The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-01
PROGRESs OLE IRRIGATIoN.

PROGRESS OF IRRIGATION.
Notwithstanding the action of the last
congress in turning down every effort
to inaugurate a national system of irr-
cation reservoirs, that pop 1sition is
gaining adherents and momentum every
day The rush of settlers to the West
for lands this spring has practically ex-
hausted all available agricultural space,
except that which needs the help of lrri-
cation to render yearly crops certain.
Beside the section known as the arid belt
we have a large area of semi-arid land
which has been partly taken up for set
Element in the last few years This belt
embraces the western parts of Kansas,
Nebraska and the Dakotas. In this Sec
ton there may be several years in sue
just and ample reward for his labors.
Then will come a season when the heav-
ems will refuse to give down a drop Of
moisture to relieve the parched earth
The development of the great Western
railway systems has brought the agri-
cultural possibilities of the West to the
front AS Mr.. James J. Hill remarks.
two-thirds of the population of the
United States in 1850 will be tillers Of the
soil. Their market will be the Orient
and their field of operation the Great
West. To make this West inhabitab!e
the annual moisture must be conserved.
There is enough, if only it, can be dis
tributed as to time and place. This
problem can be solved by irrigation
bitches and storage reservoirs.
The work of educauon along this line
is being carried on by the National Irri-
cation association. New organizations
are being formed and new interests en-
listed in this scheme of redemption.
AS the C 10 has heretofore pointed
out with this irrigation problem go those
of reforestation and floods. These three
are inseparabiy linked-the interest of the
one is the interest of the other. More
than that, they are interdependent So
long as the reservoirs are not built and
the forests are not preserved, floods will
continue and grow worse; the semi
lands will become arid and the humid
sections will be visited with drouths
With reservoirs at the head waters of
our rivers and their smaller tributaries,
with the barren hills reforestel /, the rain
fall will return, floods will disappear and
the once barren region will grow green
and blossom with vegetation.
1t seems passing strange that subjects
like these, subjects which are of imme-
date and personal interest to every part
Of the country, should receive opposition
from members Of congress- In the East
floods are so general ands destructive of
the richest valleys must be abandoned.
Throughout the timber regions it is be
coming common knowledge that the sup
ply will last but a few years longer, yet
the government whose duty it is to as
sumo control of such public matters
seems deaf and blind.
It is a mistaken idea that irrigation
pays only In the arid regions. 1t pays
anywhere. 1t will pay in Minnesota
and the Mississippi valley There is no
section of the humid belt of this coun-
try where at some period of the year
/ irrigation would not add to the pro-
ductiveness~of the soil. We have but to
remember last year when Minnesota sus-
tanned an almost total defeat in the agri-
| cultural fight. Now is the time to work
up the irrigation sentiment. While the
political parties are quarreling over the
policy of the government toward the in
sular possessions, is a good time to plant
shade trees-to urge internal improve
ments. Irrigation, reforestation and pro-
lection from floods, these three one and
inseparable.