Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-08-24

Mr.. r.. N. Lively Writes Interest
iugly ON the Subject.

SPOKANE. WASHINGTON. Aux. a.
Mr.. Editor: The people CT Virginia and 4
OF the South have Httle experience IN the I,
matter OF irrigation Tor agricultural or
fruit purposes. Fruits and cereals raised
after this mode are luscious and Of full
development.
In the bottom lands of this and other
States, as Nevada. Oregon, California,
| Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. Utah. North
| and South Dakota. Nebraska. Colorado.
etc, water is and has been n prime ne
eessity in certain localities. and even Tor
mining purposes is piped the distance OF
| twenty mikes. The completion of the
Dupever canal in Montana, has added
ore hundred thousand acres 10 the culti-
waited area in the State. The canal Is al
ready twenty miles long, twenty-five
feet wide at the bottom, and carries four
feet of water. The entire length OF this
| canal viii be about one hundred and |
twenty-five mikes. with city or more lat |
eral ditcbes, as conditions may require
There is a bill now before Congress TO
establish storage reservoirs along river
courses and IN the mountains, at govern-
ment expense. The acreage thus redeem
81 throughout the several States would
be equal 90 the support OF 50.OOO,OOO
| people This vast scope OF country
should not be left desert. BY husband
ing the water in the valley of the Nile.
Egypt has been redeemed from bank
ruptcv. Irrigation acts not only like
charm on bottom lands but on bench
y lands also. BY n proper system OF irri-
CATION il is hoped the bad lands of Mon
tana aud even the Dead Valley of Cali
p fornia will be saved 10 agriculture, where
y to-day not a sprig OF grass or sign Of
re vegetation can be seen. In the Phoenix
y 4 street OF Arizona which was once a
r wild sage brush country "A desert-as
a. the result Of irrigation, has today 25,-
~ O0O inhabitants and an assessed valua-
l. { on Of $40, COCOON
~ Uncle Sam. must necessarily, come 20
K the rescue OF the western country. IL j.
20 too slow as well as too large an invest
~ ment for private individuals. They have
n' 70 wait too long TO get their money ou'
~ and cannot afford 10 wait for the lane
i' 70 be settled after water Is put omit. Or
l. these and lands the finest wheat anC
ID crapes are raised. To a sender.foot tn
h' results of irrigation arc amazing. be
IA lievc the annual crop OF wheat IN tn
"a" state OF Texas Is from 1000. 900 10 10,
NJ OOO. 600 bushels. Whilc the yield q
wheat IN one county. Whitman, OF TIN
en- | state is eqval TO the entire crop OF ia
en- entire state of the Ions Star.
.llN On the Paci6c coast IN the States {
tbs California. Oregon, Washington an
dec Idaho. there is on the average OF 4.343
dly sol acres Of wheat harvested each yea
nis The average yield about . bushels
av- the acrea and produce "a total annu
MIA crop OF G5.OI7.5s2 bushels, valued q
the farm at Sal GAL SO. Ia degree
oroduction the States stand thus, Ca
= foruia. Oregon, Washington and ldah
- mean ; bushels average IN all four
the Paci6c States taken as whole.
-, California and Washington from 30
10 bushels per acre Is the yield. Just thu
-. in California tor 1854. more than !. 20
200 o. grain were harvested. IL Is n
Idaho j. forging 10 the front, but su
fertility belongs not 70 her. Nal'
~ have huctuated according 10 the SUPP
lets and demand. IdahO's average acres
iAils in grain has been 1O3, Sos.
u Oh The chief factors Is ourtaihng the area
wheat has been the introduction OF II
in the Sacramento Valley and dairy
in the Willamette Valley Of Greg
The liberalization OF crops tall on the
troduction Of irrigation. This VIII
the future lessen the wheat area of
3 Pacific coast Price Of wheat per b'
'G Il from Sl.O3 in 1868 fell 20 50 cents
1900 and today is - Gents.
The opening up OF the markets Of
Al vast.Orent Is 70 the farmers Of the
- | cine. from the Rockies 20 the coast
-; God send under the foregoing Giro
-; stances. Otherwise these people W
have had no sale for their wheat
other products and 20 ship them
the railroad tariff would have been
l"s excessive. In fact the whole eou
back 10 the Atlantic, has felt the q
cure Of prosperity that has come 10 as
ray the first boom Of our cannon before
Mia.
To say nothing about the great
ishing mills along the coast, those o
city Of Portland, Oregon, alone turf