The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-06

Arthur Gum. a well-known business
man of Wenatchee. who is interested in
several irrigation schemes on the other
side of the Cascades. believes that the
people OF this state should take deep
er interest than they ever have before
in promoting action by congress looking
to the establishment by the government
of water reservoirs in the arid parts OF
the state. Mr.. Gum is recognized au-
thority on the question of irrigation. He
is president and treasurer of the Wenat-
chez Water Power Company. of Wenat-
chez. which has recently handled success
fully an irrigation proposition In Kit J.
tas and Chelan counties. At the Butler
last night Mr.. Gum said:
The state of Washington is deeply In
terested in the movement to secure APP
propriations by congress establishing wa
ter reservoirs in the~arid regions of the
state. where private enterprise Is not
available. Washington contains a large
territory of arid lands. now practically
uninhabited. In the arid regions of WASH
ington the rainfall is less than In any
other portion of the West, with the ex-
ception OF Arizona and New Mexico. In
the entire valley OF the Columbia river,
from Pasco to Kettle Falls and the
Snake river valley, the average precipi-
tation of moisture does not exceed .
inches per annum. whereas IL inches per
annum is considered the smallest rain
fall sufficient to produce a crop.
THE entire south half Of Douglas coun-
ty all of Franklin and large portions OF
Asotin. Walla Walla. Columbia and YAK
ina counties aggregating perhaps 6.o00.-
900 acres. are arid within the strictest
meaning of the word.
1.-The national irrigation congress. to
which l was a delegate from washington.
passed memorial to congress requesting
the adoption by the Federal government
OF fixed policy for the preservation Of
forests necessary for the protection OF
the headwaters of streams supplying wa
ter for irrigation, and the construction
by the national government of storage
reservoirs to proven. floods during the
spring. This will he necessary. also. to
AFFORD reliable supply Of water during
the summer.
"Such a policy would have a value to
this state beyond calculation. Almost the
only hope of retaining the arid lands
Of Douglas and Franklin counties rests
upon such a system. The irrigation move
ment is strictly a national one. Greater
interest Is taken In II in Illinois and the
Middle Western states, I am sorry to
say. than In Washington. Chicago real
ICES that the reclamation and cultivation
OF Western Nebraska. Colorado, New
Mexico Utah and Arizona means an In
creased and enlarged field for her mer-
chants In similar way, the growth OF
settlement In the arid narts OF Washing
ton means the upbuildlng of Seattle nd
other Coast cities which provide mar
ket for the region mentioned. and which
will furnish the supplies for the people
who will make these wastes blossom as
the rose and produce the staple products
OF the soil. The adoption OF such policx
by the national government means the
increasing the agricultural population Of
this state.
~ hope 10 see the merchants OF Seat
tie take an active and a live interest in
this matter and that the general interest
aroused throughout the state will enable
washington TO be well represented at the
association. The congress will meet next
October at Buffalo. N. Y. A field meet
ing will be held at Colorado Springs, I'm
June"