The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1905-07-07
MOVING WEST.

MOISTURE MOVING WEST.
The past three or four years have
been exceptionally wet ones in most
parts of the west and northwest.
Small lakes and ponds can be found
in many sections where for many
years not a drop of surface water
had been seen. Even buttes and
dry stretches of prairie where very
little, OF seemingly no grass has
ever grown, show evidence of sod
ding over and affording at least
meagre pasture, while hay is being
put up where pasture only has been
afforded heretofore. In some parts
of dryer Canada, where years ago
the government gave up trying to
find water by digging or boring,
wells at a reasonable depth are fur
nishing water for moderate needs.
All these things cause the land
boomer to assert confidently that
the sufficient moisture belt has
moved west, and that lands long
considered fit only for range, have
suddenly became valuable agricul-
tnral lands. These opinions are
shared to some extent by many,
while others r firmly of the opin-
ion that as soon a this series of
rainy seasons have passed, drought
will once more hold sway. and the
tens of thousands who are now
rushing out onto the so-called semi
arid lands will be driven back with
loss and suffering to the line of
sufficient moisture.
The latter, we must confess, have
been largely the views of the writer
and we have always hesitated to
advise the man of small means and
a large family to risk his all across
the well-known danger line. But to
be honest, our own views upon this
subject are, at least, slightly modi-
fed. Not to the extent, however,
Of believing for moment that dry
cactus plains will, without irriga-
ton, become rich, productive and
safe lands to invest in at moderate
prices. If these abnormally wet
seasons continue, Of course there
will be sufficient and evident rea-
son for the increased moisture: but
as sure as the sun rises and sets,
they cannot continue, and if the
moisture continues moving west,
there are other reasons for it.
The thousands of artesian wells
and lakes, puddles, ponds and small
streams eminating from them must
perceptibly increase the amount of
moisture in earth and air. The
great corn fields constantly work.
ing north and west with their for
est conditions, at just the time of
year when most needed, has doubt
less done more along the line of
tempting dews and clouds and
showers than the non-observing
would suppose. The increased
and shrubbery are working
along the same line, and the broken
up sod and other green. cooling
crops extending over millions of
acres, must have its effect. Out on
the. reservations, all draws are being
damned up by the Indians under
government direction, and these
and small lakes are contribut-
ing their share toward the hoped
for change.
Last, but not least, the fact that
great stretches Of prairie. formerly
burned bare early in the summer.
carry from two to five year
grass Oh the surface, rotting and
moist and holding moisture when
any falls, and protecting the
soil from hot, MISUNDERSTANDING
ing winds is something, we as well
rs the element, must reckon with.
All these factors combine to hold
thle moisture we get, as well as to
encourage it's coming; it they keep
on, we are not sure but that it wilt