Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-06-22
g.
MOISTURE MOVING WEST.

Dakota Farmer: 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 drop of
surface water had been seen. Even
buttes and stretches of dry prairies
where very little, or seemingly no
grass had ever grown, show evidence
of sodding over and affording at least
Neagre pasture; while hay is being
Nut 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 furnishing water
for moderate needs.
All these things cause the land
boomers to assert confidently that the
sufficient moisture belt has moved
west, and that lands long considered
fit only for range have suddenly be-
come valuable agricultural lands.
These opinions are shared to some
extent, by many; while others are
firmly of the opinion that as soon as
this series of rainy seasons have
passed, drouth 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 ad.
wise the man with small means, and
large family, to risk his all across the
we'll known danger line. But to be
honest, our own views upon this sub
ject are, at least, slightly modified
Not to the extent, however, Of be-
lieving for moment that dry cactus
plains will, without irrigation become
rich productive agricultural lands;
but that much of the lands, heretofore
considered very uncertain, may, with
proper tillage and care, yet become
fairly productive and safe lands to
invest in at moderate prices If these
abnoramlly wet seasons continue, of
course there will be. sufficient and
evident reason for the increased mois-
ture; but as sure as the sun rises and
sets, they cannot continue, and if the
moisture continues moving west there
must be other reasons for it.
The thousands of artesian wells and
lakes, puddles, ponds and small
streams emanating from them, must
perceptibly increase the amount Of
moisture in earth and air. The great
corn fields, constantly working north
and west with their cool forest con-
ditions, at just the time of the year
when most needed, has doubtless done
more along the line of tempting dews
and clouds and showers than the non
observing would suppose. The in.
creased groves and shrubbery are
working along the same line, and the
broken up sod and other green, cool
leaved crops, extending over millions
OF acres, must have it's effect. Out on
the reservations, all draws are being
damned up by the Indians under gov
eminent direction, and these pools and
small lakes are contributing 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, now
carry from two to five-year-old grass
on the surface, rotting and moist and
holding moisture wherever any falls,
and protecting the soil from hot, moist.
ure-exterminating winds" is something,
we as well as the elements, must
reckon with.
All these factors combine to hold
the moisture we get, as we'll as to en-.
courage its coming; II they keep on,
we are not sure but it will materially
though not rapidly increase the moist
ure OF the whole prairie west.