The Florence tribune., 1899-12-02

parts on the other face of the globe. The Caspian Sea is fed by many sub terranean streams. These streams. like those of our own aria region. take their sources iA the monniainS winch gre covered with perpetual The water from this melting ,e percolAtes downward to 8 deeptlying, impenetrable strata, wherein begins it's underground passage to the sea Nearly the whole of Persia is naturally desert. There is scant rainfall aud the rivers are so few that irrigation from this source is very limited and serves only saaall portion of the country. Centuries ago the Persisps stum Jiet upon the idea of tapping the under groupd streams or springs at hs bases of the monptains, and tas transition If the Persian desert into 3 land ef grest fertility is due To this c8nstan9 so1rcg of water supply. Rat the water has been obtained only through the most indefstigable labor
 A well is snnk in thc foothills to depth any where from igo to sa0 feet When this taps the vein of water. an- other shaft is sunk . couple of hundred yards farther down the slope, wnieh. is in reality gentle descent Of tbe table land from the mountains A canal or subterranean aqueduet is then ex- cavated bet ween the two shafts. Al similar distance faEther dowp ano,ber shaft is sunk and likewise connscted with the second; and so the canal or conneaugh as it is called, is carried for miles. As connesugh is given just fall enough to allow of free few of water it gradually approaches the sur face until, when 1t draws nesE the land to be irrigatsdA the stream comes forth 6 psArling buhhling brook. aanc- ing in the brilliant sunshine as it Eash- es on its mission to redeem the sterile waste places of nature. For miles it goes through what was at one time desert, but which under the magic in- huence of this elixir of life. becomes garden of the gods. It feeds foun- tains around which in languopons in- dolence repo&e the dark-eyed beauties of the harens it tarpishes the baths, those luxuEies of the Orient; it waters wonderful gardens where in dazzling profusion. bloom throughout the year, the rose, oSrysantheuum, narcissus, tnberOse. dahlie, wlile lily and aster, besides fantastic shru0s and rare sxoties, heavy with rich perfumes. Here grow to perfection the apple peach, pear. nectarines. pomegrsnite, Albert. melon and grape, and many unknown tropical fruits in such abund- snce s< to bewiAder the traveller.
 Where the soil admits of percolstion. the land is flooded in small squares from lateral ditches. On such land, barley, wheat and other cereals are grown to great perfection. Again, irrigation is accomplished by net work of ditches.
 The cities of Persia secure the water necessary for domestic use from these. ditOhes. The capital, Teheran, has no less than twenty large artificial streams flowing through h it, constituted in the manner described from the uno dergroupd currents.
 The land lying adjacent to these eanals is entitled to the use of the water, the amount being regulated by law. Each district is under an over- seer whose duty it is to see to the pros per application of the water and that there is no waste.
 Wealthy private individuals have also constructed ditches for their own usea fSrnishing the water to their tenants; but land contiguous to their caRals is entitled to certain water rights even if not belonging to the owners of the ditches- Title to the use of water is inherent in the land and each section of land is certain of iis water supply.
 l When the immense amount of labor involved in. sinking shafts and connect ing them by underground tunnels is considered together wi h the faes tha; only the most primitive methods ars yet in vogue, the Anglo-Saxon can bu' marvel at the patience and industry displayed in the accomplishment O sueb gigantic but necessary tasks Some sections of Pessia, esp .ciail, those along thenatural rivers, couI,
 add to their irrigated aFea by the us,
 of storage reservoirs; out the grea:e
 pant of the country has no flood water
 t9 store, the melting snows but serv
 ing to keep alive the undergroun, streams. Even in this despotic, tyra nt 1 ridden conntry.. it has been found bes, Q nay, necessary, to maistain govern
 mspt supervision of irrigation ,vatone . wLich is the life blood of the nation With 8 loose system of controlI, th
 land would again be desert.