Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-16
Problems to Be Discussed
IN Spokane in August
By Experts. at The National
irrigation Congress.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
- irrigated Lands.

Spokane, Wash, July Is, (Specia)-
Supplying moisture to semi-arld ano
desert lands by artificial means, one OF
the problems of worldwide Importance
to be discussed by experts at the 18th
sessions at the National Irrigation
Congress in Spokane. August TO IL.
was practiced by the Arabians, Egyp-
tians, Assyrians and Chinese long be-
fore the advent of Solomon, and 1t has
since formed a part of the agriculture
of the countries bordering on the Medi-
terranean sea. The ancient art had
it's origin in America in prehistoric
times, by the Pubic Indians, who in
habited portions of what are now New
Mexico and Arizona, and their des-
cendants were still cultivating the
lands when the first Spanish colonist
came from the south. several centuries
ago.
A census today would show fully
100000 farms in the United States I'M
der bitches, watering more than 49,
10000 acres of land. Colorado leads
in the number Of acres irrigated, Cali
fornia has the largest number of irri-
gators, while Washington has the
greatest percentage in the number OF
irrigators. The science Is also pract-
iced in Canada, England, France, Italy,
Japan. the Argentine. South America,
Algeria. Australia, Switzerland,
Belgium, Denmark. Bohemia. India.
Spain and Scotland. 1t is estimated
that more than 100000 acres are
Under irrigation throughout the world.
History records that the valley of
March, in Arabia, was supplied with
water drawn from reservoir made by
dam 100 feet in hight and two miles
In length This wall was constructed
swift current of an important stream
for more than 1000 years. Mention
is also made Of the canal of the
Pharaohs, connecting the Red sea with
Potassium. Flood waters of the river
were used to irrigate the valley of the
Nile centuries before. and the plans OF
Babylon were literally criss crossed
with canals. some of them hundreds Of
miles in length. The Romans also
operated vast systems, while the
Chinese supplied moisture to their rice
lands by artificial means before tho
Christian era.
Mormons settling on the shores of
the Great Salt Lake. in Utah. were the
first of the English speaking people to
make systematic application of the
principles of irrigation in the west.
They turned the waters of the Wa
satch mountain streams upon their
holdings. the present site of Salt Lake
City, mastering the art after years of
effort. Priests of the early missions
also made use of water on the lands
in southern California. where today
may be seen the ruins of pretentious
works built by the Indians. Placer
gold mines in California utilized the
water from their bitches for irrigation
purposes.
The result obtained in Utah and Cal
ifornia induced settlers in other states
and territories to try the plan and
small tracts Of land were put under the
bitches in Idaho. Washington and
oregon. The Indians in the Clearwater
country. in Idaho, were the first in this
part of the country to use artificially-
supplied moisture in the cultivation of
crops. Rev. Henry Fl. Spaulding. who
came to the Northwest with Dr. Ma
Gus Whitman. mentioned this fact in
his early letters to relatives in New
England
Less than 10000 acre were under ir.
rigation in the United States in 1870,
but during the next decade the acreage
was increased to 100000 The fed
eral census shows 3.631.4S1 acres on
54,136 farms under the ditch in 1889.
the area doubling the following decade.
due largely to the extension of the
existing canals. A special census in
1902 showed 126.O0s farms with total
of 9.O34.526 acres under irrigation.
Congress adopted the national irri-
CATION act that year, which saw .ha
beginning of the construction of work
under the control of the secretary OF
the interior, the fund being derived
from the disposal of reclaimed lands.
The law provides that the cost of the
work Is to be apportioned to the land
and refunded to the government in 10
yearly installments without interest.
Twenty-Five projects completed and
upon which the government is now at
work will. when fully adopted, add
3.198.000 acres of land to the crop
producing area Of the United States.
while Is others held in allegiance until
the completion of the former. will re-
claim 3,2f0.000 acres. making a total
of 6.46S.000 acres reclaimed at a cost
of $159.621, 900.
The largest. of the projects in Wash
ington are in the Yakima valley, as
follows: Sunnyside. 10000 acres. cost
$1.600.0O0: Tieton. 3O.00O.cost $780,
900; Wapato, 10000. cost s1.5OO.O00.
The Okanogan will water 5000 acres at
a cost of 100000 Other projects con-
templated will add 100000 acres to
the states crop producing area.
Government projects in Idaho are
the Minedoka. 10000 acres. costing
$4,000. 900. and the Payette- Boise. 300
900 acres, completed at cost of
$3,OOO.0OO. The latter covers the larg
est single tract under irrigation on the
continent at the present time. Oregon
has the Umatilla, $4,000 acres. costing
$1.1O0.000 and the Klamath. extending
into California. 10000 acres. costing
$3.6O0.000.
The projects in Montana are the
Huntley, $4,000 acres. costing $4,000
the Sun river. $4,000 acres. costing
100000. and the Milk river. including
the Saint Mary. 10000 acres costing
31,20O.O0O. The Lower Yellowstone