The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-26


fourths OF our exports to foreign coun-
| tries come from the soil and that 'she
sepo. 600 balance OF trade coming TO the
United States during each OF the last
| TIVE ascal years have been. 20 great ex-
tent. the price OF farm products.
This reference 10 the farm products OF
the United States would be cut OF place
| In the discussion OF this subject were 1t
! not for the fact Of the very close rela-
ton Il bears to the agricultural products
OF the country.
I The question " irrigation and the con-
| struction OF irrigation canals Is by no
/ means new one. History informs us
Of the many and wonderfully constructed
canals OF the valley OF the Nile. by which
the otherwise barren and unfruitsui sell
1 was made 10 Yield abundant crops: with
! what jealous Interest the people guarded
their rights under the laws enacted for
| the protection Of these canals and with
I what care they husbanded the waters
! Of that great river.
I'm various parts OK the Southwest.
notably In the Salt river valley Of Arlzona.
| In Northern New Mexico, and along the
| southern border Of Colorado and IFtsh
are well defined remains OF irrigation
works which have outiived by many CEN
| turtles the civilization to which they be-
| ionged In at least one instance the
bank OF an American canal has been
utilized as a part Of modern works"
The bitches at Las Cruces. New Mexico,
have an unbroken record Of 900 years.
/ the history Of which Ia written In the
| banks OF the canals and In the fields lrri-
| gated
Salt Lake valley. Utah. should have
| the credit for the Introduction in this
! country OF modern day Irrigation. In
I 1873 the waters of City creek were BY the
Mormon pioneers turned upon the dry
and sun-bakcd soil. IN order thar they
might plant the very last OF their po-
iafoes in the hope OF bringing forth a
crop which might save them from what
seemed future impending starvation.
For public cantroi In the diversion and
| use OF the waters OF rivers and the stor-
| age reservoirs. a study Of the laws and
regulations OF Utah may not be devoid
/ of interest
Incidentally one may find food for
thousht In the study OF the industrial CO.
| operative plans OF the early Mormon
settlers. II is pleasing to note that for
the last ten years the subject OF irrlga-
ton has been growing steadily in inn
portance In the public mind; that con-
| Nenucns and congresses have been held
from time to time FOE the purpose OF de-
vissng ways and means and considering
| plans for the advancement OF the sub.
| Ject OF irrigation throughout the whole
country. In common with the other
states Of the Union. Washington ~ deep
~ interested In the deliberations OF these
| gatherings.
| Very much Of what would otherwise
be among the most productive soil az
| THIS state IL now practically worthless
for agricultural purposes, because 4 les
not within the rain belt OF the state
IN the Wind river mountains OF wyo-
ming, south of the Yellowstone park
rises In solemn grandeur Mount Union.
From this peak flows three streams.
winch. with their tributaries. control the
Indus'rihl future Of region greater
tusn any European country. save Rus
sia. and capable Of supporting greater
| population than now dweiz east az The
| mississippi river These streams ave
he Missouri. the Columbia and inc Colo
/ rado."
The first waters the mountain vaiiesS
| on the eastern slope OF the Rockies ana
| IRE seni-arid regions OF the great niatns
| The second the Pacific Northwest ~
cindins part OF Montana ali OF Idaho
ana the major portions OF Oregon and
washington; and the third the soutn-s
west. embracing much OF Utah. Western
Colorado. parts OF New Mexico and Calf
| fornla and all OF Arizona.
| In th4a vast district, when recln,p,...,
homes may he made for many millions
| OF People
Ainrs tho Nile there are s.es.es acres
81 cultivated land. Where there a. NJ,
ifIiFaiItn there IL deser,. .sThess s0R.-
~ acres % lend support population
| a more than 5.oe9.o0e and nay IN, inter.
es' on national debt hair az large -
| that of the United states
The Missonfs, with i,s tributaries, can
ns MADE 10 irrfgate three times the land
now cultivated along the Nile
The amount Of land In the state az
| mssning'on which may be irrigated nv
.ne use or the waters Of the Columbia
river and IFS tributaries IN much greater
tnan would appear upon casual ohscrys
,'on' As no definite survey rms "a v.t
oeen made ~ the arid lands or Wash
'n8inn ore cannot state, except appraxi.
mately, the number OF acres which ma
oe brought under irrigations but II - a
well known fact that there are lsr.a
bodies o. land In the eastern part ~ ~.
state now of little or no value from M,
AGRICULTURAL point VI view which mas IN
iFrfsa'ad ~ cost ~ from u 10 81 rer
/ acre -
Lieut.. A. n. wyekoY made the s,at.
mtn' recently before the Cha az
,vm'nf ~ ot sh's city, Seattle. that there
Was t,esA@n acres IN Yakima ros,n,,r
4 which could be irrigated at a coat ~ moi
I 10 exceed 81 per acre
When and hs whom the arid lands -
The state ~ Washington ar. "a, h.. ,,st.
gated and controlled ~ question =,
fN@f 'f"is"'Anr* 70 the people 81 thIa
state "A question far-rcachgnx m ~.
I significance a question Touching 40
hiofir TIE Interests 81 tins people ~ thla
DAY and generation. bss ~ xensf.tlns.
( ~ eornc. Irrigation canals once N.
s,fscsed ard homes onee buai naon tie
lands bsneaied thereby are no. built ~
a war or a lifetime bus for nlany ysar~
and Tor the children and children cl.sl.
tiFsa
IN the early DAYS - irFixnIsa IL ifssA
eo.os,eratton bcearne The dominant fsfst.,-
Die. simply beeausr fhe refsiers ~ere n,
lard without capital. and Il was rrs
Possible for fhe snaivi3AaI 10 turn me
rnounsalrs stream from isA carfss ana
spfesa q eat Upon his iansls. a cum.
b.uafion - labor. their only capital I'M.
der shs iuteiligenf dirsction II thsir Head.
sfs. gave success rarsig attained eise.
whrf@
Wafh iae bniAilnS ~ canals have afiA~n
rnsnS complicated questions rNlaslrn -