The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
To Meet Future Needs Many Countries
Are Providing National Irriga-
ton Tanks.
INSURANCE AGAINST DROUGHT
GERMANY, AMONG OTHERS, Is THUS
PROVIDING FOR DRY SEASONS.
Egypt Add Twenty-Four Million Dol
lars to Her Investment-The
United states Leads.


In progress for the Duke OF Connanughr
to go to Egypt to represent King Edward
at the opening OF the great dam across
the Nile at Aswan on the 1st OF December.
The completion of this tremendous work
possesses an even greater significance than
its inception. There is a food shortage
the world over and to-day no civilized
country is without some great scheme for
charging the food-producing area within
its boundaries.
Regions where the rainfall is sufficient
are nearly al occupied and have been for
many years. There are arid areas every
where. however. and II is TO these that
governments are devoting their attention.
These areas are not in all cases totally
arid. but in many of them seasons of
drought come with such frequency as to
make agriculture hazardous and unproft-
able.
On the European continent the work of
irrigation has proceeded northward to an
amazing degree Germany is not gener-
ally regarded as an arid country, yet even
In the northern part the traveller passes
miles of irrigating bitches, under which are
thousands OF acres OF field and garden
crops grown in the highest degree of pro-
ductiveness every year. These irrigation
works are but insurance against an I'M
certain rain supply, for In some years they
are In many cases not used at all. Such a
landscape cannot fail to suggest TO the
American that In time irrigation may be-
come as usual In the New England States
as in Colorado or other States in the So
called arid belt OF the West.
The Egyptian government has millions of
dollars invested in irrigation and water
regulation works. The Aswan dam means
an added obligation of $24. OO0.0 600. and yet
there IL no question as to its advisability.
France and Italy are constantly adding to
the mileage of the bitches which were be-
gun before the memory OF man. New South
Wales has appropriated 81. O0o.O 900 per year
for five years to see If some preventive of
drought cannot be discovered. The United
States. with it's appropriation Of about
$2.500.0O per rear for al undetermined
length OF time. has but fallen into line in
the great movement the world about for
insuring the people enough food at rea-
sonable prices.
COST OF LIVING INCREASED.
The cost OK living has risen enormously
everywhere and the taxpayers Of the world
stand aghast at the burden being piled
upon their shoulders by military govern
W. CoAnp4d1AAl 40 AcdAd VI cApCHuA-
lures for adding TO commercial or indus
trial facilities or to the food supply, for it
is from these expenditures that the tax
payers derive their only satisfaction. The
other expenditures are allowed because
there seems to be no escape from them. In
England the cry of the people is for more
money to be spent, but not for war or for
display. The government is rated for its
apparent inclination to keep down the bills
by cutting OF the civil departments with
minimum allowances. Little or nothing is
done for agriculture, schools or CONNER
cial and Industrial facilities as compared
with ths great sums for military and naval
purposes.
England gets credit for the great irriga-
ton works on the Nile. though Egypt pays
the bills. The idea is English, the plans
were made by English engineers and the
work was done by English contractors.
Twenty years ago the population OF Egypt
was about seven millions. Now 1t is nearly
ten millions. This increase is due to the
spread OF water over the land. There are
100000 square miles Of land In Egypt, but
the only habitable portion is that compar-
atively narrow strip along the Nile which
IS kept arabic by lifting the water from
that river. There are now 1880 square
miles which can be cropped In this manner
and the enormous productive power of IT.
rigated land was never better shown. Its
market value is $115 per acre. The country
carries a bonded debt equal to SO for each
cultivated acre within IL and this debt is
over $50 per capita OF the whole population.
There is no hesitation about acquiring
new debt. however, to extend the irrigated
area The Egyptian government is to pay
$500, 900 each year for thirty years to the
men who built the Aswan dam. This bar
rier to the Nile floods is one and a quarter
miles long. built OF granite and &c feet
high. 1t raises the water level behind it 40
ft-t md creates an artificial lake 14o miles
tong and several miles broad. Scores of
gatcs regulate the water flow. Gigantic
lccks admit OF river traffic through the OBJ
styuetion. From April to September the
river Is at a low stage. Then comes the
flood and this great dam Is designed to hold
back 250.0oo. 600. 600 gallons OF this water to
feed the crops below in the dry season to
follow.
The irrigation works already in Egypt
added $40, Geo 900 TO the revenue OF the coun-
try each year. The Aswan dam is TO add
$1,000 more 10 the revenue, or, as is es-
timated by the Egyptian government. $780,
10000 TO the taxable values. Much gov
eminent land is TO be reclaimed and sold
with water rights, and water is TO be sold
TO those who already have title to arid
areas which can be reached by the new sup
ply. Then the tax collector is ready with
his Increased assessment. The irrigated
land OF Egypt now pays taxes amounting
20 81 per acre. There is little or no grumb-
ling. however. for the investment is a good
one. The 2.5c0 square miles about 10 be
brought under cultivation Will grow sugar
canc luxuriantly or will produce 500 pounds
OF long staple cotton 10 the acre. The
Aswan dam Is not the end OF this work.
King Edward or some Of his successors
VIII In time be called upon again and again
10 send representatives TO the dedication
OF great barriers across the Nile. Time
aud money are the only limitations upon
the development OF agricultural Egypt.
OBJECTIONS OVERCOME.
What has been done for Egypt and what
Is now being done Is impressive for the