The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-01-17

cereal crops.
Statistics gathered by the government ex-
perts In the last census make the AVERAGE
expense of reclamation of desert lands
SS.lo an arce. The first bitches were built
close along streams, and the cost was mere
~ nominal, but in some Of the later projects
In California it has reached over 500 per
acre. The reclaimable lands remaining will
necessitate much more difficult engineer
ing, which will raise the average price Of
reclamation very considerably. Accord
ing TO the census the average return an
nually from irrigated lands is S14.S7 per
acre. This is lower than it should be, as
grass and pasture lands are included In
the estimate. The value of irrigated lands
in the near future will become so great that
the large ranches Will be cut up into small
holdings, when intensified farming will
more than double the annual productive
ness.
This lengthy review has been necessary
to show the extreme value of irrigation, end
the place it has filled in the economic his
tory Of the world. There are many
phases of the subject regarding the in
dustrial development of the United States,
which would like to discuss, but the time
allotted me will not permit 1 hope that I
have shown that irrigated districts offer
happy and prosperous homes, and are an
exceedingly valuable factor in the develop
ment and wealth Of country, but a local
application to the conditions existing in
this state is necessary to bring it Within
the purviews Of the objects of this conven-
ton.
At rough estimate there are about 2,Ooo,-
600 acres of irrigable arid lands in Wash
ington, one-half of which are in the Yakima
valley. l am comparatively familiar with
the results Of irrigation in Yakima county,
but have not the same intimate personal
knowledge Of the other arid sections. But
as the soils, climates, ETC., are very similar
what I shall say of Yakima county is
largely applicable to Walla Walla, Kittitas
and the other counties where the necessity
for irrigation exists.
The soil consists mostly of sedimentary
materials deposited at the bottoms of the
lakes which covered these valleys for CEN
turtles. 1t is largely disintegrated basaltic
rock, and contains all the chemical ele-
n1entS necessary for great productiveneSS.
1t is especially rich in lime, potash and
phosphoric acid, the three constituents
most essential to plant life. The climatic
conditions are exceptionally good. The
winters are mild and short, with little wind
and almost constant sunshine. The sum-
merS are long and warm, but with cool
nights, and the auturnnS are very pleasant.
The frost leaves the ground early, and
farming begins in March. Farmers work
in the fields the hottest days, sunstrokes
are unknown, and the cool nights give re-
freshing sleep. Eastern Washington pos
SesSeS a great advantage over most of the
arid regions of the United States, in that
tho cold winters restore enervated vitality
and impart a quality and flavor TO the de-
ciduous fruits that make them the finest
in the world. The comparative low altitude
and dry atmosphere should make this Sec
ton sanitariun for all aSthmatic, pull
monary, bronchitic, neuralgia and rheu-
rnatic affections. All the products Of the
temperate zone thrive luXuriantly. The
fine quality of the variegated fruits should
make the orchards as valuable as the far
famed orange groves Small fruits are ex
tremely productive, and melons excel In
quantity and quality. Any vegetable grown
in the United States can be cultivated sue
cessfully. Asparagus, celery and cauli-
flower are especially fine, while the Yaki-
ma potato BIDS fair to make that valley IA
nous. Wheat, rye, barley, corn, broom
corn, sorghum and even tobacco are grown.
see no reason why tea and cotton should
not be. Both clover and alfalfa thrive to
perfection, and yield three and four crops
year. In consequence, there will be-
many diaries and creaneries, and a great
production Of butter and cheese. Thousands
CT cattle and sheep, which are grazed on
the mountains and bunch grass hills, are
brought into the valleys in the winter to
feed. The hog industry is developing rap
idly, as it is found that they can be fattened
On alfalfa and potatoes. Hops can be
raised as cheaply and of as good quality
as any place in the world.
The total area of irrigable lands in Yak
ina county, which can be reclaimed at rea-
sonable cost, is about 100000 acres. One
fifth Of this amount is already under ditch,
and about 10000 acres are actually culti-
waited. Nearly all the irrigation canals are
community bitches; that is, the farmers
under them have stock in proportion to the
number of acres which they own and the
service of water is gagged accordingly.
Thus the farmers elect their own officers
and have complete charge of the bitches,
which are sustained by small annual as
sessments The Sunnyside canal, which is
OLE of the largest in the United States, is
the principal exception. Notwithstandin
the unfavorable opinions of biologists, an
artesian basin of considerable extent has
been found in the Mckee valley few miles
from North Yakima. There are already
nine flowing wells, which cover several
hundred acres. Good flows Of water were
found at from 300 to 600 feet, and as there
has been no apparent decrease of the cubic
capacity Of the wells, it seems certain that
the artesan basin is a live one.
Col. Hewlett, our arid land commission
er, has recently Withdrawn some $4,000
acres in the county under the provisions
of the Carey act. AS the Northern Pacific
railroad has an equal amount of land I'M
der the proposed ditch, there will be homes
for thousands of settlers when it is COM
pleted. 1t is also hoped that favorable leg
aslation at the present session of congress
will throw open the Yakima Indian reser-
walton, where there are over 100, 600 acres
of fine land that can be cheaply irrigated.
The Yakima valley has only about Is, 600
inhabitants, while it can readily support
ten times that number. There is plenty Of
land for sale on easy terms, with, good
water rights. 1t is perhaps the only arid
region of the world where there is more
water than is needed for the irrigable lands
which can be brought under ditch. With
dts many manifest advantages it must be-
come a very prosperous and populOuS Sec
ton Of the state. Industrious immigrants
with small means are almost sure to sue
seed in making comfortable homes. Crop
failures are quite unknown but uncertain
markets and high rates Of transportation
initiate somewhat against the rapid deve1-
opment of the valley. Time, however will
probably obviate both of these difficulties.
My remarks must not be taken as de-
rogatory of the agricultural advantages Of
other sections of the state. I was assigned
the subject Of irrigation, and have en-
deavored to elucidate it to the best Of my
ability, knowing that other speakers would
portray the merits of the humid regions.
It is one Of the wonderful facts Of our
wonderful state that we have climates,
soils and other conditions to suit all COM
ers, so that none need go away dissatisfied.
These manifest conditions must appeal to
the intelligent resident of less favored To-
calities when he is seeking to better his
circumstances. 1t is true that we our
selves have somewhat detracted from the
natural inducements by our heedlessness
and extravaganza in mourning debts, ne
cessitating a high rate of taxation. Our
mistakes may delay the fruition Of our
hopes, but the sure realization of won