Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-22
ECONOMY OF IRRIGATION
Great Advantages to Be Derived from
Artificial Distribution.
CONCLUSION OF THE STATE CONVENTION
Delegates Relate Their Experience In
soil Culture Throughout Vest
crn Nebraska aud the Ad-
jnccnt Territory.

LEXINGTON, Ncb., Nov. 2l.-(special.)-
Elder Edwards Of Lincoln opened the even
ing session of the Irrigation state con-
vention with prayer. Edward McTernon read
q paper entitled "Reminiscences and Reali-
zatlons Of Nebraska West OF the One Hun
drodth Meridian from 1874 to 1896" giving
the experience OF a gettior during these
years coming down to irrigation. Mr.. Me-
Lernon showed what was being done in
Cheyenne county under irrigation, citing
the names of farmers and amount raised
under irrigation, showing that on one
quarter acre parties produce $50 in farm
produce, ana larger tracts in proportion. Ibe
cited that in 1892 he cut 100 tons Of hay
from a tract that under irrigation In 1895
cut 400 tons. Numerous similar instances
were cited that would scarcely be believed
except in a section where the actual benefits
are seen.
Senator Akers of Lincoln followed with
an address. He said he often met men
VINO said they lived in "A part OF Nebraska
where irrigation was not needed. but they
arc mistaken, and are beginning to hud
out that there Is no part of Nebraska that
does not need irrigation. where 1t can be
had at reasonable expense He called at
tcntlon to the fact that a few years age
nearly everybody in Nebraska was opposed
to irrigation. Speaking OF a drive he had
taken In western Nebraska, Mr. Akers stated
that no place on earth ever grew finer crops
than this section under irrigation. Coming
to alfalfa, he said he hardly dare tell what
he actually knew. He stated that John
stills had forty acres irrigated and got
fourteen bushels of alfalfa seed this year
and sold 1t at SO per bushel, the hay paying
all the expenses OF raising and marketing
hp .nrtu gnI1 frpT nj ~
acres of irrigated land 1851 worth Of alfalfa
seed. He showed that over $3.50 miles of
ditch has been constructed In Nebraska
and that 369 has been actually ex-
pended In ditch construction and the esti-
mated expense OF completing the work is
slO,OOO,OOO more, putting 1,0G1,017 acres
under irrigation and increased the value
Of the land s100OO,O0O.
VERY GOOD RECORD.
lie asserted that this was a remarkable
record fer time of financial depression
and was yet but the beginning of the irri-
CATION enterprise In the state. Senator
hkers, who Is one of the fathers of irri-
cation In Nebraska, closed with predc-
tion setting forth that inside of twenty
years the entire valley would not only be
irrigated, but the machinery and trains
along the entire valley would be run by
electricity generated by the water falling
from the bitches along the bluffs.
Hon. John II. Powers, labor commissioner
of Nebraska. next addressed the convention
upon the Economy of Irrigation" He
cautioned the people against the double
wrong OF using more water than they needed
and thereby hurting the productive quality
of the land. He advocated the construction
of mills along irrigation canals to be run
by water power to manufacture and utilize
the products OF the irrigated lands He
also favored the ownership of canals by
the people using them and asserted the
work should be done by the farmers them
selves. He asserted that grand future
awaits the western part of Nebraska in
the growth OF sugar beets by irrigation.
The following message was read by Presi-
dent Wolfenbarger from Governor Holcomb
81 deeply regret that on account of sickness
] will be unable to attend your conven-
uon. Wish you greatest success in your
efforts to promote the interests OF irrigation
In Nebraska"
Robert Scott, a Dawson county farmer
gave his experience In practical irrigation
the past year. He stated that while It
was his first year and he did not know
how to use the water to best advantage
he obtained twenty-five bushels of wheat
to the acre on the irrigated land, while
land adjoining did not produce over two
bushels per acre. He stated that two men
could handle and irrigate 100 acre farm,
after they learned how to use the water.
INTERESTING ADDRESSES.
o. V. p. Stout made an interesting address
on investigations in Stream Gauging in
Nebraska" He stated that river stations
had been maintained on the Republican,
Loup, Platte and Frenchman rivers for the
purpose OF making measurements and taking
observations. With the aid of charts and
maps he showed the volume OF water pass
Ing through the various streams of Ne
braska that is available for irrigation pur-
poses. The flow OF water through the Loup
at Columbus is 5000 feet per second. and
that OF the Platte river 900 feet. He
stated that the flow OF water In Nebraska
was sufficient to irrigate 100000 acres.
Willard ID. Johnson OF the United States
geological survey addressed the convention
on Underground Water Resources" He
showed that the government was making ex-
tensive Investigations pertaining to the
underground water and the best methods
OF obtaining same for practical use and dem
onstrating the feasibility OF doing so.
Prof Il. ii. Barbour made an Interesting
talk upon the subject OF "Home-Made Wind
Mills" and the benefits that could be cheaply
derived by using them for limited irrigation
purposes. He used numerous charts show
ing the method of constructing the pump or
homemade mills at mere nominal cost
The first paper OF this afternoons session
was opened by A. X. Glftin. in which he
clearly showed the benefits of irrigation.
Judge s. NJ. Knox addressed the convention
on the subject of Friendly Word from an
immigration Agent" He strongly recon-
mended united and concerted action to Sc
cure more settlers for the irrigable lands.
G. Ii. Lawrence followed on Irrigation
from an Engineers Standpoint" His ad-
dress was full of meat for the builders of
ditches He asserted too heavy timbers were
banks OF ditches with alfalfa and denounced
the custom OF permitting willows and weeds
to grow in and along ditches
A paper on Alfalfa" by Hon. Charles w.