Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-03-04
ARID AND sEMl-ARlD LAND.
A study Of Conditions In the Pacinc
Northwest.

government that is OF interest to the
nation at large. also to the world in
general. This is known as the hydro
graphic department, and relates to rec
lamation OF arid lands by means of
irrigation. What has been known as
the great American Desert. and so des-
ignated on the maps up to generation
of time ago, was not desert in the nor
NAL sense of possessing no soil, but be-
cause of the lack Of water to make its
soil available. The object OF the gov
ernment is to make practical tests,
based on scientific fact, to discover how
arid lands can be made to produce har-
vests and SO become homes for millions
Of people.
In the states of Oregon, Washington
and Idaho are wide areas that are cap
able of development, il water can be
had to stimulate the soil. We may
suppose that sagebrush land is worth
less, but wherever sagehrush grows the
soil is good and generally deep. There
is so much Of what wo call desert in
the North Pacific region that the citi-
zens of these states are specially inter-
ested in the subject OF irrigation. In
regard to Oregon half the area OF the
state is arid, and two-thirds Of all east
Of the Cascades. Whatever will re-
deem our arid lands will add greatly to
the future wealth and prosperity of the
state.
From Mr.. Bobb, who has lately re.
turned from season in the North Pa
cific states, it is learned that at the re-
quest of q local engineer he investigat-
ed the water supply of the Dungeness
district, on the Sound, where there is
shortage Of water for crops in June.
July and August. He placed stations
on the Dungenness, Elwha and Soldeck,
to ascertain what supply can at that
season be depended on for irrigating
bitches, in case private capital desires
to make such investment.
In Eastern Washington gauge sta
tions are located as follows: One each
on the Spokane, Natchess, Wenatchee
and Palouse, and three on the Yakima.
He also made mountain surveys for
reservoir sites to save water through
the rainy season for use in summer, as
is done In the San Bernardino noun
tains in Southern California.
In Oregon the work has but COM
menced, though there is far more arid
land in that state than in Washington.
A station is established at Gibbon, on
the Umatilla, not far from the hot
springs; another on the Malheur; one
on the 0wyhee, in the extreme north
east. Mr.. Bobb expressed much inter-
est in Hood river valley, where is
station, for he saw it's wonderful fruits;
there is also a station on the Deschutes.
Idaho offers greater opportunity for
irrigation than Oregon, as she has
mountain ranges and various rivers.
Stations are on the Weiser, Boise, Pay
ette, Port Neuf, Bear river, and at
Montgomery's ferry, on Snake. AS
this work is comparatively recent, re-
suits have not as yet been so clear and
certain as at other districts.
When we estimate the immense area
Of arid lands and know that, not in
Guiding Alaska, one-third OF the
United States remains still public do
main. and that the greater portion Of
this Is arid land rich in soil, but with
out water supply, the immense import
ance Of this work is apparent. The in
terest these gentlemen take in their
work is apparent from the kindness
with which they furnish information.
Take the North Pacific states and
estimate the area of arid lands, and
the result is surprising. In Eastern
Washington there is an area OF 6,000,-
600 Of acres requiring water supply to
become productive. Eastern Oregon
is yet larger, and has a much greater
proportion Of what is called desert,
save that focks and herds Craze over it
when water can be had at all.
Idaho has vast areas to the south and
some on the north, but facilities for
water supply are present in its various
streams. The two states-Idaho and
Oregon--must have Is 900, 900 of acres
arid, making total of over 30, 900, 900
ia shN eAtNC StobCos bhdb Shii Dc tTdUb-
formed to homes, if water can work its
magic there.
There are also extensive natural
basins where water can be had by Dor.
Ing artesian wells, by which means
much land can be made productive.
While the government does not practic-
ally experiment by boring such wells,
its agents study the results attained by
private enterprise, and have maps, as
for instance, Of the Pueblo district of
Colorado-to show how great an area
surface has an underhow that can
come to the surface; also where water
supply can be had for pumping.
When we know that quarter-section
of land will make home for family,
and take the arid acreage of the three
North Pacific states for basis of esti-
mate; if one quarter Of this area can be
redeemed. it will furnish homes for
81, 800 families and support popula-
tion of $50, 900 people. Take the arid
portions of Oregon and Idaho, and it
means that from 10000 to 750, 900