The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-15

Statistics gathered by the government ex-
perts n the last census make the average
expense OF reclamation Of desert lands
l. an arce. The first bitches We're built
close along streams. and the cost was mere
Iy nominal. but n some OF the later projects
in California il has reached over sllsl per
acre. The recla3mafle lands remaining VIII
UeceSsitate much more difficult engineer
ing. which viii raise the average price OF
reclamation very considerably. Accord
ing 70 the census the average return an
nually from irrigated lands IS Sl4.N per
acre. This IS lower than il should be, as
grass and pasture lands are included in
the estimate. The value Of irrigated lands
in the near future viii become so great that
the large ranches viii be cut up into small
ho.fngs, when intensified farming VIII
more than double the annual productive
ness.
This lengthy review has been necessary
10 show the extreme value OF irrigation, end
the place IL has filed in the economic his
tory or the world There are many
phases of the subject regarding the IN
Gustrial development OF the United States.
which would like 10 discuss, but the time
allotted me VII not permit hope that |
have shown that irrigated districts offer
happy and prosperous homes, and are an
exceedingly valuable factor IN the develop
ment and wealth Of a country, but local
this state IS necessary 10 bring It within
the purviews OF the objects Of this conveR-
ton.
At a rough estimate there are about 2,0o,-
600 acres of irrfgabie 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
Ftasaz 4ff r.lfy ar
what 1 shall say of Yakima county is
largely applicable TO WaIia Walla, Aittitas
and the other counties where the necessity
for irrigation exists.
The soil consists mostly Of sedimenta-y
materials deposited al the bottoms Of .he
lakes which covered these valleys for CEN
tur.es. Ii is largely disintegrated basaltic
rock. and contains all the chemical ele-
Inents necessary for great productiveness.
II is especially rich in l.me potash and
phosphoric acid, the three constituents
most essential 10 plant life. The climatic
conditions are exceptionally good. The
winters are mild and short, with little wind
and almost constant sunshine. The sum-
meTs are long and warm, but with cool
nights, and the autumns are very pleasant.
The frost leaves the ground early, and
farming begins in March. Farmers work
in the fields the hottest days. sunstrokcs
are unknown, and the cool nights give ie-
freshing sleep. Eastern Washington pos
sesses d great advantage over most OF the
arid regions of the United States, in that
the cold winters restore enervatea vitality
ana impart a quality and flavor 10 he de-
c.duous fruits that make them the finest
III the world. The comparative low altitude
ara dry atmosphere should make this sec
ton a sanitarium for all asthmatic. pull
nonary. broneh!tic, neuralgia and rheu-
matte affections Ali 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 she faki-
ma potato bits 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
a year. In consequence, there VIII oe
many diaries and creameries. and Il 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 10
feed The hog industry is developing rap
IDLY as II 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 iFrigable 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 Guilt
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 oBn 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 Sunnyslde canal, which is
one of the largest in the United States. Is
the principal exception. Notwithstanding
the unfavorabIe opinions Of biologists, an
evtesian 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 al from 800 TO 600 feet, and as there
has been no apparent decrease Of the cubic
Sapacity Of the wells. 1t seems certain thas
the aFtesian basin is a live one.
Col Hewlett. our arid land commission
err has recently Withdrawn some 5000
acres in the county under the provisions
OF the Carey act AS the Northern Paciiic
railroad has an equal amount OF land un-
der the proposed ditch. there Will be homes
for thousands OF settlers when it IS COM
pletcd. II IS also hoped that favorable leg
ssla don at the present session Of congress
will throw open the Yakima Indian TeseT-
walton, where there are over 10000 acres
of fire land that can be Cheaply irrigated.
The Yakima valley has only about Z0.e0)
Inhabitants. while it can readily support
ten times that number There IS plenty or
land for sale on easy terms. with good
water rights. II is perhaps the only arid
region OF the world where there IS more
water than IS needed for the irrigahle lands
which ran be brought under ditch. with
It's many ma nifest advantages II must be-
come a very prosperous and populous Sec
tton OF the state Industrious immigrants
with small means are almost sure TO she
seed I'm making comfortable homes. crop
failures are quite unknown. bdt uncertain
ma rkets and high rates OF transportation
initiate somewhat against the rapid devel-
Cpnent of the valley. Time, however. VIII
probably ohviate both OF these difficulties.
NIy remarks must not be taken "a de-
raEatory OF the agricultural advantages or
other sections 81 thu state. ] vas assigned
the subject OF irrigation. and have en-
deavored 20 elucidste * 20 the best Or my
ability. knowing that other speakers would
portray the merits OF the humid regions
r. is one OF TIRE wonderful facts % our
wonderful state that we have climates.
soils and other conditions 70 suit all com
er-. 80 that none need go away dissatisfied
These manifest conditions must appeal 20
the Intelligent resident % less favored To-
caNties when he IS seeking % better his
circumstances 1t is true that We our
selves have somewhat derractea from the
natural Inducements hy our heed.essness
and extravag8nce in incurriug deots. ne
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