Arizona republican., 1902-02-07
IRRIGATION IN
 THE HUMID EAST
The Need of Supplementing
 ar Uncertain Rainfall
The Progress of Experiments in New Jersey Irrigation Question Also Being Considered in Middle Western States.

Washington. Feb. G.-(Special)-The department cf agriculture is pursuing some investiga tions as to the possible value of irrigation Tn the so-caIled humid regions in the eastern part of the United States, and even in the brief time which has been given to this work it has been demonstrated that irriga- tion is not entirely problem for the sc- called arid regions only. In the north Atlantic states the large area devoted toi market gardens makes security against drought matter of much i'm portance Throughout this region the average rainfall provides sufficient moisture if properly distributed. but short drought at the time when the gardens are maturing frequently causes heavy loss. In many years no such drought occurs. but they come often enough to make the growing of veSe- tables and small fruits uncertain. This matter has been taken up in the expert ment station Of New Jersey. Investiga- tions have been limited to far to tn" growing of small fruits. They have al ready shown that the increase in the products Of the irrigated tracts over those which were not irrigated was considera bly more than enough to pay in single season the entire cost of providing; water supply as well as the expense of applying it.
 In addition to these experiments made at the station data has been col lected from truck growers throughout the state of New Jersey. This data shows that irrigation in a single season has paid the entire cost of arranging for the same and has yielded a profit in addition
 The rainfall records at Philadelphia, covering a period of seventy years. show that in more than half the years there wss a lack of moisture in some one month Of the growing season sufTi- Cicnt to seriously affect the yield of small fruits and vegetables, which con stitutc large part oi the products oi the eastern farms. It would appear therefore that an irrigation plant would be as profitable an investment for most of the farmers living in the Atlantic coast states as it is for the farmers of the arid states west of the one. hun dredth meridian.
 Careful investigations are being made l in Wisconsin and Missouri to determine what can be done with irrigation in the states or the middle west. In both the states mentioned the wa ter has been supplied by pumps and records have l been kept tn show the amount used. the time of it's application. the cost of ] pUmpins; and the increase in yield of ] the various crops to which it was ap- ! piled. Owing to the extreme drought of last summer the results of the ex- ] pcrinccts were highly favcra ble to irri- Eation the difference in the amount and size oi the fruits and vegetables pro- duced showing a large margin of profit l If deductions were made from this one years experience alone it would have to be said that irrigation in Wisconsin was a great success, if not an absolute necessity. but it is recognized that 1901 was an unusually dry year, and the ex- perimerts will be continued over sev- . cral years.
 In Missouri the results were even l more remarkable. Irrigated truck gar dens and fruit farms yielded bounteoUs- ly and those which were not irriEat- ed suffered an almost total failure. and the conclusion has been reached that irrigation is an absolute protection against the periodical droughts which | come even to the humid states. It is especially recommended to nursery men. for it has been shown that young
 trees which are well watered will gain
 at least q year over those which take
 their chances.
 In the south experiments have been
 made with the irrigation of rice lands. or late years since the agricultural de-
 partment improved the quality of the
 rice grown in the United States there
 has been q great demand for good rice
 land. and the problem of securing the large supply of water necessary for this
 industry has been one of the most in-
 terestinG features of the hydrograph-
 gul of
 ton. Lands which were formerly
 worth from $1 to g per acre and used only for grazing now sell for from 80
 to $50 per acre and yield an annual re turn equal to the value of the land
 About 250OOO acres Of these lands hay, been Improved by irrigation and mucf
 more will shortly be brought under
 water.
 In Hawaii during the past summer 1 agents of the department have been al
 wrok Investigating the situation. boti
 from q legal and practical point oi
 view. Large investments in irrigation . works in these islands have made tn,
 subject of water ownership and contro
 one of the most important questions . Private parties are trying to buy iron
 the government all of the water right. , attached to the public domain, and il the present chaotic condition of affair. , it is possible these might be secured, t' I the effect that q monopoly would b
 created and further developmeE
 checked.
 In Porto Rico large areas require irri Eation + they are to be made pro , ductive. Legislation is needed there t . determine the title to water and as t' the disposal of the public land. It i believed by the department that Port
 Rico :ffTOrds; excellent OunOrtunitr s for the enforcement of a modern sys . tenn Of laws in which can be expresse, all of the experience and wisdom gainet : in the handling of this question in tn