Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-11
Much INSTRUMENTATION Abroad
Regarding the Irrigation
Plans OF Government
SOME INTERESTING FACTS TOLD
Why the Government is Taking UP the
Problem of Reclamation and Some
thing About the Extent of Its Pro-
posed operations-Private Enter
prise Has Done Much

Denver, Col. Sept 1.-THE entire
iarid and semi arid region of the
United States is embraced within the
boundaries of fourteen states and three
territories = namely, North Dakota
South Dakota. Nebraska, Kansas. Ok
lahena, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado
New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona
California, Nevada, Oregon, Washing
ton and Texas. The reclamation fund
to be used for irrigation purposes. how
ever, does not include Texas and any
irrigation undertaken there must be at
private or state expense. This is be-
cause Texas. wien admitted into the
union, retained control OF all vacant
lands within her boundaries
Ihe arid and seni-a.id regions in
cluae about two -fifths of the area of
the country, extending from the Mis-
souri, river to the Pacific coast. and
the interest OF the general government,
IN It's reclamation is, therefore, appar-
ent. The semi-,rid region includes 4
strip running north and south over the
Dakotas, western Nebraska. western
Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas pan
handle. In Yeas of excessive mois-
ture the subhumid region creeps west
10 the foothills Of the Rocky mount
ANS While in dry years ii sometimes
reaches within g comparatively short
distance OF the Missouri. The arid
and semi-arid belts extend north into
canada and south into Mexico, both OF
which countries are deeply interested
in irrigation. and preceded the United
States in officially recognizing the ne
cessity for ii.
lands in the United States are vacant
Many of them have passed, in whole
or IN part, into the hands of private
owners. Large giants have been made
TO railways for the construction OF
transcontinental lines. Other grants
rave been made 4 accordance with the
land grants recognized in our
treaty with Mex co. States have re-
ceived liberal allowances of public
land for state institutions, and many
homesteads have been located around
springs, along rivers and other natural
water sources. The government. in
embarklng in the business of irrigation
on large scale therefore, finds that /;
must DEAF not simply with the pubic
iahd. but with innumerable complica-
IONS growing cut of private OWNERSHIP
why, then, has the government taken
UP the work of reclamation. when pri-
vate enterprise has already done so
Huch, and when the problem is rem.
dered exceedingly difficult because of
that fact? The question is answered
by f. II. Newell chief engineer of the
geological survey. He notes that while
private enterprise has done much in
me way OF scientific and successful ir-
isa.ioh' the results have not been
y holiy satisfactory, from the broai
viewpoint of the country as a whole.
eholce spots have been developed and
ne easily available waters have been
itlilzed, but the larger public interests |
lave not been guarded, and the maxi |
ng OF homes has not been carried on |
Is vigorously as public policy requires
n The smaller projects, private enter |
Prise has been highly successful. but |
the larger and more difficult under
aRlngs 1t has not been uniformly suc-
'esslul, owing 70 the enormous SIMS
y money required and therefore nnh- |
&c ands nave not been utilized for tho
'featest good OF the people as a whole
Mr. Newell also makes an interest,ng
'Apianaton as to the cause OF lack ~
alnfaH west of the Missouri river
me general atmospheric movement In
ms country, as whole, he saws is
rom west to east. Moisture ,adan
winds from the Pacific ocean. encopnt.
iihs the mountains near the coast.
re forced upwards and cooled. In the
winter much of this moisture Is depos-
tea on the mountains, and the winds
Ass over them to the east perfectly
ry. IN the summer time, when the
fountains are relatively warm, winds
rom the Pacific pass over them with
Ut depositing theii' moisture, bringing
n the summer drought of the Pacific II
cast. Passing eastwardly, these
F1nds, retaining their humidity. bring
aims to the interior These summer
aims help make up the deficiency of
ain In the winter. The Rocky Noun
lins intercept these winds, and ex-
act all the moisture that remains. so {
lat by the time the winds reach ha
ountry east of the mountains, they are |
ry. 5
Very Little Real Desert. s
While the semi-arid regious ara
rye, the actual desert places are very {
nall. To the west of Salt Lake there
true desert of sand and alkali des-
tute of vegetation, and in southern
alifornia is the Salton desert, about :
70 feet below ocean level 1t is es-
mated by government experts that the .
tal desert area OF the country en-
aces about 70,000.)00 acres. The re-
ainder of the arid country has a more =
less scanty vegetation of some value
man.
Difficulties Encountered.
A brief look at one of the numerous |.
ffieulties the government will en- y
unter in its administration of the I
w irrigation law viii be interesting l:
The public land laws were drawn "
it'll special reference TO the broad J
airie country of the middle west, be- b
cen the Alleghenies and the Missouri g
yer. where the rainfall is sufficient. e
that country every tract of 100 p
res is practically as good as every z
her tract, and each farmer is en- e
ely independent, as regards methods
agriculture In the great arid and
mi-arid region, however, the value q,
land depends entirely on the water &,
shts. The interess of the farmers >,
g closely related and cannot be sep 81
ated. While the tracts may be equal N
fyonH &C to soil vali1aS NAV 5}ffa = ~,