The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-07-28
Conquest q %. Great
American Desert


Irrigation Is going to be a success,
says the Boston Transcript The third
inquiry by the House committee on this
enterprise has brought out evidence
that appears to justify confidence in
the results. The Secretary Of the In
terior has testified that including the
irrigation projects under construction
and those contemplated and approved
but not begun, there will have been
spent in two years from the last of
next June $37,OOO,OOO, while the esti-
mated receipts from the operations of
the law up to that time will be about
half million more than that amount.
In addition return Of about a million
Is expected from settlers on irrigated
lands,
Irrigation was one of the forces upon
which the late Prof Shaler laid empha-
sis when enumerating the resources
upon which we could depend to meet the
needs Of an eyer-increasing population.
But 1t was not the only one. We must
utilize the dixie and drain as we'll as
the canal. We must fertillze the now
arid desert by giving the moisture that
1t requires, but we must not forget that
there are vast reaches of almost ex-
haustless fertility now submerged that
will blossom as the rose when the wat
ers that cover them have been drawn
Off. 1t has been estimated that irriga-
ton will ultimately bring into cultiva-
ton and generous production 100000
600 acres that are now barren and for
bidding. We have begun reclamation
at this end, and perhaps 1t Is the nat
ural end; but no sooner Is 1t under
more strongly suggested. This, If car
ried to its approximate limit, would
free as much more in all parts of the
country of Its watery burden, and open
1t up to the service and support of man.
There are in the United States In the
neighborhood of 100,0O00OO acres OF
swamp land, Of which about 10000 900
have been surveyed. These are located
east, west, north and south, or all over
the country. The weird Everglades of
gineers now claim they can be, would
give 100000 acres Of the finest farm.
Ing land in the world. New Jersey and
Virginia possess vast swamp lands ILL.
nois has 100000 acres Of them Min.
nesota, 100000; Michigan, 100000,
and Iowa, 100000. In every State
there are swamps Of greater or less ex-
tent which would be its choicest treas
ure If once put into tillable condition.
These suggestive facts are behind the
STEVENSON bill, now before Congress,
proposing similar economic treatment OF
the submerged lands that the govern
ment Is now giving to It's arid tracts.
Perhaps in some cases the work OF
reclamation along these lines would be
more expensive. In others 1t would
probably be less 80. The necessary I'm.
dertakings would be vast, but II sue
cessful the rewards would DO vaster.
The two enterprises would have the
potential effect Of adding to our pro-
ductive area, and equal In extent to
more than six times that of the State
of New York, or about q tenth of our
entire territory, including Alaska, and
1t would be soil Of unexampled fertil-
ity. With such reclamation many 9TH
er problems now formidable, like gen.
eral sanitation, the mosquito crusade,
and SO forth, would be much simplitied
There Is hardly New England farmer
but has one swamp or more that would
be the best part of his holding could
he but bring 1t into subsection. 1t Is a
question of engineering and upon such
questions the light is breaking all over
the country.