The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-30
IRRIGATION RICHES.
SIX CROPS A. YEAR FROM DESERT
.- LAND NOT UNCOMMON.
How the Sandy Wastes of Southern
California Are Being Changed to
70 Fruitful Plantations by Means of
Artificial Irrigation.
[special Correspondence. ]

Especial Correspondence
SAN Francisco, June 19.-President
Mckinley while in California on his
recent trip through the country is re-
ported to have been much impressed
by the wonderful effects of irrigation
on the arid lands Of this state. The
thriving crops ready for harvest, the
luxuriant vegetation and the thrift and
prosperity of the watered districts
were apparent on every hand, while
the parched baroness of the adjoining
unwatered districts. separated at times
by a mere roadway from the irrigated
sections, stood out in vivid contrast.
The farmers in the far west fully
appreciate the benefits of artificial irri-
CATION. Canals and bitches may be
seen threading their way over large
tracts Of richly cultivated lands which
were dry and sandy wastes before wa
ter was introduced.
When it gradually became known
how valuable these lands could be
made by bringing water to them
through the dry season, efforts were
made, at first in small way and then
on a larger scale, to build canals and
the nearby streams. Soon companies
were formed which bore the expense Of
constructing the canals. They sold wa
ter to the farmers at specified prices
per year, varying in some districts
from 10 cents to So. according to the
kind of crop to be watered. hay lands
being the least and market garden
lands the most expensive to irrigate.
As others who had not tried the new
methods saw its value, they, too, began
It's use until whole towns and districts
along the water courses were diyerting
waters to use on their farm lands. In
some instances, when engineering prob
lens became too complicated for them
to handle, districts would unite In re-
Questing assistance from the United
States government in extending their
water supply systems. This help has
been sought in a number of instances
and effectively rendered by the United
States geological survey. So important
a factor has water become in develop
ing the arid west for agriculture and
settlement that it may be considered
the very lifeblOod Of the land. .,.
One of the late United States geolog-
ical reports, In speaking Of the advan-.
tages Of irrigation in the San Joaquin
valley, gives an interesting illustration
of the difference in the value of land
with water and without 1t. "Take, for
example, a crop of alfalfa. Six crops a
year of this clover, with a yield of two
tons TO the acre, are not unusual where
water is delivered to the land. The al
falfa raised in this valley is much supe-
rior to that raised ON the land nearer
the coast. the fOgs on the coast tending
TO produce mold in curing, whereas ow
ing TO the IeStEmn dryness of the at
mOsphere in the San Joaquin valley the
hay is cured quickly without mold and
retains all Of its nutritious qualities.
Taking one year with another, alfalfa
hay will WELD profit over and above.
all expenses of 81 a ton and probably
more. if fed to stock. This makes the
land easily worth 500 an acre, which
for wheat raising would not bring more
than $50, a,high estimate sd ,.,, Z
If it Is true that ''he is public bene-
factor who makes two blades of grass
grow where one grew before. what
shall be said d of him who makes six
crops OF alfalfa grow where one crop
Of wheat grew before? Other crops
might be mentioned which would make
eyenla better showing. but the fact is
that 10 acres of land with water are bet
ter than 100 acres without water, and
this means that with water the lands
will support in plenty ten times as
many as can now earn a scanty liveli-
hood on them by raising cereal crops.
Not long ago the New York Tribune
printed an interview with Mr.. James
]. Hartley, prominent citizen Of San
Francisco. His remarks have a special
interest in this connection. .at.
You have heard much in the east of
the wonders that irrigation has accom-
plished in the west" said Mr.. Hartley,
land there is nowhere a better exem-
plihcation of It to be found in the Land
of the Setting Sun than in Golden Gate
park. San Francisco. All about it lie
billowing, seemingly arid wastes of
sand. Beyond stretches the usNally
calm Pacific ocean. 1t is obvious that
these stretches of sand at some far dis
tant period formed a portion of the
floor upon, which the ocean rested.
Now. sea sand has never been famous
as land upon which vegetation viii
readily grow, but the sand of Golden
Gate park is manifestly the exception
to the rule. No sooner. did water fall
upon it-1nct frSm heaven, bat from a
hydrant1thaP 1t began TO. bloom and
blossom like the traditional green bay
tree. A jadicious and regular appIica-
tion,of hat,precious water has brought
from that sandy desert, to my mind.
the mosts beautiful park aud the most
luxuriant vegetatiob in the world The
sand 'runs up 10 it. but beyond the fall
of that life giving water it remains
sand. Withinsbs benefcent spray Vt be-
CONFESS life giving and life bearing il
hnd'of itself" -.
,b.r CHARLES Z. sROBINSoH.