New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
IN NEBRASKA.
METHODS NECESSARY TO SECURE THE
BEST RESULTS.

BEST RESULTS.
THE CALIFORNIA OR DISTRICT SYSTEM REcoH-
MISUNDERSTANDING MEASURES FOR
STATE ACTION.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir; Your editorial relating to Nebraska. wen
the letter which II IL based naturally holds the
attention OF all thoughtful and humane readers.
It's interest 10 me Is very great as for years !
have been actively interested in the study of tho
condition OF irrigation and in the effort TO apply
the knowledg, thus obtained Having been In
charge for several years OF the United states Ir.
rlgaton Inquiry. Department OF Agriculture though
/ am pleased to remark. for day under the
sapient stupidity OF that citizen OF Nebraska who
unfortunately for the arid West. is rafting
around in the Secretaryship OF Agricultural may
perhaps be allowed brief space 10 comment on
the problems OF drouth and reclamation upon the
great plains. and IN Western Nebraska especially.
The ordinary rainfall Necessary for agriculture ID
about twenty-eght inches per annuni Under no
circumstances does Western Nebraska score more
than twenty-three. / mean the region OF the
nnety-eighth degree of longitude. II is more
usually not eighteen. and down to if-
teen inches as the eastern border OF Wyoming 10
reached the average being about seventeen inches,
Yet It has been very difficult to make the people OF
Nebraska. until quite recently. see the need OF art-
fetal storage and distribution OF water. II their
arabic lands were TO be successfully TILED In
third OF the drouth-strcken section the storage OF
six inches OF water. that the same may be dis
tributcd at the when most necessary, will
be sufficient to insure crops. In all 'such
sections irrigation is practically insurance
The nature OF the soils and strata, with
their typographical trend and diversity OF sur
face, will insure that that one-third irri-
CATION may be achieved from farm and small, as
well as inexpensive storage reservoirs. we'll as
nffo Nh IL.
farmers. like some others in Kansas and the Da-
ko;as have been hde-bound in old ways and very
slow to apprehend that they had the means at hand
at little cost to insure their crops They have been
In the past more interested in charging their area
OF land-owning than in making secure. by water
storage and more intensive cultivation. the value
OF that which they had in possession. After all
however. an extended utilization Of the abundant
river and drainage supply OF Western Nebraska
will be ultimately the one mastering security OF the
region Won;.r, N.nr,sk. b. water sufficient nv IL.
precpa ton and that supply which comes from the
the Loup and other streams carry In their open
ali other times in the detrtas Of the same below
the surface sufficient amount Of water TO turn
smiling sech Of Fruitful az and oeh
producing In the average under irrigation four times
having e an abundant humidity There is water suf-
cient In any year. but the question at issue Is now
The Nebraska Legislature is now considering two
bills both Of which ought to become law one OF
to move Il thereby the general Government is typ
for the creation of a State Irrigation and Water
e ass aser %
go on at with an inquiry and 10 report speed
iy, SO that the people may know what 70 do. That
bill, II 1t does not do "a summary only, not the
text before mel should declare all natural waters
b na s ana by its su
thorty for beneficial purposes only ana 10 me ex-
Water management must be made State affair:
not allowed or assumed be property in any sense
Seets OF each and all Nebraska still has over
100000 acres OF unoccupied public lands within
passed at the last sesson of Congress grants LOCO
90 acres under conditions OF providing for reclama-
Sb al sns Included The State Ss should
like wyoming. take the necessary steps at once 10
erly handled, it will pay.
The other pending measure is bill providing for
the formation of municipal areas 10 be known as
irrigation districts. They are TO be organized upon
shs stated and When
properly organized they will have power to buy or
fully for the same, to create and construct new
storage, ditch or supply systems Of their own The
taxes on all the realty within 1t the interest
and principal thereof; the bonds TO be direct lien
own. maintain and administer the works, levyins
rates to meet The, requirements This is what =
known the California system. and while amend
ments are needed to make that quite safe for in
yssors and irrigators alike IT is IN Its principles r pies
devised OF creating. controlling ana admnisterns
The vast wealth to be Sd AND and s
ton. Private companies naturally seek absolute
% OF cs he nsSer be
mise makes bungling work OF the Issue. ntgasoss
disturbance The district system makes those who
need the works and water pay for TIE cost OF sacn
keeps control In the hands OF users only. The dis
trct bonds at and per cent VII De as sals az
made and main,ained are. generally the bonds
Of domestic water supply for village town ana
Forestry viii help. without doubt: But irrIgaton
IS not not H ,be normal way TO irrigation Climate Is
above and controlling; II is not changed perma.-
Wso X s Viii Ss Tor
gallon. Cultivation OF crops made secure by water.
That y VII in g ens NTH the a
moisture which exists and passes over most
roots. tends to draw the water or drainage plane
below the surface nearer thSreto That Is an avail.
largely eroded and aetTitai IN Character ihsrsfors
does tend 70 change the earths temperature on the
ssIy s fS':ss &
distribution Of all low-ying LOCAL and sectional at
Down away 80 readily Hence the rain VIII that falls
on given areas, now deficient will be greater and
crops will be made more secure The conservation
Of the water supply will thus breed the increase
thereof.
1t Is time our Eastern people looked INTO this sub
ject seriously. Ii Is OF the gravest National I'M
portance. We owe In Righteousness, some aid In the
direction OF permanent security to the ten or tweys
millions OF our fellows who have gone into arid
S S%sEsy & Sa Ha s@S aS
contempt and abuse OF political sciolists IKE ).
Sterling Morton, are In reality making those MONIES;
Agriculture By irrigation can be made secure nni
Western Nebraska Xix. other western se Se%ss
creating new industries. and consuming largely
what they produce. But when that time comes We
farmer statesman % who fears compettI,A!ogno v
Member American Society Irrigation Engineer
BAY Ridge y. Y. JAN q. 1875.