The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-19
WILL IRRIGATION FAILg

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government to their scheme, are fond
of painting gorgeous pictures Of the
future on farms that have been re-
claimed by the construction of reser-
voirs, canals and bitches, Having per-
suaded Congress that irrigation is a
good thing, so good that the
| general government ought 70 in
vest tens of millions of dollars
in it, the boomers are in high spirits
in contemplation of profits to accrue
to them from land and water-right
| speculations. From their point of view
there is not the slightest cloud upon
| the horizon forboding either rain or
financial difficulty; there is nothing
| for anybody to do but secure some
| acres of the irrigated lands and go
| ahead making the finest and cheapest
| crops in the world. That is a way
| boomers have of talking when they
have something to sell.
But, as a matter of fact, will irriga
ton do all that is claimed for it? 1t
| has been demonstrated, of course, that
it will reclaim alkali lands for a time,
and that such lands will produce u
few crops finely. But will the lands
stay reclaimed? VIII they remain per-
manently fruitful under the irrig'a-
ton system? A well-known govern
ment scientist in Washington says they
will not. He lays it down as a fact,
proved by centuries of observation,
that genuinely arid countries are al
ways ruined sooner or later by irri-
cation. Permanently successful irri-
cation is possible only in what we
call humid or semi-humid regions,
where the drainage is natural from
clouds to the sea-"
With soil, as with animal life, there
must be a process like perspiration.
which will carry off the noxiods and
waste salts There has never been any
such process in the arid, alkaline re-
gions. With irrigation the moisture
sinks down into the soil only a few
feet, then is drawn towards the sur
face by capillary attraction and evap-
grafton. In rising to the surface the
noXious salts are brought up by the
moisture in solution to be suck
ed into the roots of plants or
left in or near the crust of the
soil by evaporation. Naturally there
is a gradual increase in the
surface deposit of poisonous salts,
until the ground will not sustain plant
life. In natural circulation. such as
is found in the Eastern section of the
country, the rain water sinks down
through the soil until it reaches bed
rock, then finds it's way to the sea- car
rying the injurious salts with it; and
thus the land is kept sweet season
after season. The scientist predicts
that unless some means is found to
remove the excess of alkaH from the
land--and no such means is now ap-
parent-there will be much disappoint-
ment, loss and suffering on the part
of those who are induced to settle on
the irrigated lands in the hope and
eXpecta ton of establishing fruitful
farms. Thousands of fine farms have
already been abandoned" he says, "be-
cause of the rising of alkaH in the
soil. Thousands more will be abon-
doned in the same way. Babylon fell
by the alkalization of Mesopotamia."
--S-s-S-
SHOULD HAVE a BOAT HOUSE.
The petition of the Savannah Naval
Militia for plot of ground at the foot
of Abercorn street on which to erect
a boat house should be granted, pro-
vided the City Council can find no Sc
rious obstacle in the way. If an in
Dor and Wharves should show that
such a structure as is proposed would
at that point interfere with the bust
ness of the port, some other location,
where such an objection could not be
urged, should be offered. 1t should,
too. be within easy and convenient
reach of the members of the militia
Their organization is inspired by a
spirit of patriotism. and it should con-
tinue to receive the encouragement
that the city has given it, in common
with other military establishments of
Savannah.
1t is a source of qualification to Sa-
vannahians to observe the renewal of
interest in the Naval Militia that is
| indicated by the securing of the two
new boats and the desire of the MEM
bers of the organization to care for
them properly and become expert in
their handling. 1t is essential that
the members of the command gain a
practical knowledge of seamanship.
and no better opportunity than that
afforded by their cutters could be Of
fered for instruction in the rudiments
of the craft.
Savannah's military has ever been
her pride. 1t was to the regret of all
citizens that the Naval Militia, for a
time was on the wane. This regret.
however, has now been changed TO
satisfaction, because of the increased
| interest in the militia that is shown by
its officers and men.
The Naval Militia, or Naval Re-
| serves, as it is designated in many
of the other seaboard states, is re-
garded by the general government as
an important adjunct to the fighting
establishment of the country. Mem
bers of the militia can rely upon if
that the government will not over
look them, and that provision will be
| made for their thorough equipment
! nd