The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-05

Indiana Farmer.
Billions of gallons of water and not a
drop for parching vegetation, are the con-
ditions of dry seasons which come fire.
quently. These seasons ought to teach US
10 make some provision for them. Let US
indicate briefly how this might. in som
measure. be done. There are more than
5000 miles of natural water courses in
Indiana which for mere thar a month an
nually run off and waste flood tides Of
water, most Of which at eligible points
could be run into elevated reservoirs and
stored for irrigating purposes in dry sea-
sons. The construction of kerosene and
gasoline engines have brought them down
so cheaply as to make their use feasible
and profitable in filling farm reservoirs.
Again. under almost every section of land
in the State is found inexhaustible sup
plies of water by wells. Not flowing, but
with these cheap engines could be made
available in providing water in times of
drought. 1t may be said that all the wide
acres of the State could not be reached
with artificial water provided in these
ways. That as true. But because all of
them could not be provided for in drought
is no reason why some of them might not
- oNPpOot NlldL Olt-tlSnNu " the dCIto III
cultivation could thus be reached, would
not that be better than none?
There are about L, OOO,O 900 acres of land
annually under cultivation in Indiana, not
counting meadows and pasture lands.
Would it not be better to secure 100000
acres against drought than to suffer loss
of production on all. How much water
would it require for this? Estimates which
have been carefully prepared show that
the amount of water required to cover an
acre one inch deep is 2l.154 gallons. The
average inches of rainfall during the three
growing and usually dry months, June,
July and August, is about ten inches. In
drought seasons this IS reduced TO a little
over nVe inches, ana on this basis would
require about four and a half inches of
artificial water TO make the season normal
in moisture. For 100000 acres of land, be-
ing one-eighth that in annua cultivation,
the extra water required in drought sea-
sons, such as this has been, would be l6S,-
2o9,5OO,O00 gallons. Careful estimates have
been made showing that the rivers ana
considerable water courses of the State at
flood tide carry away many times this
amount of water, TO say nothing of smaller
streams. And the water resources by wells
Is almost illimitable. Many of the larger
streams of the State have much fall, pass
ing through wide valleys of alluVial lands,
and by bitches water could be carried TO
elevated reservoirs from which it could by
gravity be carried over the lands for irri-
cation. This method, supplemented with
cheaply run engines, could do a great deal
to aid in dry seasons.
There is nearly always in each season
the need for artificial water for maturing
the small fruits and the vegetables of the
market gardeners. The small acreage de-
voted to this by each of the thousands Of
small farmers. could in most instances be
provided for, and it would provide a source
OF income justifying the expense of ii, al
most every season.
1t has been objected that some of our
heavy clay lands will not do well under If
r~igatiOn. That may be. But the lands we'll
fortified with barn-yard manure, and all
the sandy loans, bear irrigation well, and
crops will flourish on them. Tn small fruit
and vegetable lands besides much of the
others partake of the qualities which do
bear irrigation. Billions of gallons of water
around us. and beneath, but not a drop i'm
times of dire necessity IS a condition that
could with great profit be ended to some eX-
tent. Consider what has happened in all
the great central cities where there are mil
lions of consumers, this year. Tomatoes at
S a bushel, table corn at 80 cents per dozen,
string beans at 30 cents a quarter peck,
and the other vegetables in proportion.
The few small farmers who may see their
opportunity and provide for it will hardly
regret the expense of engines, and tanks
and water provisions for dry seasons. On a
small scale these provisions are being
made. They need to be enlarged greatly.