The Columbus journal., 1896-01-22
lrr,e.s,.. 4. Nebr,s,xa.

EDIrOR JOURNAL:-There arc many m
quiries regarding the success Of lrriga-
ton in this state, and to what extent 1t
il practicable. Please allow mo to answer
some Of tho questions in your paper.
The first canal constructed that I have
heard Of, for the purpose Of irrigation,
was small one near the town Of North
Platte in the year 1870. Little WAS done
in the way of irrigation until about 1885.
Then q large canal was constructed
commencing about 25 miles west OF
North Platte and ending near tho town.
Then in 1873 several other canals were
started from the North Platte river in
SCOTS Bluff county, and about tho same
time several were started along tho
Frenchman and Republican rivers in tho
southwestern part Of the state. Irisa-
tion has steadily increased until now
along the North Platte river there are
over fifty completed canals and about
10000 acres under ditch. There are
also bitches enough along tho Republi-
can and Frenchman rivers to use the
entire flow Of tho streams.
Many more canals have been built
along the upper Loups, and now, accord
| ing to tho report Of the State Board OF
Irrigation there are ever 1900 miles OF
completed main bitches, and over 2,OOO.-
600 acres OF land under ditch in our state.
Regarding the success OF irrigation in
this state wherever it has been put into
use, there is no question, and in every
locality where one canal has been built,
as many others have followed % the set
tiers were able to build, and there was
water to fill.
It has proved in this state to be far
better than dependence on rainfall, and
farmers who have had the good fortune
to be able to irrigate. have continued to
do 60 and refuse to again try to farm
outside of the reach OF water for irriga-
tion purposes.
The best results have been attained by
farmers who live in the most easterly
districts when irrigation is practiced, and
with the least expense for the construc-
tion of canals.
think the most favorable place in the
state to irrigate, and where it can be
accomplished with the least expense.
and where there is abundant water for
the purpose, is the Platte valley in Platte
and Colfax counties. There is abundant
rainfall in the summer months to pro-
duce a good crop If the land was we'll
watered in the fall and early spring.
There need be but little expense to
apply the water, and the land il as good
as conld be asked for, for that purpose.
The farmers and land holders are the
proper parties who should construct and
own the canal, and il properly and econ
omically constructed should not cost
over one and one-half dollars per acre to
construct the main canal, With about one
dollar moro for laterals, and you have it
within your own hands to raise first
rate crop every year. The cost Of put
ting in one crop would nearly complete
a frst-class irrigation canal.
Every man who is familiar with irriga-
tion and that has visited this section and
examined the water supply OF the Loup,
wonders why the farmers don't get
together and construct canal.
Most of the cost, fully three-fourths,
can be covered by the farmers them
selves without additional help, and with
out cash.
1t seems as though something should
be done that would get them started at
it, and prevent further failures On lands
SO easily put into shape, that failure
would be unknown.
G. II. LAWRENCE.