The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-08
ALKAL| LAND REDEEMED.
sUBDRAINING EMPLOYED WITH Ex-
CELLENT RESULTS.
Farmer, Claims to Have Success
fully Solved the Problem of ELM
mating the Salt From Arid Lands.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intellgencer
ELLENSBURG. Sept. THE elimina-
ton of alkali from the soil of the arid
regions has always been a problem the
solving of which has been looked forward
TO with much interest, but little hope.
Many have believed that the secret of
reclamation lay in the manner of irriga-
ton, and some have tried to food the al
kali out of existence; others held that too
much water encouraged its presence. and
irrigated infected lands sparingly. But
the stuff. whether of the white or black
kind, continued TO do business at the same
stand. while the farmer had to look else
where for returns.
After experiments extending over sew
eral years, r. p. Tjossem a prominent
land owner Of Kittitas valley. has achieved
results that positively confirm mis- claim
that he can thoroughly reclaim akali land
This he has done by subdrainage-an idea
that he does not calm he orig,nated-but
he has invented a machine for doing the
work, which. because of the ease and
cheapness with which the work is done,
he may claim as successful.
What Mr.. Tjossem's system will do Is
best shown In the beautiful field OF clover
and alfalfa now growing on land that TWO
years ago was a veritable bed or aikaii,
upon which salt grass would scarcely
grow; in fact, IL was utterly worthless
About fifty acres has been treated by him,
and fifteen acres Of THIS n mas eeeh acorn
the tract. The crop is clover and alfalfa
mixed. and the first cutting yielded three
tons to the acre; the second. now being
cut. is yielding two tons, and a finer quail
ity of hay is not to be found in the state
How the Work IL Done.
Mr.. Tjossem designed and had made
here a ponderous plow whose furrow Is
made four feet below the surface. The
pillow, of course, Is very heavy and strong,
and its beam, made by Sx10 fir timber, IS
attached 10 wire cable which, winds
around a drum on wnim propelled ~
four feet deep is dug and the plowshare
IL lowered to the bottom 10 get n level
start Behind the point is the follower =.
large iron, cartridge shaped, dragged by
short chain. This leaves an opening be-
hind the plow. On cable behind this
point are knuckles four feet apart; which len
thing. which Is 4x4 inches inside, with only
two sides. and top. The knuckles bring
the four-foot sections of thing together
snugly, and thus. four feet beneath the
surface, is a drain that will last for al,
time. Pine or fir is used for the boxing,
and the cost of It is 20 cents rod.
The number OF drains necessary depends
altogether upon local conditions. The
field above mentioned has a long main
and several laterals. which may be fifty
or $50 feet apart, according to the necessi-
ties. The fifteen-acre tract has about 800
rods OF drain pipe. The pillow does all its
work so far below the surface that the
ground on top is scarcely disturbed ana
a blowing practically obliterates all trace
Its value is especially noticeable in Mr..
Tjossem's field, for the alkalt land that
has not been so treated abuts against this
reclaimed soil and reveals the alkali evil
In all its hideousness, forming contrast
that cannot fail to convince the most
skeptical. 1t has attracted the attention
and interest of the agricultural college
faculty They are. investigating 1t care
fully. and one of the professors has
promised to come here soon and personally
Investigate its workings and merits.