The Columbus journal., 1896-02-05

Many OF the irrigation canals in the
western part of Nebraska have been con-
structed under such difficulties that
when the history OF their construction is
put into print it sounds to an eastern
man something like fairy tale.
The valley of the North Platte river in
Scott's Bluff and Cheyenne counties,
also the upper valleys of the Middle and
North Loup were first settled in the
years 1885,. Nearly the entire popu-
lation moved from the east in covered
wagons, and after taking up their land.
it was only few of the more fortunate
ones who had money left to buy the
necessary lumber to construct their sod
houses. Many had only money enough
to land them there. 1t was only by the
hardest work and the strictest economy
that they were able to live at ALL Many
knew very little of farming, and those
who did had been used to farming where
they had plenty of rainfall. The first
years they put in what crops they could.
Many were of the impression that when
their land was under cultivation and
some trees planted that the rainfall
would increase, and in time they would
have rain sIfiicient to produce good
crops, but they soOh found to their sOr-
row that crops cOnld not he raised with
out irrigation. After they had existed
for two or three years, some began to
talk irrigation; others thought by con-
structing irrigation canals their cOun-
try would be advertised as an arid region
of little worth. but finally starvation
stared them in the face, aud they were
compelled 10 construct bitches or leave.
Many did leave, and cf those who remain
ed few had anything to 60 with. Iknow
eight or ten of the latter who constructed
the Castle Rock canal in Scott's Bluff
county. They were two years building
sixteen mile canal, twelve feet wide on
the bottom, and now they are watering
five thousand acres. They had no grain |
for their teams and very little to eat. but |
now they have splendid farms. we'll inn
proved. and are practically out Of debt |
Other bitches were constructed under
similar circumstances and the promoters |
are now equally we'll of. Among them |
is the Mitchell ditch twenty five miles |
long watering nineteen thousand five |
hundred acres. The Winters creek six
teen miles long, watering six thousand
acres. The Enterprise thirty-one miles
long watering ten Thousand acres. The
Minatare, Chimney Rock, Nine Mile.
Browns creek and several others were
constructed along the Platte.
On the Middle Loup, the Wescott,
Lillian, Thedford and Middle Loup
bitches. Along the North Loup the
Newton, Almeria, Burwell. North Loup
and many other bitches I might mention.
Nearly all Of these are now in good shape
and were built without outside help by
those same drouth-stricken farmers.
Some Of the older localities are as we'll
of now as some parts of eastern Nebras-
ka, and in another five years will have
better improved places and be more indie
pendent. They were forced to adopt
irrigation but I warrant that you of the
eastern part of the state could not now
change places with them, for they know
The benefits Of irrigation and the value of
having place where they don't have to
pray for rain but can wet the ground to
'uit themselves. Most OF these districts
,ad the disadvantage OF being from
;wenty to sixty miles 10 railroad, but
here seems to be something about irri-
yation that makes thrifty, enterprising,
citixens regardless OF dis
Where irrigation has long