The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1904-09-22
Irrigation Will Change Deserts to Gardens and
Provide Lands for Millions Of Homes.
ROOSEvELTS STRONG. FRIENDLY HAND
Policy that Increases the Sum of Human
Happiness and EnIarges and Strength
ems the Republic.

country nhounds in mountains. plains
mud valleys. II Is here that the govern
ment proposes to apply the workings OF
the National Irrigation Act and to re-
claim all II the arid land which may
be ascertained TO he arabic and which
Is found 10 lie susceptible OF reclama-
ton by the amount OF wntcr available.
Government experts estimate that the
present amount OF land which may be
irrigated is about one hundred million
acres. This can be reclaimed by apply
ing the amount OF water now available,
| direct. 1t IL also estimated that after
irrigation has been applied to the soil
for three or four years, a less quantity
OF water is necessary and hence an adj
ditional area Of perhaps fifty millions
acres more may possibly be added to the
reclamation area.
Nature Did the Nerdfui.
Nature seems 10 have employed every
resource ut rs command 90 make the
mountain ana pam region me most nav
"reu portion OF tue EARN surface LOT ,
ihe hnhitation OF man. rms sechoh WIN
one uny ne the sent OF ci"pire OF ,ne
thitcn states. ana, consequently the
w"rih. for instance OF more 'hhn
th"nsnnu miles there are suecesSN"
chains OF mountains, IN general course
running north and south and on parallel
Lines. with numerous valleys occupying
the immediate ground.
Each valley. large or small, has its
stream. carrying. with rapid ran. the
netting shows OF the tributary noun
tnins. me grades IN general favor the
operation OF 'rrigntihg cahhis whlch
take the water from streams ana carry
IT at q moderate tall TO lines above
the cultivated land. AS the spring sea-
son advances, the rainfall decreases, the
crops neen more anu more Wa.er, wmen
iurn'S"el au''ni"uenI's " III. s,"""" :,
ine,ease Vi .ne 's,per"'are ''.p"s ~"
W .'ie '''vun.'in SUI. .'"en''s cue nt
~ uepo''' o. snow nrsi, anu 'nen, u".,ns
.he ia,er hnu ho'.e1 '""n,ns, IRVING
upv" 'ne 1890 VI ,ne nerpe' ~. ,eN'
e"S'er 'he.'eu zee W tue hisner h'u'u'es'
Ferfiiity OF Arid SOIL.
Under the rains Of centuries much of
the soluble plant foods in eastern soils
have been washed into the sea. Where
no rainfall exists the plant food remains.
The government analyses OF soils show
that the arid lands average three times
as much potash. six times as much ung-
ncsia and fourteen times as much lime
as the humid lands. Any farmer will
| tell you that limestone country is a
rich country. To replace the food taken
by growing plants the eastern farmer
resorts to fertilizers and manure. Start
| ing with rich soil. the irrigationist also
finds fertilzing strength in the water he
uses. The mannrial value held in soiu-
ton in 10 inches OF water7-the amount
applied TO one acre in season at the
| University OF Arizonn-amounted to
So.oI. Ten acres under irrigation aver
age better returns than 4O-ncre crops, in
the usual way.
Land Very Valuable.
| In those communities of the west
which have been created by irrigation
the average yield of wheat. potatoes and
small fruits far exceeds that OF the best
farming district in Iowa or Missouri
| or the best part OF the Mississippi Val
ley. Although comparatively remote
| from the worlds markets for products
an acre of land under water rights IN
the very heart OF the arid region, will
| command higher price than an acre In
| the humid Mississippi Valley. The farm
ers have learned that 40 acres. well till
ed. will yield more profit than 400 acre.
farmed in the old. haphazard way. In
tensive farming and larger profits from
smaller farms are making closely SETTLED
| communities. establishing nearby neigh
bors. schools. churches and libra ries nnt
the isolation OF old farm life no Longer
exists. The farmer makes more money
and the deadly monotony of life doe,
not drive his children from home. OF
his wife to the insane ASYLUM.
,r, $1,000. . ~. >ra...., r.