Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-02-23
THE ALKALi OUB

H7sSE I'M rfSNs
varicns Causen and Remedies--A
vital Matter TO the West.
The department OF agriculture has
continued Its work Of Investigating
and mapping the alkali soils Of the irra-
gated districts Of the west, with res
suits at One interesting and prac-j
tically important to the Irrigation
farmer. Noting the work Of the diyi-
sion of soils in his report just issued,
Secretary Wilson says:
M The trouble from alkali is due pri-
marily to the large amounts Of so1u-,
Bile salts generally present In all soils
Of an arid region. The rainfall is not
sufficient to carry off the salts as they
are set freesin the decomposition of the
rocks. These salts are naturally dis
tributed throughout the soil and for
a few years are not harmful. With the
application of irrigation water, how
ever, In the intensive cultivation Of
crops the excess of water accumulates
and is liable to fill up the subsoil, and
this, together with the rapid evapora-
ton In an arid climate, shifts the salts
until they gradually accumulate at or.
near the surface In such quantities as
to be beyond the endurance Of crops.
The natural drainage has of course a
great influence on such an accumula-
ton of both seepage waters and alkali.
Another, and perhaps the most Inn
portant, cause of the rise OF the sub
soil water and accumulation of alkali
Is in the leakage or seepage from
canals. AS such damage is liable to.
be widespread it is q matter for serious
consideration whether canal companies
should not be required to protect their
bitches from undue loss and individ-
uals be restrained from ove~rfrrigation
or made liable for damages in civil
suits.
Another source of trouble is In the
use Of water for irrigation containing
too large a salt content. Such action.
only invites widespread suffering and
loss to the settlers.
In some. districts the condition of the
water can be controlled in a large
measure by the water companies. Res
erVoirs are frequently lowered for re
pairs or for cleaning out at the begin
ming of a long dry period, and the re
naming water concentrates by evapo-
ration until it is really unfit for irriga..
ton IL the inflow is small and the usual
floods are delayed. Furthermore, the
first flood after a long dry spell often
brings down great quantities OF alkali
which have accumulated on the water
shed during the dry season. Frequent
~ these first food waters should be
diverted from the reservoirs in order
to prevent serious damage t the COM
munity.
When the alkali contains considera-
bic quantities of carbonate Of soda, the
usual remedy is heavy applications OF
gypsum, with drainage, if necessary,
to insure thorough aeration Of the land.
When the other alkaI salts or seepage
waters have accumulated In excessive
quantities, drainage is necessary.
So sudden and unexpected is the
damage from the rise of seepage wa
tiers and alkalis that estates worth thou
sands of dollars may have to be aban-
doned in two or three years, with an
utter depreciation Of value.
The matter Of artificial drainage as
q means of preventing damage and of
retaining alkali lands has been SO Of.
ten advocated without attracting the
attention necessary to induce action
and the matter is Of such vital impor.
/ fanna fo3 fhn vnsf that IShavn rnoono.
mended to congress an appropriation
OF $4,000 for the purpose of actually
demonstrating the practical utility OF
the different methods Of treating such
lands.