The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-03-23
TIE MARVgLs OF IRRIGATION.
colorsdo's Wealth Has Been Increased
Many Miilions.

Many Millions.
by the timed and measured spplics-
ton Of water through irrigation 70 grow
ing things the Colorado farmer has more
nearly rendered agriculture an exza
science than any other man in the world"
said Gilbert McClurg, who was for sew
.ersl years connected with the National
irrigation congress, ind who is nov Col
orado's othcIal representative II matters
pertaining 10 irrigation.
You generally regard Colorado as a
mining state." continued Mr. MoOurg,
but the states yield Of farm and field
products last year was valued az more
than 20 million dollars, while rs mincs
produced only 20 million dollars. OF the
sixteen states and territories that have
land under irrigation, Colorado leads in
The number OF acres that are thus made
productive. having 10000 acres that
are supplied with water from diicheA
The government, has 100 million acres Of
pfotnlesS, unstable land ~ these sixteen
states and territories that are now being
placed AZ a Premium through work to
Be done under the provisions Of the ma
honal irIgsuoa act
nEieAuoS 10 PpryEST uoonS
These who live on the banks Of the
Kansas and Missouri rivera arc as vitality
Interested in irrigation By government
lid as arc We Of the West Theirs Is the
other SIDE Of the proposition. az they
have suffered from too much water and
We from too little Some day the disastrous
~hoodwatera will Be diverted 20 reser-
yoifs for the ennohing Of lands that need
them, and the shores 81 the Kansas and
Missouri wll Be secured from she annual
menace % property and life A Kansas
awmakeI has well sad that irrigation
and Hood prevention are twin IDEAS
Discussing irrigation IN Colorado Nj.
MoCurg said
In my own state . tunnel SIX miles
iong Niil lead the waters Of the Funnison
nYcr through the mountains % redeem
izSooo acres Of worthless lard which will
x made 70 have . value OF from 5000 20
$500 an acre Considering irrigation from
an economic standpoint Ne must remem-
Ter that u largely increases the productive
capacity Of each acre - that twenty acrct
u irrigated land viii yield crops equal to
hose produced OF sixty ACRES under rain
fall In the San Luis valley Of Colorado
we have farms that produce sixty bushels
II Eheat 20 the acre which commands a
premium IN Liverpool and Paris over Da-
sots wheat
HuTs a SIC uNuF
The annual cost o. putting water o.
he land IS irom s. to s. an acre. and the
Colorado farmer. under irrigation. pfae
hcAlly has entire coatrol Of his crops after
fertilization All their products arc su-
9srcf IN quantity and quality because they
receive neither too liule nor too much
moisture under scientific ,rngauon.
Alfalfa IA the staple crop Of the Colo
fAdo tsfmef. aud Il yielded him 5 miilion
dollars iast year Three or four erops are
produeed every year in Boulder. Coneiux.
Mqnsross and Chaase counties and quite
generally throughout ths Irrigated regions
Bot the Colombo SOL under irrigation IS
especially favorable 10 the ~produeiion 81
The sugar beet This has jest been an
nounccd a. tie result of hve years 81 eN-
peuments under the direction Of the chem
isiFy Division al the Department Of Agri-
culture There are now ten beet sugar
iadones IN Colorado al Fort Collins
Greeley, Grand Junction. Windsor. Eaton
and other poInts Our farmers raise from
twenty 70 thirty tons 81 brcts 90 the acre
and are paid S a ton for their beets az the
AetCreS Wherever a beet sugar factory
IS established isnds m that vicinity mme.
disfriv incrersr trVruai frars ~ Vafsr'
kansas City Star. March rs. 1905,