The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-12-19
mRIaATIoN FoRTY 80 Acc
Simple Mefhea 81 the First Husband.
man Among the sierraa
In Nevada

in Nevada
Irrigation was understood before The
Christian era, and was practieed il
Egypt, Asia Minor, Persia and Assyria.
England has always recognized its
value, and has expended 5000, 600, 900 in
India upon irrigation works, which have
done much to render more certain the
crops Of that region. England IS to-
day expanding millions OF dollars on the
Nile, in extending the area Of irriga-
ton.
Thus, the government in taking con
troll Of the vast arid region Of u west
and so constructing an intelligent sys7
tenn Of reservoirs and canals as to rem
der an u~nfruitful land productive, mere
ly follows in the footsteps Of ancient
~dynasties, and adopts the ideas Of in
telligent men who have gone before,
writes Senator Francis e. Newlands, Of
Nevada, in Youths Companion.
Forty years ago, when the first hus-
bandman was so pleased with a little
Nevada valley, hemmed in upon every
side by the great Sierra Nevadas, that
he determined to build there his house
of logs and pastered mud, and begin
to frrigate the soil, he did not think
that upon the very ground which he
chose would spring up a prosperous
town of many thousand inhabitants.
His work was very simple. Turning
TO the crystal Truckee, he cut a large
canal leading from the banks. This he
fitted with a sluice-box and dam, so
that he might control the flow of water
in his excavation. From the larger canal
smaller bitches were dug across the
fiat Northumberland ground, and
these, in turn, were cut with smaller
channels. Eventually his miniature
system of life-bringing arteries covered
many acres of seemingly unfertile soil.
He flooded the ground; the sage
brush died; he removed the rocks and
powders and turned up the earth; he
planted the seeds of vegetation, and.
with an arid climate substantial
guarantee against injury by dood-and
control Of the water supply-a
protection against loss Of crops by
drought-his crops became fruitful, and
multiplied far beyond his most sanguine
expectations. AS the measure Of value
Is not in area. but in capacity. 20 acres
soil was equal to more than so acres
IN the eastern country he had left be-
lind.
This h-usbandman found also that the
and Of sunshine was good for his health
md spirits. Perpetual cheer from the
heavens acts unconsciously upon ones
nature. The dry, pungent air was slim
llating to his nerves. This was ma
sanitarium, and as its fame spread
broad, more settlers came to the hanks I
II h little stream. and the colony Of
rFigationists began to increase.
AT the same time, others, of more
'enturesome temperament, found that
ere, also, was natures treasure-house. E
It Virginia City, some 20 miles beyond I
D the great brown mountains, was un- t
a gold and silver vein of fabu- y
'us wealth. This was the great Com /
took Lode, and the eager adventures d
crowded the streets Of this town
rought the, name and fame of the
ruckee valley to far distant ears. These
sople needed food. and the farmer in
Ie smiling valley soon had a market !
lngry for his products. =
Thus the ranches, few at first, became I
ore numerous; the irrigation bitches g
bigger, and tapped the supplying "
ruckee at a higher altitude in the snow "
ountains which gave it life. Where's the W
alter would not run advantageousIv G,
orss the valleys, great wooden fumes r,
ere built on trestles. Now the pros-
rous Truckee valley, green, peaceful e
ID fragrant in the clear, brilliant sun i
inc, liessrestfully between the granite !.
Of the beetling mountains-a nos q
We example of the creative haudiVork tn
man, and Of the marvellous results of q
Where first the venturesome farmer be
lnged his spade is now the town Of as
with homes to shelter 5000 souls 81
with a university to further the in an
lectual life Of the residents Of the an
We. The school of mining engineer a.
department Of the university
a wide reputation, and has trained !
corps Of efficient workers, MANY az a.
ON are 10Y prominent in minjng So
ltures in South Africa, Nome and the Du
'ndike. The great Comstock Lode atC
not yet been exhausted; and In the joi
antains beyond, at Tonopah, new de- gai
lts Of precious metal have beenfound
great richness and abundance. tai
MS is h growth and DEVELOPMENT Of RAJ
y M small portion of the virgin
s. and it. well illustrates the magni-
g Of It's mineral and agricultural re- s
rees, which have not vet been baIf- Air
ca and which are open to millions a.
people eager for fresh opportunities ~.
ieVelop their own strength and tbat 81
heir native land.
sor
Plants in California. the
blade of grass, every flower and to