one OF the
causes of a large reduction OF lake area
and OF surface supplies OF water. ANY one
who has examined with care a trustworthy
map OF Minnesota Will remember that the
number OF lakes Ill that state IS very large.
Ten years ago there were about 900 OF
them; but the number would be greatly re-
duced on map truthfully representing
the topography OF the state at the present
time. ABOUT One-thlrd OF the lakes that
were shown by the surveys of ten years
ago have disappeared Wheat, flax or grass
was grown this year on the sites OF many
of these bodies OF water, others have be-
come unslghtly and impossible marshes,
and the surface levels OF the lakes remain
ing have been lowered by several feet. In
the Dakotas a similar change IS observed.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press OF the 9TH
instant published interesting reports from
| many counties in Minnesota and the Da-
kotas as TO TINS reduction Of lake area. W.
| have space for only d brief reference TO the
facts disclosed. From almost every county
comes the same story-small lakes have en-
| tireiy disappeared and gwen way to culti-
| waited land, or have degeLerated into
marshes and mud holes, and large lakes
| have shrul ken in area and been lowered
| by four, five or even eight feet. Flax or
wheat has been growing where fish were
| plentiful few years ago. From some
| counties GENES the prediction that the re-
naming lakes Will dry up, and that the
| farmers Will be forced to rely upon arti-
| ticlal irrigation with water from arteslan
wells. 1t may be noted that artesian wells
| now in use IN North Dakota appear to nave
| drawn water from neighboring lakes which
have lost area and volume.
| While the reporting observers are not IN
| this change, the majority of them say that
| cultivation of the soil has withheld ram
water from the lakes and streams The
| upcultivated prairies," one remarks, pre-
| SeHlSu d SL1OolAs CVAlpdSI SoAAoSS, AAoAAA
which the rainfall quickly ran off into the
sloughs and creeks and found its way to
the lakes. Now the light, loose cultivated
soil absorbs the water ab fast as 1t falls,
and it is a rare thing to see water running
| from the fields to the sloughs when the
| ground is not frozen. Almost our entire
rainfall is absorbed as fast as 1t falls, and
| instead of filling our iakes it Is filling our
granaries.' 1t is disappointed out that the
| snowfall has been deficient for some years
past. The record kept at st. Paul shows
that the rainfall has been considerably be-
low the average since 1882, except In one
year. -
A few of the resident observers. how
| ever, express the opinions that the dryness
is temporary, and that the lakes will fill UP
again. The Indians have told them of SIM
liar dry periods in the past, followed by a
series Of wet seasons. 1t Is pointed out by
one reporter that after a lake has dried
down to a small pool almost invariably the
bones of buffaloes may be found at the
edge of the pool, which indicates that a
similar reduction of lake area took place
| years ago. We find no reference to the eff
feet of the removal of the forests in GER
tain parts of Minnesota, although this may
we'll have been considered. The situation
of the region in which this interesting
change has taken place-around the source
of the Mississippi and of the tributaries OF
the Missouri-makes it matter of more
than local importance.