The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1909-07-17

9tcnehDs Vaohss July ac' Sef
plying moisture TO semi-arid and
desert lands by artificial means,
one OF the problems Of world.wide
importance to be discussed by ex'
perts at the 18th sessions at the
National Irrigation congress Ia
Spokane, August 9 to -, wa:
practiced by the Arabians, Egypt
ians, Assyrians and Chinese long
before the advent Of Solomon and
II has since formed a part OF the
agriculture OF the countries border.
ing on the Mediterranean sea.
The ancient art had its origin in
America in prehistoric times, by
the PUEBLO Indians, who inhabited
portions OF what are now New
Mexico and Arizona, and their de-
scendents were still culivating the
lands when the first Spanish
colonists came from the south,
several centuries ago.
A census today would show fui.
ly $50, 900 farms in the United
States under bitches. watering
more than 100000 acres OF
lands. Colorado leads in the num-
Der Of acres irrigated, California
has the largest number OF irriga-
tors, while Washington has the
greatest percentage in the number
Of irrigators. The science is also
practiced in Canada. England,
France, Italy, Japan, the Argen.
tine, South America, ALGERIA,
Austria, Switzerland, Belgium,
Denmark. India, Spain and Scot.
land. II is estimated that more
than 75,ooo,o 900 acres are under
irrigation throughout the world.
History records that the valley
Of March, in Arabia, was supplied
with water drawn from a reservoir
made by a dam Iao feet in height
and two miles in length. This
wall was constructed OF hewu
stones and it restrained the swift
current Of an important stream for
more than a,ooo years. Mention
is also made OF the canal Of the
Pharahs, connecting the Red sea
with Potassium. Flood waters OF
the river were used to irrigate the
valley of the Nile centuries before
and plans OF Babylon were literal
ly criss crossed with canals some
OF them hundreds OF miles in
length. The Romans also operat-
~ vast systems, while the Chinese
supplied moisture to their rice
lands by artificial means before
the Christian era.
Mormons settling on the shores
OF the Great Salt Lake in Utah,
where the first OF the English
speaking people to make a sys-
tematic application OF the princi.
Piles Of irrigation in the west.
They turned the waters OF the
Wasatch mountain streams upon
their holdings, the present site OF
Salt Lake City. mastering the ar,
after years of effort. Priests OF
the early missions also made use
OF water or the lands in Southern
California, where today may be
seen the ruins Of p~retentious
works built by the Indians. Pla.
Ger gold miners 10 California util.
lied the water from their bitches
for irrigation purposes.
The result obtained in Utah ard
California 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 artihe.
tally supplied moisture in the
cultivation OF crops. Rev. Henry
II. Spaulding, who came to the
northwest with DIR. Marcus Whit
man, mentioned this fact in his
early letters to relatives in New
England.
Less than 10000 acres were
under irrigation in the United
States in 1879, but during the
next decade the acreage was in.
creased to 1000, 900. The feder-
al census shows s.63I,48r acres
on 50, farms under the ditch in
1889. the era doubling the follow
ing decade. due largely to the en-
- ~ --s.st.- ..~.l