The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-21
GARDEN SPOT
IN AGES PAST.
Region Of the United States Now Arid
and FOrbiddiug.
ONCE HIGHLY DEVELOPED.
Where There Was Long Ago Great
Acres Of Green aud yellow Ripen-
ing One Now Finds an tnin-
habitablc Waste.
ONCE HIGHLY DEVELOPED.

one OF the greatest paradoNeS oil MS
tory Is the fact that that portion OF the
United States which IS the last TO DE
settled. was one Of the cradles Of civil
izauon and the most highly developed
section Of our continent. While othei
great areas are annually green IN grow
ing and yellow in ripening producing
crops TO feed the world, this section once
the garden spot OF America under the
magic influence Of water. Is to-day
barren. arid and uninhabitable waste.
Civilization sprang from agriculture ana
the earliest agriculturists of America, as
well as of Europe. Asia and Africa pc
gan i'm arid lands. Scientists ten us tha'
the fundamental art of agriculture began
everywhere i'm the world, under conoi-
tions of great aridity-on sandy plaina
and hot deserts. The most ancient ogii-
culture Of America is found I'm that south
western section OF the United States
which was the very last TO be settled by
white man: where natural vegetation Is
now so scant that 10 barely gives char
acter 10 the landscape: where SAND storms
drive over the county; where barren
Mains spread under q Iurid sky. where
I the landscape Is often one or nahed Io.h
( and where adamanune forms stand IN
groves. and fossils are buried DID ihe
! rocks. in this section. the ethnoioEsi
! tolls MS. the Indian tribes. in ages lost
| 10 history. cultivated the soil 10y aru-
/ fetal Irritation and developed corn. cot
ton. potatoes and other vegetables useful
! 10 man. while the rich valleys 10 ire
! East and North were yet untouched Toy
! agricultural labor.
! History. 81 As stated. begins in the VAL
/ lev of the Nile for civilization was born
| there This civilization emauated from
| agriculture and agriculture was made
| possible by irrigation. Two arts trans
! formed early savage society; agriculture
| and domostication Of animals and the
latter grew out of the former The first
fields were cultivated in arid lands the
! first nocks were herdcd on arid lands.
| the first cities were built on arid lands
/ and the first civilized governments We're
I ORGANIZED I'm arid lands. Under torrId
! skies. or ranless. treclcss plains terr'}-
| ing in their desOldtiOn agriculture. mo
! d0mcsticati0n of animals. art in metals,
! temple building cities and civilization,
| had their beginning
GREAT SYSTEMS
| And yet. strange as this seems. 10 has
q very simple explanation The savage
J man loved the forest and the plains the
]
| shores Of the salt sea. for there he found
| native fruits and game and fish in plen-
! ty. But when al such lands had been
| occupied by the tribes. each jealous Of
/ is hunting grounds there remained only
! The arid lands for settlement Then
| gradually the descrts We're penetrated by
| men, willing 90 f0rego the pleasures OF
| the chase and the abundance and luXu-
! ries of the forest. plain and waters that
| they might obtain peace. even with t'ii
/ with toll commenced civilization. Man
! could not in his primitive condition and
| with his rude implements suhdue ana
/ conouor Nature in her rank Insurance
Of savanna and pTmeval forest lie could
| lead water onto desert land easier than
| he could fen trees. lie could control the
spring gushing from the rock ON the edge
| of the desert easier than he could destroy
! the vigorous plants Of the humid region
From small systems of agriculture and
! irrigation. there gradually developed
: great systems. and the arts OF war ana
| the chase gave place 60 She use'ul lha"7-
| tries and state OF civilization ana
! power Agriculture under irrigation was
| an INST petty ii began on the smaller
! streams and brooks which could he cone
! trollcd 10y individuals or small conereea-
! tiors of men and had its origin on the
! borders of tho desert. Then having learn
od 10 cultivate little patches of corn or
/ barley. the early farmer gradually Widcn>
| c9 his operations until ne utilized the
| waters of the rivers and built large uii-
Cation dtche".
| While in Eeynt irrigation comm enred
on this small scale at the present in'
| the water S. controlled by great dams
| near the mouth OF The Nile and work is
! now being projected where twenty SIX
| millions 81 dollars are 20 be expended hy
J the British government I'm stupondoui lI-
| rigauon operations.
I'm India. the people first learned 10
! store the flood waters in little reservoir S.
/ constructed 10y erecting DAMS across
/ CLUTCHES. and thousands of these tanks
! were ultimately made England has pure
I sued fars.ehted policy boo her treti-
! ment Of tho irrigation question in her
! collries. Since bier control off india. irri-
e1tion works have been constructed on
70 vast scale 90 an aggrcrate cost of three
! hundred an1 sixty millions oi dollars.
. This represents miles uHon miles oi rr 20
rrigatnc canals. some Of them hnn-
I drcd and sovcutv-hye feet in WIiin-1nd
Tho hydraulic ng.ncor'ng Of which N's
with The best in the world-ro. r.i'ns ln I'D
enormously increased production from the
soil aul The certainty oi crop returns.
GOOD CONDITIONS HERD.
In sunny Ifaly whence emanated some
J of the greatest warriors poets rhiloso-
rnors and statesmen of the world. aeri-
/ crifnre was am honored profession and